To Jean about your questions

[Guest guest]

Jean,

I went back and found the post, and believe you were interested in the swelling

in 's feet, ankles and lower legs, the itching of her feet, the pain in her

knees and legs, and the bumps under her eyelids.

While I had undiagnosed diabetes I did experience itching in my feet, all the

time, and I still have it from time to time. Many of the pain medications we

take

cause itching, too, so I previously figured it may have been caused by my

medications, now I know differently.

After I was diagnosed with diabetes and underwent that horrible DKA episode, I

experienced endema, which is swelling of the lower legs, ankles and feet. I

still

have occasional episodes where the swelling returns, but I've learned how to

help reduce it by exercises and treatment taught to me by other diabetics.

I don't have pain in my kees or legs, but have heard of other diabetics that

have

more neuropathy that do. Currently, I show no signs of neuropathy, and that's

why I'm dedicated to keeping my blood glucose under control to achieve good

" non-diabetic " numbers, since neuropathy is one of the leading complications

caused by high blood glucose levels.

I thought maybe was just tired out from so much unaccustomed exercise

by her jaunts through the malls, but it could be something else causing this!

As for the bumps under her eyelids.....that one I just can't answer. My

problems with my eyes caused by undiagnosed diabetes and having severe

high blood glucose was visual. My sight was very blurry and for several weeks,

I was not able to see anything close up without the use of extremely high

magnified reading glasses. I could see a car in the distance a mile away with

total clarity....and for a person who is typically near-sighted, that was a

treat! I

was able to drive without glasses for well over a month, or view the TV in the

living room from the sink in the kitchen (impossible) all the time while my eyes

were recovering from months of much too high blood glucose. But once I got

my BG's under good control for several weeks, all my standard vision returned.

Jean, I think you're asking if these problems is having could be the onset

of diabetes? Truthfully, I think they very well could be. There might be a

whole

lot of other symptoms going on that isn't even telling you about,

unfortunately. Getting her to get herself tested by a doctor might be

impossible

for you to convince her to do, but you need to try your best, and I know you

will.

It could be very dangerous for her to go undiagnosed and untreated if she

does, in fact, have diabetes onset. Left untreated, it could lead to lifelong

complications and these complications, i.e; neuropathy, blindness, loss of

extremites, amputation, etc. are horribly life altering. Please do what you

can.

Any doctor can do the simple bloodtest (HBA1c) to determine her rating. It

requires 8 hours of fasting, that's all. There are even kits that you can buy

in

the pharmacy where you can test it yourself, but in her case, I'd really hope

that

she would see a doctor so that she could be treated afterward if the tests are

positive.

With hope and prayers,

Heidi

Heidi H. Griffeth

South Carolina

SC & SE Regional Rep.

PAI, Intl.

Note: All comments or advice are personal opinion only, and

should not be substituted for professional medical consultation.

> I asked several important questions in that post i made to Kimber

> and have not received one answer. Would any of you who can please

> refer back to that post and answer any of the questions that you

> can. I would really appreciate it..Thank you, Jean