Nerve Damage (Neuropathy)



According to the Accuchek web site







"Neuropathy" is a broad word like "animal." It includes a wide range of subcategories that can look as different from one another as a cat and an elephant. Neuropathy, after all, simply means "nerve disease." Because nerves carry all the information about physical sensation and motor instruction between the brain and every part of the body, nerve damage can affect you from your teeth to your toes.



For one person it can mean numbness in the toes, while another person will simply feel "full" sooner than they should. That's why it's smart to have a good idea of the feelings and symptoms associated with nerve damage. Armed with the right information, you can be on guard against neuropathy and take steps to protect yourself.



What exactly is Neuropathy?

Who… Continue

Alanna Ritchie of www.drugwatch.com has provided this article.

 

Type 2 diabetes medications can prevent dangerous blood sugar levels, but can also be harmful in and of themselves. When starting a new medication, you should be aware of the possible side effects and what those side effects may indicate. 

Nearly every diabetes medication comes with minor side effects, including nausea, vomiting, gas, diarrhea, cold-like symptoms and weight gain. These will typically lessen over time.

There are some diabetes drugs, however, that come with severe side effects, including hypoglycemia, bladder cancer, lactic acidosis, acute pancreatitis and cardiac problems. Many complications can be avoided if you know what to look for.

Hypoglycemia can be caused by sulfonylureas, which work to control blood sugar by…

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http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/19/health/policy/19monitor.html



This article from the New York Times today raises concerns over accuracy of blood glucose monitors used by patients. (This means most of our members!)



July 19, 2009

Standards Might Rise on Monitors for Diabetics



By GARDINER HARRIS

Federal officials may soon require improvements for the glucose monitors used by more than 11 million diabetics in the United States.



The rise in the use of home glucose monitors, even by hospitals, is pushing the action by the Food and Drug Administration, which for decades has followed international standards that allow the devices to be wrong by as much as 20 percent. Such a wide error rate can leave patients vulnerable to severe problems, including seizures, unconsciousness and coma.



In June, the agency pressed the international group… Continue

Hi ,
I would love to hear if anyone else has under gone a total pancreatectomy and or an islet cell transplant ?

I had mine in June 2005 - it took 12 hours of surgery and 3 subsequent operations to date.

Becoming diabetic was a forgone conclusion of the surgery obviously and NO I was not an alcoholic as most people ( including medical professionals ) seem to think. I was born with a rare pancreatatic abnormality, so chronic pancreatitus has been a constant problem from birth.

It would be good to know if any one else has had the same or similar please. Thanks Debbie