Mother has PBC and has recently become diabetic.

[Ant_F]

Hello everyone, my name is Anthony and I'm new here.

My mother has PBC and just this past summer discovered she has diabetes. Her doctor doesn't believe her diabetes was caused from PBC, however I'm still skeptical, because diabetes does not run in her family. Has anyone in the community become diabetic after PBC diagnosis?

Also, her endocrinologist is struggling to prescribe her medicine, due to the damage most of them cause to the liver. She is on insulin and watches what she eats, however she continues to struggle with her blood sugar levels. One day it can be in the 100mg's, while the next it can be in the 300's or even more. There isn't no consistency. I know a lot of factors can cause sugar levels to rise like stress, etc. Has anyone struggled with their diabetes and if so how are you being treated?

[Hidden]

I think the endocrinologist needs to work with your mom's Hepatologist to come up with a treatment plan. Only because the Hepatologist is the expert on what meds are okay to take & can provide insights to the endocrinologist as to what works best. It can't be done in isolation.

[Hidden]

Diabetes, like PBC, is simply another autoimmune disease. I have several of them, but not diabetes. My sister had what she called brittle diabetes from in her thirties until she passed at age 81. I remember she measured and weighed everything she ate and always had three small meals a day with two healthy snacks in between. Her main issue the past few years was with the insulin. Evidently it comes from some foreign country and was probably not properly refrigerated during transit as sometimes her numbers would be erratic and she blamed the insulin. It's bad enough to have diabetes without having to worry about the medication. You might ask her doctor or clinic with help in establishing her diet as it is quite a challenge. Our clinic has a consultant to help with such things. I wish your mom great success with finding what works for her.

[Zelda5 in reply to Hidden]

Type 1 is definitely autoimmune, but type 2 I think is due to insulin resistance. Now they are looking at a connection that it may be caused autoimmunity too. healthline.com/health/type-...

[boneytoys]

I have been following and contributing on this site on and off for 10 years and I rarely see diabetes mentioned as a symptom or co runner of pbc

I may be wrong

[pdhoover]

I have both Type 1 diabetes and PBC. I am 71 year's old. I was diagnosed with the diabetes in 1999 one year after my gallbladder was removed. My PBC diagnosis was in 2012. Like you describe your mother, for years my blood sugars were all over the place and my A1C was 9.2...absolutely too high. I had never been able to get it below 8.1 since I was diagnosed. This April I discovered 2 books that changed my life and health! They are Bright Spots & Landmines by Adam Brown and Dr. Bernsteins Diabetic Solution. Both are available on Amazon. Following their advice, my A1C was down to 6.1 in 4 months. My endocrinologist was incredulous. The amazing thing for me is I feel like a different person. My readings stay steady. Another unbelievable side effect is I have no acid reflux or any abdominal discomforts. I was on meds and elevated bed etc. I now take no meds and sleep flat.

I hope her Dr. has written her a script for a Dexcom constant glucose meter. No diabetic should be without one. They are simple to use. I am on a pump as well which makes management easier too.

Your question is interesting abut the relationship of diabetes and pbc. They are both autoimmune diseases and for years I wanted to believe that my misdiagnosed pbc ( I was stage 3 when finally diagnosed) caused my Type 1 diabetes.

[Hidden]

I wonder how many other PBCers were diagnosed with Autoimmune Hepatitis after dx w/PBC? When my LFTs skyrocketed, my doctor did another liver biopsy and said I have AIH. Twenty years after the pbc diagnosis!