Type I

[crazedmom]

I have a 15 year old daughter that was diagnosed almost 3 years ago with Type I.  She is on an average of 7 shots a day.  She was having a problem during the past year with chronic stomach pain.  A doctor had put her on prevacid which seemed to help.  We moved to another state and she went of the medicine a while.  However, about a month ago she was complaining constantly that the pain was back so we took her to a specialist who put her on a stomach medicine because of a lot of acid production.  She is suppose to go in for  a scope the 27th of next month.  Trying to wait for school to get out.  She also has started complaining a lot about pain in her knees, elbows and now hands.  She has woke up during the night in tears from the pain.  On several occassions now she has gotten very weak in the knees and almost fell.  She has seen her pediatician who is sending her to a rheumatory arthritis doctor for evaluation.  Now I am so worried.  I know that this is an auto immune disease and am scared that she may have this also.  She now has a goiter and her thyroid is tested bi yearly and so far ok.  My question is how common is arthritis with diabetics?  Also, what are the chances of this being lupus since that is an auto immune disease as well.  She has issues with being tired all the time, hair loss, she does get the rash on her face but her pediatrician said that this could be from the arthritis and she has lost 8 pounds since her last visit to the doctors a little over a month ago.  Any info would get greatly appreciated.  Her appt with the specialist is the 30th.  Thanks

[crazedmom]

Katie is very knowledgable in diabetes and has even helped teach an after school program with her health nurse.  She test for ketones any time she is over 250.  Her symptom is side pain if there is a trace.  Fornutaly she has never been over a small amount of ketons and not been required to be admitted to the hospital except for when diagnosed and one time when she was running in the 600's and the injections would not bring her down.  After an IV bag she was sent home with normal numbers.  She records all her numbers and on a regular will record what she ate and the amount of insulin she has taken for her endo.  She is on Lantus and novolog.  Her doctor divided her lantus into 2 shots instead of one daily to help her get better numbers.  She also has to cover all her meals.  She tried the insulin pump but did not like being connected to something all the time.  She runs high frequently with everything going on so ends up taking one extra shot a day to level out.

[Metcalf]

crazedmom -

I have had type one for 30 years, I am 31 years old and when I was around your daughter's age, I too had SEVER joint pain...especially in the knees!

I usually treated it with ice packs or advil.  I was tested fpr Lyme disease as well, has your daughter been tested for that?

I ended up not having it, I just treated it as it came.  Doctors couldn't diagnose me with anything, I still get pain to this day, but not as much.

One thing to be careful with is taking Advil, I love it but, taking too much on a daily basis is not good for the kidneys...please be careful.
But I know when you are in that much pain, you will do just about anything to stop it, especially for your child.

As for the stomach pain, have you ever checked your daughter's ketone levels?  When ketone levels are high, stomach aches can occur. Ketone test sticks can be purchased at your local drug store and can be tested by dipping the stick in urine, please excuse me if you are aware of this already.

Do you happen to keep a daily log of her glucose levels? If not, you may find it helpful because 7 shots a day sounds like it's just too much...although I am not a doctor. What type of insulin is she on and how much does she take in the course of a day?

I wish for the best on her appt to the specialist. I look forward to your reply if you have the time.  All the best!

[MLWTR]

It's great you got an earlier appointment, and I hope you will have an answer soon. Crohn's was just a thought -- it can be a sneaky beast, and no one has all the symptoms that are listed -- but only someone who sees your daughter in person will be able to make a diagnosis among all the possibilities. Best of luck on Friday.

[crazedmom]

I was looking at some of the symptoms of crohn's and some do not make sense.  She does not have a loss of appetite, ever, and no problems at all with stools.  As I had stated she has had knee joint pain since she was around 4.  And looking back now, it has gradually increased over the course of the years.  She has never been one to really complain about anything and I am feeling that at this point she just cannot take it anymore and that is why everything is coming out.  After working around the yard this weekend her knees were swollen and her elbows and hands were causing her a lot of pain.  She seems to be taking advil and motrin around the clock and still having pain through it.  

On a good note, she is getting into the doctors sooner.  The other appt suddenly called to say they cannot accept her insurance so I found a doctor that is suppose to be very good that will see her this Friday.  I hope we get some answers.  We are so confused!

Thanks for listening.

[MLWTR]

With the rapid weight loss and the very significant joint pain, coupled with the reflux and stomach issues, I would suspect Crohn's disease even more than celiac disease. But the scope should give you a much better idea of what's going on. Hope she feels better soon.

[JDRF-Team-RL]

Our endo told us that about one in twenty type 1's will develop celiac.  It's certainly worth knowing for sure.

[crazedmom]

No her doctor has not tested it as far as I know.  I had mentioned to both her endo in Florida and her current doctor now and both looked at me like I was crazy.  I will call them on Monday and ask if it has been done before.

[JDRF-Team-cb]

I too am a volunteer.  I have had Type I diabetes for 25 years.  First off, you should give yourself credit-you sound like you are taking the right steps with doctors and the testing your daughter is getting and will be getting soon.

I had Graves disease and was allergic to the medications, so I had to have my thyroid removed.  The thyroid is part of the autoimmune system as well, which it sounds as if you already know that, by the tests your daughter gets.  

I have had ganglion cysts and clicking in my fingers as well as joint soreness and pain in my hands.  My mother has arthritis and my grandmother had it.  Does arthritis run in your family?  
I was told by my hand surgeon that he has seen many diabetics with the same problems as me.  I guess what I am trying to say is he didn't have proven tests, but theories that diabetes and hand or joint pain could be connected.
I am also doing some research on lupus and arthritis. I went to the Arthritis Foundation website and the Lupus Foundation site. It sounds as if there is some correlation between these diseases and diabetes, because they are all autoimmune diseases  but again I am only researching and am no doctor.

[JDRF-Team-RL]

Hello.  I'm not a medical professional, just the parent of a child with diabetes, and your post is very medically-oriented.  I'll continue to look up some info for you, but my first question is whether or not your daughter has been tested for celiac.  <a href="http://celiac.org/cd-symptoms.php" target=_blank>Here</a> is a list of symptoms, and they include many of the things your daughter is experiencing, to include stomach cramping, as well as bone and joint pain.  The test for this is simple, and most endocrinologists will typically test for it once a year.  If she hasn't been tested, I'd talk to your endocrinologist as soon as possible.  I'll continue to look for other info for you.