Diabetics = Compromised immune system

[Guest guest]

Bea wrote:

>The fact is that our immune systems are compromised when we have diabetes.

>It's rarely mentioed but my motivation to keep my BGs in or close to the

>normal range includes maintaining my immune system as well as I can and

>thus decreaseing the risk of infections and cancer.

For many, many years I have heard this re: diabetics having " compromised

immune systems " but I have always wondered if that is different for Type 1

and Type 2?

Before I became diabetic (in 1979), I got every cold, flu and virus there

was (and before I had a tot bringing such wonders home from

school/playground), and usually a bad/lingering case of it . . . but after

I became T1, I didn't get so much as a sniffle (not to mention no viruses,

no flu, etc.) for a full 13 years (when I did have a child in school). In

the last 12 years, I get the rare cold or something about every 2 or 3

years, but very mildly and I rarely get the stuff my healthy husband does.

Is that because my immune system ramped up (for whatever reasons) to

destroy my pancreas function (T1) then stayed at that level (i.e., much

stronger immunity function) for other things as well? Anybody have a clue?

Or is it just a lucky fluke?

Sandy

T1 - 1979

[Guest guest]

Sandy B, I am a type 2 and I very seldom get colds anymore. I am not

cloistered at home, I do get exposed to them. However, I take vitamins

and supplements that I feel have built up my immune system; at least

against this stuff.

My last cold was four years ago under conditions of extreme emotional

stress.

Helen

[Guest guest]

Three things that are documented make a diabetic's immune system fall

below par:

1: Low antioxidant glutathione levels. Glutathione is used by all of

the cells to prevent infection of all types; low glutathione

stimulates infection. This is significant because most diabetic

complications are ones of oxidative stress (and toxin load), and

oxidative stress has been linked to low glutathione (and somewhat,

low antioxidant values generally). This applies directly to the cells

of the immune system, as they require ample glutathione precursors in

order to do their job enough times before they die of natural

processes. If there isn't enough glutathione the cells die early. The

scientific information is here regarding immune system and diabetic

complications and glutathione:

http://members.shaw.ca/duncancrow/GSH_medline.html

2: Low metabolic rate. Growth hormone levels are low as we know in

metablic syndrome. But ample HGH (actually the active form IGF-1) is

a requirement for white blood cell proliferation in the bone marrow.

HGH (IGF-1) also increases cytokine activity.

http://tinyurl.com/5dlj2

http://tinyurl.com/6kpho

Also, the thymus gland, responsible for the training and maturing of

certain classes of white blood cells, requires HGH to function, and

its size and function improves when HGH levels are normalised. This

has been proposed for the immunodeficiencies. The link has been made

to diabetes earlier because again, most diabetics are HGH deficient;

that's a known and prevalent attribute of metabolic syndrome

(syndrome X). http://tinyurl.com/4kck4

3: Low glyconutrient availability. Malnutrition, toxin load, illness

and excess glucose all depress proper formation and maintenance of

cell receptor sites (they are made of glycoproteins - protein and

certain sugar molecules). This is tremendously important because

damaged or absent receptor sites results in the immune system running

amok, with overactive, underactive, autoimmune reactions occurring

alone or in combination. Certainly, proper control of immune activity

and direction of activity is desireable.

http://glycoscience.org

When you're in Medline, if you land on a study that's close to

exactly what you wanted, try clicking the " related articles " link.

regards,

Duncan Crow

[Guest guest]

> For many, many years I have heard this re: diabetics having " compromised

> immune systems " but I have always wondered if that is different for Type 1

> and Type 2?

I wonder if the immune system is compromised by having diabetes or by having

high BGs. We know that high BGs impair the immune system. Some people assume

that everyone with diabetes has high BGs, is excreting glucose in the urine,

etc.

Type 1 has an overactive immune system, not a deficient one.

In both types, those who take care of their diabetes probably have better

immune systems simply because they're eating properly and getting exercise.

Gretchen