how do you know if you have CFRD?

[anonymous]

Hi I was wondering how you know if you have CF related diabetes?Thanks!Kathi

 

[scarlett]

The symptoms of CFRD include weight loss, being thirsty all the time, feeling tired and having low energy, being cranky, etc. To find out if you have if they do a blood test to check your glucose. Hope that helps.~scarlett

 

[Diane]

Before i was diagnosed with cfrd, ( 22 years ago) i was experiencing GREAT hunger all the time no matter how much i ate, constantly having to urinate, constant thirst, dizziness at times, tiredness, weight loss, and i also started to see halos around street lights when i looked up at them.(diabetes that is untreated can affect the eyes) When i was finally diagnosed my blood sugar was unbelievably high. It took a while to diagnose it, because it seemed like my blood sugar would be fine one week and not fine the other. Luckily we finally caught it on a week when it was not fine. Things got back to normal soon after, but it took years to get the hang of how my body handles and reacts to things. good luck<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> it isnt half as bad as it seems. ~ Diane

 

[Diane]

OOPS, i forgot to mention the leg and foot cramps at night

 

[Dea]

My symptoms were similar to some of the others. But for about 2 weeks...I felt EXTREMELY tired...I was having to urinate ALL the time...and was EXTREMELY thirsty...no matter what I drank...nothing helped. I also lost about 10 pounds in a week...and was still eating fine. I knew something was wrong...my doc knew almost immediately just by the symptoms I gave her. My sugars were also extremely high when they tested me. I actually had to be hospitalized for a weekend because they were so high. Everything is fine now though...its been almost 5 years and I am still on oral meds! My blood sugars are now well controlled! Hope this helps!Dea

 

[anonymous]

Your doctor will do a glucose tolerance test. All you do is drink the stuff that tastes like soda with way too much syrup and they check your blood sugar aftera few hours. Sometimes you may need insulin when you have an infection but not when you're healthy.Debbie

 

[anonymous]

Do they always treat it with injections or can it be controlled with just oral meds...I am sure its different for every person, but just wondering. I am not afraid of needles or anything, but I was just curious. Thanks

 

[anonymous]

Do you remember what number is considered high? I am 4 months pregnant and they did this glucose test on me and it was 217. Now they have me checking blood sugar every day.Kathi

 

[anonymous]

I've never heard of CFRD treated w/ oral meds. The reason is because we need a fast acting insulin (humolog) and I don't know if that comes in an oral form. Basically, after years of the pancrease being a piece of junk, it takes longer for insulin to be dispursed. The fast acting insulin works in about five minutes and balances things out until the body picks up the slack. And most CFers only need a few units and only when they eat. If you every have to take it, be sure you only use insulin when you food is IN FRONT of you. I've had a couple intances where I got distracted between my shot and eating an gotten very dizzy and shakey. There is some patient friendly literature on the subject put out by the CF foundation.Debbie22 yr old w/ CF in CO

 

[Diane]

hi Kathi, a blood sugar of 217 is considered high. A normal range would coinsist of somewhere between 80-120. There is something called gestational diabetes, meaing you only have higher blood sugars while pregnant. Did you have a fasting glucose tolleraaaance test? And if so, how many hours? ~ Diane

 

[Diane]

Hi Debbie, you have me so curious .......... I have been on insulin ( long acting) for the whole 22 years i have had cf related diabetes. I have never heard of any short acting insulin working in only 5 minutes. It takes about 1/2 hour to an hour for it to start to work, and it peaks in about 2- 3 hours and is out of the system in 6 hours. Long acting insulin starts working in about 1 - 2 hours, peaks in 6 -8 hours and is out of the system in about 22- 24 hours. What insulin are you taking that you feel is working for you in 5 minutes? I am on Humulin Nph and also Humulin regular as necessary. ( Nph- long acting / Regular-short acting) I can not imagine any insulin being absorbed enough to start working in 5 minutes, but, who knows, maybe there is a new one out there that i dont know about. I've been on humulin for years now and havent even paid attention to what else is out there. It would be nice to know of one that actually does get absorbed in only 5 minutes, that way i could take a shot and enjoy some ice cream<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"><img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> right away. p.s. i actually tried using oral meds for a year or so and it worked only temporarily for me, once i returned to insulin, i gained weight and just generally felt better.

 

[anonymous]

Diane, The fast acting insulin is called Humalog and is made by Eli Lilly. It was created so you can dose and dine eaisly. Ask your doc. They even used to make it in these things that looked like a Sharpie marker. They were super easy tp carry around, but they recalled them earlier this year. They may have perfected the design though. Hope this helps.Debbie

 

[Diane]

Hi Debbie, thanks for the info, I am gonna ask my doctor about t and see if i can maybe use that for my short acting dose when needed. ~ Diane

 

[Dea]

Hi,It is possible to be on oral meds with CFRD. I have had it now for 5 yrs the end of this month....and I am still on oral meds. It just depends on how bad the pancrease is...each person is different. My blood sugars toward the end of my pregnancy were beginning to get pretty high....rather than starting me on insulin...they induced my labor almost 3 weeks early.....that was in March...in October they diagnosed me with CFRD. I did take insulin for about 3 months...and then switched to oral meds..and have been on them ever since. My blood sugars are very well controlled with them...my last A1C was a 5.9%...which is a normal range.Good luck Kathi...if you would like to chat...I am on yahoo and msn...let me know and I will give you my email address. By the way...I am 30Dea

 

[anonymous]

Humalog starts working in 15-30 minutes, peaks at 2 hours, and lasts 4-6 hours. It's used for tight control (long acting insulin once or twice daily, and Humalog with every meal).

 

[anonymous]

And the Humalog pens are still available..They may have recalled a lot or so but they are available now, Humalog, Humalog Mix, Humulin N, etc..lots are available as a pen.

 

[anonymous]

hi. I am married and have two children. I was diagnosed with diabetes about 10 years ago! It was rough then . I was very thirsty tired, hungry, irritable and running to the bathroom about 7 times every night! Oh I also lost about 10 pounds even though I was eating normally. I am now on the minimed pump since 4 in a half years- since I got married which got me in such good control that I now have two healthy children ages 2 and 3! The pregnancy's were hard!