NetForce

I'm 19 and i recently got diagnoced with type 1 diabetes. After 6 months of clinical tests done with drugs such as Avandia, Metformin or Diamicron, my doctor decided to put me on insulin because of my glucose remaining high.
After 5 months since i was diagnoced, i have had a wierd episode of some kind. The symptoms were simmilar to that of hypoglycemia (low-glucose) while my sugar remained high (over 16). These symptoms included racing heart, high blood pressure, cold sweats, anxiety, left hand going numb etc. It lasted about an hour. Then a couple of days later it reacurred. During that week i had problems even having a short walk... after a fiew minutes my arm was getting numb again, and my heart was racing. It was pretty scary. My doctor decided to screen me for pheochromocytoma which is a rare tumor found in the adrenal glands just above the kidneys. It causes the body to overproduce adrenalin.
After getting my results back.. it turned out negative. Most websites say that the screening should be done while an episode is happening, which i didn't do. After that week i didn't get anymore episodes (they can happen constently of once a year) My question is... should i stop screening for it?
The reason i'm so curious is because this tumor can be the cause of my diabetes... thus removing it is a cure. It is known that phochromocytoma causes diabetes-like symptoms and high-glucose in about 40% of the cases.
This get's me pretty excited... but then also scares me. I just don't know what to do, i'm worried that one of those episodes that i might get can end up being fatal.
Another thing i'd like to ask. As i'm a diabetic, i'd like to get some advice on what kind of meals i should eat and what excersises should i do. I bet there are a lot of experienced diabetics on this forum. The diabetes clinics are too short and don't really give me all the information i need. Now since i'm on insulin, carb counting is also starting to be an issue...
I'll appreciate any advice,
Thanks,
Tom

hannukah harry

you really should talk to your doctor or an exercise physiologist about an exercise program.

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audity3

It's things like this that make me realize that, after having type 1 diabetes for just over 10 years, I really need to make a point of reading the latest research literature. Never had the patience to before - I'm 20 now, though... what teenager wants to read medical articles? It's just interesting to see new causes/treatments that are coming into the medical view for diabetes, etc. Anyway, I agree with harry, talk with your doctor (Are you seeing an endocrinologist, specifically, or just a general physician?) about a meal/exercise plan. For that matter, an endocrinologist whose specific area is in diabetes will be much more knowledgable about causes and effects of any related problems than a physician.

Carb-counting... y'know, that never made sense to me. Because I (and 90% of my fellow type 1's I've chatted about this with) could eat a whole meal of just proteins, take (or not take) the appropriate insulin amounts, and our sugars will skyrocket within an hour or three. I'm on the calorie-point system, where everything you eat is counted, not just things that have a more immediate effect on your sugars.

I might also suggest contacting the American Diabetes Association with any other questions you have. At the very least, they can get you into contact with someone local.

bill96ab

A quick comment about the pheochromocytoma testing... you are correct... high levels ofcatecholamines, and their breakdown products can cause glucose intolerance, and look like diabetes. If your doctor did the 24hour urine test, and it was negative, i would trust him or her... there are other things he could be thinking about that can cause your feelings... if you get the "panic" feeling again, and you are somewhere you can test your sugars... do so.. also, and maybe more importantly...if youcan test your blood pressure, do so... this will be valuable info for your doctor. If your doc is still worried about the pheochromocytoma, the next step is a CT scan of the belly.

Have you had a lot of new stresses in your life recently?

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gonadman

You mean blood sugar over 160 right?

Pheo's are so rare, that with normal blood and urine values, I suspect something much more common- possibly anxiety attacks? Don't bother checking the BP, with your heart racing and feeling anxious something would be wrong if it was not high!

Usually community hospitals have very good diabetes education classes. Do yourself a favor and go to one. Interact with other diabetics- share your concerns. Things are always much less formidible when others share your problem.

Good Luck

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darkness1162

First, I'm sorry to hear about your diagnosis and hope you will continue close follow up. It's essential that you keep accurate records of your sugars and keep tight glycemic control.

Second, agree with the above post. Pheochromocytoma is diagnosed by 24 hour urine collection for catecholamine metabolites. I don't think you have to have it done during acute episodes. The whole point is that the tumor is secreting catecholamines outside of normal body "checks and balances," and so it continues to secrete even when you don't have paroxysmsal episodes.

I encourage anyone to get second and even third opinions. I assume you're seeing an endocrinologist already. Find another and get a 2nd opinion.