Diabetes and Drug Use

[class-a-team]

As a type 1 diabetic and chronic drug user, I was wondering if anybody knew anything about the impact of illegal drugs on diabetes? Next to nothing has been researched on the subject due to the illegal status of the substances. All I've heard is that downers lower blood glucose levels, whereas uppers are likely to raise glucose levels. Can anybody elaborate on the subject?

Also, I would be interested to hear about your own personal experiences regarding managing your diabetes while on drugs. I know that I often feel hypoglycemic while high, but when I check my blood I find my glucose levels to be normal or even high.

I know that if you're taking illegal drugs the chances are you don't give a toss about your health and that managing your diabetes isn't exactly a priority, but I'm beginning to value my health even more and I know that drinking alcohol and smoking tobacco is probably more harmful to a person with diabetes so I want to do things right. My friends find it hard to believe that I've never even had a sip of alcohol since I was diagnosed with diabetes at 11, when I'm sniffing glue, smoking weed and sniffing heroin on a regular basis. It's quite ironic to them, naturally enough.

 

[xbloodwhipx]

Sniffing glue? never heard of that lol. Im sure that (and im not a doctor, i may be wrong) illegal drugs wont hurt a person with diabetes any more than a person without diabetes. And bro, i will never do H... But why not IV it. Im sure that would be more enjoyable.

 

[class-a-team]

Yup, sniffing glue. And basically anything that comes in an aerosol... I hope you're right though. I sound like a hypocrite, sniffing gear and then claiming to be conscientious about my health, but it's very occasional use and that's all it ever could be given its availability in my area. And I honestly don't believe occasional use of H will result in any physical damage so long as it remains occasional. The only risk besides addiction is overdose and that will never happen. From what I've heard, you're fucked as soon as you start IV'ing. So I won't ever be shooting up. Kind of a pity considering I'm so used to needles (I already take five injections a day). Lol.

 

[hydroazuanacaine]

occasional h might not do more damage than you are willing to accept, but this might:

Yup, sniffing glue. And basically anything that comes in an aerosol...

not related to diabetes, but damn.

 

[effie]

All I can say is keep a close eye on your blood glucose level. It is true that stimulants such as amphetamines can raise glucose levels, as they activate your fight or flight response via the sympathetic nervous system, part of which causes release of glucose from stores (so you are prepared to run away or fight your enemy!) but I am not sure what effect heroin has. There may not be much info on illegal drugs, but I bet there is information on the effect opiates in general have, as they are legal and commonly used in hospitals. If I had more time I would do a search for you, sorry..

Sniffing glue is an unhealthy thing to do all round, no idea if being diabetic has any impact or not!

It is really good that you are aware of your health and for this reason alone you are probably going to be more cautious and therefore at a lower risk of harm than other people might be. However, diabetes can have wide reaching effects across the body as I am sure you are aware, so just bear in mind that your body already has the potential adverse affects of diabetes to contend with - you don't want to put too much extra strain on it. I particularly wouldn't think that using stimulants a lot is a good idea as they put strain on the heart as well as raising your blood glucose levels. No idea about cannabis, heroin or glue though unfortunately..

I'm afraid I don't have any more info for you, but I am pleased you thinking about your health. Am surprised you still sniff glue after starting sniffing heroin I must say! Whatever floats your boat though.. just try to stay safe


edit:

I'm going to move this to healthy living actually, to see if anyone there has any expertise in this area.

HL mods feel free to send back if it's not suitable for your forum!

BDD > HL

 

[class-a-team]

Thanks for that. And as for the solvents, I don't really do that anymore. I started when I was 13, it was a lot more fun than doing my homework, I used to be a bit addicted to it, not so much the effects but the unpleasant feeling of fear when I experienced palpitations gave me an adrenaline rush. It was a very destructive habit, a vicious circle. Everytime I did it I became so afraid of the tachycardia that I'd be on my knees, begging not to die and promising God I'd never do it again. Needless to say, I survived each solvent high but within the next day I'd be doing it again. I really wouldn't recommend anyone try sniffing glue or any aerosols, diabetic or otherwise. It's one of the riskiest thing you could do for a high, maybe not as addictive as heroin but certainly more of a chance of sudden death.

Anyway, I keep glue sniffing to a minimum these days. It's very difficult for me to get decent dope locally, and I'm often too lazy to do a CWE, otherwise I'd never sniff glue.

On the subject of diabetes, it's a very difficult subject because I know that if I brought it up with my doctors illegal drugs would be a big no-no. I feel safer on opiates than stimulants because I'm mostly conscious of my heart. Until I find some valuable evidence to discourage my recreational drug use I will continue.

Although not terribly informative, this is probably the best article I could find online on this topic:

http://www.diabeteshealth.com/read/...-with-diabetes-should-know-before-they-party/

This is actually better:

http://www.australiandiabetescouncil.com/AustralianDiabetesCounil/media/PDFs/Illicit_Drug_use.pdf

 

[effie]

^ thanks, I will read those :D

I didn't mean to sound judgemental about glue sniffing, I don't like drug snobs! Was just surprised that someone who uses heroin still sniffs glue, but I understand your explanation and you weren't asking for a lecture on the dangers of solvent abuse so shall not give you one, especially as you seem pretty clued up

Hopefully someone will have some more info on diabetes and drug use for you.

 

[class-a-team]

No bother, you didn't sound judgemental!

