Diabetes and Drugs

[TheSacredTree]

So... It turns out i just got diagnosed with Diabetes (type 2 to be more specific). Now, i've never even felt anything was wrong and i've never had any side-effects from this disease that i could identify, other than one; i'm now afraid to try all the drugs i previously planned on trying. Now here's my question, i don't know if anyone has any experience with this disease (or knowledge of it) but, before i go and try everything out and end up killing myself, are there any drugs i should totally avoid now that i know what condition i'm in? I tried looking up a few of my favorites and their negative effects on people with diabetes but most just said the main risk is forgetting to take your insulin. I don't take insulin though so that one's not a problem for me. But are there any other problems that can come up with any drugs in particular?

 

[Burnt Offerings]

I'm also diabetic (type 1, as a result of auto-immune disease). The drug that has the most direct impact on blood glucose is actually alcohol, so be careful when you drink.

Other than that I've done a lot of different drugs post-diagnoses and have never really experienced problems. Diabetes affects cardiovascular health so you may want to be careful with stimulants as well. I don't lead an ideally healthy lifestyle, but I tend to eat right, and inject once a day, and my A1C's are pretty much perfect. As long as you remember to take insulin you should be fine. (edit: nevermind you said you don't take insulin.)

 

[tacodude]

I have no personal experience, but it seems like there are some mushrooms that could be useful. Specifically Shitaki, Miataki, Cordyceps sinensis, and even Reishi. While they may not prevent or "fix" diabetes one or a combination of any of the four may be useful. I would recomend researching them and figuring out where to start although it could be a great start without resorting to and prescribed medications. Also remember to chew your mushrooms 10x times at least thouroughly as they comprised of the same compound compound that is what makes lobster shells tough.

 

[Kittycat5]

Burnt Offering gave solid advice. I would just add that stimulants themselves may raise blood sugar slightly and due to their effect on appetite and sleep, increase a diabetics chance of experiencing hypoglycemia. There effects may also mimic some of the effects of hypoglycemia itself.

Cocaine can have negative effects on the kidneys in addition to the CV system, and two of the most common consequences of diabetes are CV disease and nephropathy, so you can see how coke could be an issue.

 

[TheSacredTree]

I'm also diabetic (type 1, as a result of auto-immune disease). The drug that has the most direct impact on blood glucose is actually alcohol, so be careful when you drink.

Other than that I've done a lot of different drugs post-diagnoses and have never really experienced problems. Diabetes affects cardiovascular health so you may want to be careful with stimulants as well. I don't lead an ideally healthy lifestyle, but I tend to eat right, and inject once a day, and my A1C's are pretty much perfect. As long as you remember to take insulin you should be fine. (edit: nevermind you said you don't take insulin.)

How much would you say alcohol effects blood glucose? Because i very rarely drink but when a big party comes up, i like to go waaaay over my limit on my alcohol intake. Do you think occasional extremely heavy drinking would be bad as long as i don't do it too often? And as a side note, my blood glucose is really bad. My after-meal readings are ussually well into the 300's. But again, i haven't ever been able to feel a difference between being at 70 and 380 so i don't exactly know why not to let it get to those extremes.

 

[TheSacredTree]

I have no personal experience, but it seems like there are some mushrooms that could be useful. Specifically Shitaki, Miataki, Cordyceps sinensis, and even Reishi. While they may not prevent or "fix" diabetes one or a combination of any of the four may be useful. I would recomend researching them and figuring out where to start although it could be a great start without resorting to and prescribed medications. Also remember to chew your mushrooms 10x times at least thouroughly as they comprised of the same compound compound that is what makes lobster shells tough.

That's nice to know too. I've never really liked mushrooms though but i've only ever had shitake. I might be willing to try the others if i ever come across them in a store though now that you've told me.

What about Amanita Muscaria though? Are those good for you too? Because i've been wanting to try them for a while.

 

[TheSacredTree]

Burnt Offering gave solid advice. I would just add that stimulants themselves may raise blood sugar slightly and due to their effect on appetite and sleep, increase a diabetics chance of experiencing hypoglycemia. There effects may also mimic some of the effects of hypoglycemia itself.

Cocaine can have negative effects on the kidneys in addition to the CV system, and two of the most common consequences of diabetes are CV disease and nephropathy, so you can see how coke could be an issue.

