Is Parkinson's connected to diabetes2 or ... - Cure Parkinson's

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Is Parkinson's connected to diabetes2 or insulin resistance?

Norton1 profile image
26 Replies

I am wondering how many people with parkinsons also have diabetes type 2 or are pre diabetic?

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Norton1
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26 Replies
bmiairo profile image
bmiairo

Me.

Norton1 profile image
Norton1

Thank you bmiairo. I suspect there is a connection in many of us with parkinsons.

Norton

jillannf6 profile image
jillannf6

yes wha tages are you both as type 2 diabetes does increas e with age..

JIll

:-)

Norton1 profile image
Norton1 in reply to jillannf6

Thank you jillannf6,

It is predicted that diabetes2 will increase in numbers considerably over the next few years. But what of now? How many PwP are undiagnosed with diabetes2, insulin resistance or blood sugar problems.

Norton

.

Court profile image
Court

I was also diagnosed with Diabetes 2 about 18 months ago. It now appears that there might be a link betwen diabetes 2 and Parkinsons.

Norton1 profile image
Norton1 in reply to Court

Thank you Court,

I wonder if there is anybody 'out there' who has been diagnosed with having diabetes2 who has adopted a strict diet regime to keep it under control who does not take specific diabetes medication and who feels that the progress of their Parkinson's has slowed down? Similarly, anybody with diagnosed insulin resistance who has adopted a strict diet to control it!

Norton

hilarypeta profile image
hilarypeta

Of course it is..im not a doctor but your gut is your second brain..one of the reasons we have pd is because we cannot use the ntrients thriough digestion. Read gut reaction by gudrun jonnson. Its responsible for all sorts of immunity disease problems..put our guts right and think well and we can get better!

Norton1 profile image
Norton1 in reply to hilarypeta

Thank you for the reference to Gudrun Jonnson book Gut Reaction. I have ordered a copy. I like the idea of improving our digestive systems to improve matters, but I think we will have to go something to balance out our neurotransmitters so that our symptoms improve significantly. Still, it is important to do things for ourselves at a fundamental level in addition to taking medication recommended by our neurologists.

Thank you again.

Norton

Norton1 profile image
Norton1 in reply to hilarypeta

I visited Gudrun's website and noticed that she mentions treating Parkinson's. Since you have heard of this healer have you any knowledge of her having successfully treating a PwP?

hilarypeta profile image
hilarypeta in reply to Norton1

No but if i go back to england I shall certainly pay to see her. What she says makes sense. Still need to keep up with other things like exercise..qi gong and yoga, meditation, correct breathing.

Norton1 profile image
Norton1 in reply to hilarypeta

Thank you Hilarypeta,

I remain neutral about this treatment, simply because if the clinic was having consistent, significant, benefits then there would be more publicity than I have seen to date. Still, we all need hope and you might find it there.

reverett123 profile image
reverett123

Yes, indeed, there is a link, particularly among those of us taking Sinemet, etc. For example-

1) J. Smith, 2004; "Levodopa with carbidopa diminishes glycogen...."

"Notably, hyperglycemic effects of levodopa and dopamine

have been documented in humans and laboratory animals "

2) O. Hornykiewiscz, 2002; "L-Dopa: From a biologically inactive amino...."

"However, two early pharmacological studies, published in 1927 and 1930 respectively, proved (in the rabbit) that D,L-dopa exerted significant effects on glucose metabolism (causing marked hyperglycemia)..."

In effect, sinemet and similar drugs mess with our glucose and point toward diabetes in some cases.

Pete-1 profile image
Pete-1 in reply to reverett123

I thought Levodopa wasn't available until the 1960s

Norton1 profile image
Norton1 in reply to reverett123

Thank you Reverett123 for that information which I, for one, never knew. Since I take Sinemet, I shall be even more determined to reduce as much as I can any tendency I have towards diabetes2, such as insulin resistance (sometimes referred to as Syndrome X) or erratic blood sugar, by adopting a regime from a dedicated book. Thank you again.

Norton

This is a tricky one. I am on Madopar and one of it's problems is it can alter results of blood glucose levels. After a blood test earlier this year I was told I had Diabetes type II.

I asked my Neurologist if they knew anything re Madopar and blood glucose, also my GP.

I handed them evidence I had got from the drug company, but they poo pooed the idea as nonsense. When I went back to the Nurse recently I was told I no longer have diabetes as I lost 28 pounds in weight. but I am now short of Vit D but no explanation as to why.

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

Norton1 profile image
Norton1 in reply to

My, what an inspiration you are Oldtyke. I seem to recall that Madopar is similar to Sinemet so Reveretts123 point in his post is equally relevant. Hopefully, you have reduced the negatives to a minimum and they will stay that way. I'm like you in that I do not hesitate to ask questions of the medics, but find my best sources of information on forums such as this and recommended books.

What system, did you adopt to lose all that weight?

Norton

in reply to Norton1

Once they had said I was T II Diabetic I knew often weight loss can stop it in its tracks. I just ate less, smaller portions, and being vegetarian helps.

Unfortunately, I am one who can gain weight quickly, so have two meals of water porridge daily with oatbran keeps the weight down a treat.

Norton1 profile image
Norton1 in reply to

Thank you Oldtyke. Just for the record, seeing that you are vegetarian, do you keep track of your vitamin B12 levels? I have just read a book called 'could it be B12? I was amazed at the symptoms a deficiency of this vitally important vitamin can cause. By all accounts, the blood test we get on the NHS is not that good in detecting shortages.

in reply to Norton1

Thanks for that info will think on it!

Susie01 profile image
Susie01

My family has a long history of Diabetes. My sister is Type I, mother is Type II, her mother was Type I. I was diagnosed as Insulin Resistent at age 10 and Gestational Diabetes. I have not yet deveoped Diabetes, though when I was pregnant I had to take so much insulin they thought it would not go away after delivery, but it did.

Norton1 profile image
Norton1 in reply to Susie01

Hello Susie01, do you still have insulin resistance after being diagnosed at age 10 or have you adopted an eating regime to correct it? If so, what is the regime?

Norton

Susie01 profile image
Susie01

I have always been careful about my diet and was a runner for many years and stayed in very good physical condition. PD has impacted my ability to exercise like I use to. I am basically vegetarian, do eat a little chicken and turkey now and then, not much. I almost never eat sweets. Since the PD diagnosis, I have gained about 20 lbs. and my last A1C was 5.9, a little on the high side.

My Grandmother, who I take after a lot physically, was Type I (usual onset early in life), she was in her mid 50's before onset of diabetes. I am 51 and keep tabs on it because I know it is a possibility.

Norton1 profile image
Norton1 in reply to Susie01

Hello Susie01,

Thank you for getting back. I hope you do not mind, but the thing which struck me reading your reply was that you are basically vegetarian. I recently read a book called 'could it be B12'. I was surprised to say the least at just how important this vitamin is, far more than is generally known. I bought the book from Amazon just recently. Shortage of B12 can even affect sleep, but you must get it in the right form whose name I do not recall other than it begins with 'M'. Well worthwhile checking out.

Norton

Susie01 profile image
Susie01

Thanks for the info. Sleep is a real problem for me and most Parkies. I do take a B-complex and have taken a liquid B-6/12 in the past, really taste bad, but not on a regular basis.

bigbob profile image
bigbob

my slfe would say no because my diabetes started 14 years befor my pd this being 1994

also was found in 2102 to have koen b12 in my bodey and on that i would say again i woud say no

Norton1 profile image
Norton1 in reply to bigbob

Thank you Bigbob for putting your experience into the equation

Norton

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