 

[caremonroe]

i was diagnosed with diabetes type 1 since i was 11years old, same age as you and i am now 26 years old. i am not your typical diabetic, i am very brital. the drugs will and do control you and your diabetes. its a dark road to the grave yard or prison yard. take it from someone who has been there and done it. i am a 26 year old beautiful woman with a one year old and a husband. i started off with weed to coke to pain pills to snorting H then to shooting the big boy drug, the top of all drugs, straight china white heroin. this didnt happen overnight either, it happened over a period of time....i ended up in the hospital withdrawling from H and it sent by bloodsugars into the 900's, i ended up with keytones, keytones is posion in your blood, it entered my brain, liver and kidneys and i almost died.....the dr. didnt think id make it. this was the THIRD time i was on my death bed, once being diagnosed with diabetes....coma for 8 days.....being pregnant and going so low all the fluids had left my body, after dexatros IV (sugar) my bs was 17 and then third time from the withdrawls of heroin. the thing with the heroin, i wont lie, damn its an amazing high....a high that is better then any other drug....but its the devils drug and thats the damn truth.....it will suck the life out of you and spit you out faster then you can member the feeling of that high.....the other thing that you know its the devil is because when you CAN stop you DONT want to and when you WANT to you CANT! what kind of shit is that?!?! you prob wont listen to a damn thing i am saying because i know i didnt.....but i repsond with this in the hopes that something you read from my experience will just weigh in your mind and make you think and hope to god and pray to god for help.....heroin is a DEAD END road and just member yiou may not get as lucky as me.....im blessed to have been down the road of hell, literally walked that plank, made it to the end of that road with one foot in hell and one foot holding on to earth prayin to god to forgive my sins and keep me from going to the pit of hell where the devil was playin with my mind and weakness. i suggest you tell someone who ACTUALLY LOVES you and gives a damn about you, they'll be mad, hurt but they will save your life.....if you choose not to be strong, youll member these words on your death bed or in that prison yard, the world breaks everyone.....its in the broken places the strong survive......im going to pray for you.

 

[aveoturbo]

i was diagnosed with diabetes type 1 since i was 11years old, same age as you and i am now 26 years old. i am not your typical diabetic, i am very brital. the drugs will and do control you and your diabetes. its a dark road to the grave yard or prison yard. take it from someone who has been there and done it. i am a 26 year old beautiful woman with a one year old and a husband. i started off with weed to coke to pain pills to snorting H then to shooting the big boy drug, the top of all drugs, straight china white heroin. this didnt happen overnight either, it happened over a period of time....i ended up in the hospital withdrawling from H and it sent by bloodsugars into the 900's, i ended up with keytones, keytones is posion in your blood, it entered my brain, liver and kidneys and i almost died.....the dr. didnt think id make it. this was the THIRD time i was on my death bed, once being diagnosed with diabetes....coma for 8 days.....being pregnant and going so low all the fluids had left my body, after dexatros IV (sugar) my bs was 17 and then third time from the withdrawls of heroin. the thing with the heroin, i wont lie, damn its an amazing high....a high that is better then any other drug....but its the devils drug and thats the damn truth.....it will suck the life out of you and spit you out faster then you can member the feeling of that high.....the other thing that you know its the devil is because when you CAN stop you DONT want to and when you WANT to you CANT! what kind of shit is that?!?! you prob wont listen to a damn thing i am saying because i know i didnt.....but i repsond with this in the hopes that something you read from my experience will just weigh in your mind and make you think and hope to god and pray to god for help.....heroin is a DEAD END road and just member yiou may not get as lucky as me.....im blessed to have been down the road of hell, literally walked that plank, made it to the end of that road with one foot in hell and one foot holding on to earth prayin to god to forgive my sins and keep me from going to the pit of hell where the devil was playin with my mind and weakness. i suggest you tell someone who ACTUALLY LOVES you and gives a damn about you, they'll be mad, hurt but they will save your life.....if you choose not to be strong, youll member these words on your death bed or in that prison yard, the world breaks everyone.....its in the broken places the strong survive......im going to pray for you.

Wowzer, those are some insane experiences! I particularly appreciate your post because my biological dad had diabetes (unsure of which type) and was diagnosed when he was 25 y.o. and I am now currently 25. As of the last few years I have steadily gained weight due (surprisingly) drug use and a bad back. I am 6'0 and at my peak I weighed 260 lbs. I know that being overweight like that can put one at a more adverse risk of diabetes, plus the lack exercise I was getting due to the physical pain, quantified by the fact that my mother and my grandfather on her side were both overweight at one point and my ma still is a bit. She is loosing weight tho, slowly. So, I really had quite a bit (IMO) riding against me for a period of time to become a diabetic.

After a few surgeries, a hellish summer, and a lot of hard work, I have become much more active, lost a substantial sum of weight (almost 50 lbs now), and am choosing healthier foods to eat. On the flip side, my choice and use of drugs has changed a bit drastically at the same time. My discovery of MXE has lead down a bit of a darker path than I thought it would be, also my discovery of some RC stims (which is another big risk as there have been little to no clinical trials on most) has become more prominent and does sometimes suppress my appetite. Sometimes eating can become a chore so I do make sure to supplement with vitamins/minerals and have found protein shakes, along with some highly concentrated electrolyte infused beverages like Pedialyte to be of amazing value.

I am glad somebody brought this up Kind of makes one rethink some of their habits and how fortunate they are.

*Also, CareMonroe, please take some care to maybe divide up your post up into at least a couple of paragraphs. Not a huge deal and dont mean to be rude, it just makes it easier to read a persons post and yours is a bit important IMO.