Awww. But coke and the other stimulants are my favorites. But wouldn't the appetite supression be a good thing though because i'd eat less sugar and carbs? And i have high blood sugar instead of low.

 

[Kittycat5]

To answer your question about why chronic hyperglycemia is bad even if you are not symptomatic, it is because poor glucose control leads to damage of both small and large blood vessels. This leads to the secondary complications of diabetes such as cardiovascular disease, retinopathy, kidney disease and neuropathy.

Your day to day blood glucose values are really only representative of how you may feel that particular day. Its when they are chronically elevated, as measured through Hemoglobin A1C, that you are much more likely to have the problems mentioned above.

It may seem that the decrease appetite from stims is good, but diabetics need to eat a healthy and consistent diet. And hypoglycemia is very common in medicated diabetics and can lead to weakness, tachycardia, confusion and even fainting and coma.

 

[TheSacredTree]

To answer your question about why chronic hyperglycemia is bad even if you are not symptomatic, it is because poor glucose control leads to damage of both small and large blood vessels. This leads to the secondary complications of diabetes such as cardiovascular disease, retinopathy, kidney disease and neuropathy.

Your day to day blood glucose values are really only representative of how you may feel that particular day. Its when they are chronically elevated, as measured through Hemoglobin A1C, that you are much more likely to have the problems mentioned above.

It may seem that the decrease appetite from stims is good, but diabetics need to eat a healthy and consistent diet. And hypoglycemia is very common in medicated diabetics and can lead to weakness, tachycardia, confusion and even fainting and coma.

Oh, i don't really know what Hemoglobin A1C is but i do believe my doctor told me it was fairly bad when he tested my blood.

And i think i may have had hypoglycemia before then because there have been a few times i've gone all day without eating and by the end of the day, i'm ussually weak, shaky, and feeling like i'm about to faint.

 

[Burnt Offerings]

How much would you say alcohol effects blood glucose? Because i very rarely drink but when a big party comes up, i like to go waaaay over my limit on my alcohol intake. Do you think occasional extremely heavy drinking would be bad as long as i don't do it too often? And as a side note, my blood glucose is really bad. My after-meal readings are ussually well into the 300's. But again, i haven't ever been able to feel a difference between being at 70 and 380 so i don't exactly know why not to let it get to those extremes.

Well you could probably get away with it, in fact I know heavy drinkers who are also diabetic, but it is not good to drink heavily if you're diabetic. You're liver is too busy processing alcohol to deliver glucose to your body resulting in hypoglycemia, a condition which can be potentially life threatening. (That's in addition to heavy drinking just not being a good idea generally-speaking). Doctors have told me that I can still drink, but if I choose to imbibe it's wise to eat some kind of food.

The highest numbers I've ever gotten to have been into the 400's. I changed my eating habits, cutting out certain things that really made it shoot up there like white rice, and my spikes aren't nearly that bad now. My last A1C was 6.2 IIRC, which ain't bad for a type 1 diabetic. I never used to feel weird when I ran high numbers but I do now since I started these drugs they gave me. Not nearly as fucked up as when I'm running really low numbers, though, but everyone, diabetic or no diabetic knows what that feeling is like (if you want to know what it feels like, go without eating for a day or two and then take a jog LOL)

 

[Kittycat5]

A1C is a measurement of your long term glucose control. Numbers under 7.0 are usually considered normal for diabetics although some endocrinologists shoot for scores less than 6.5. Basically the higher the number, the worse your sugar is under control and the risk for complications is greater.

I am not trying to be condescending and I know this is brand new to you but educate yourself. If you have access to a diabetic counselor, use it.

I would say until you are under control, avoid the drugs and booze. Once you are on a good path, partaking here or there in moderation should be ok.

 

[neversickanymore]

I have type one.. also from an autoimmune.

Cannabis use has been studied a little and shown to have positive promise in treating symptoms of diabetes.

I will post links to studies when I get back to the puter as im on the phone.


The use of cannabis reduces blood sugar levels. It also is a vascular dilator and it use helps treat and prevent many of the issues, like a common diabetics trouble fighting off infection esp in areas like the feet.

The use of cannabis lowers blood pressure.. this may be very beneficial in many ways. Blood pressure medications are typically given to diabetic patients to help protect our kidneys.

I think its use may also help prevent or treat common vascular based eye diseases clearly linked to diabetes.

So if you are planning to use drugs now that you are a diabetic I would recommend you research canibus and diabetes.