Anyone have vertigo and diabetes?

[karri]

My husband has been suffering from vertigo for several years, about the same time we have known he is diabetic. Does anyone else suffer from this combination? Does anyone know if vertigo is a symptom of diabetes? Anyone know how vertigo and diabetes could be related?

[Buttons2]

As a matter of fact I did suffer from vertigo about the same time I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. I never linked the 2 together however & still doubt vertigo would be a symptom of diabetes UNLESS the blood sugar has gotten too low.

What had his doctor had to say about this? After 2 yrs I'm thinking either his BS is too low or he might need to get a referral to a neuro for some testing.

Have you researched all his meds to see if vertigo is a side effect? If not I'd begin there for seeking a possible reason. Just google the med (such as Metforim) and vertigo & see what you come up with.

good luck!

[karri]

Hey Pati ~

My husband has been trying for 2 years now to get our family doctor to fix this. Or at least try to help with it. The doctor just doesn't seem to put much effort into it. I suggested inner ear problems and he pulled out quite a bit of old wax out of both ears, which has happened more than once that there was enough wax built up, it looked almost the size of a pee wee marble (remember those? :rolleyes:). But, the vertigo stayed the same degree after that. He is starting to have hearing problems, which is dad does too, but his comes and goes. The vertigo is not constant, or at least he doesn't complain or lose balance in front of me constantly, but he tells me he feels the vertigo all time.

I've done a little research on vertigo, but there are SO MANY CAUSES !! I'm going to look up all the side affects and interactions but I haven't done that yet. He takes quite a few medications for his type II diabetes, plus other things including prozac.

I didn't think about a neuro. That kinda scares me because that is leaning towards a tumor or something, which is one of the hundreds of causes of vertigo. I, myself, have had brain surgery and 3 major back surgeries. I guess I want to play osterage to him having any brain problems.

Have you discussed the vertigo with your doctor? Our family doctor just doesn't seem to care about all our problems. We both see him for several problems, including depression and back pains. I have an ortho surgeon, but Richard has never seen one. His BS numbers don't go low too often, he mainly has a problem with high BS. I firmly feel that is diabetes is NOT under control, but his diet is terrible for someone with diabetes. He sleeps late and doesn't eat until 3 or 4 in the afternoon. But after that, he's pretty much non stop on the eating. But...still not healthy foods.

Oh, look at me carry on and on. I am very upset with his diet and have been fighting him for 2 years to eat better. I guess that's why I'm going on and on, but I'll stop now. After all, I'm here to get info on the vertigo, not talk about my complaints.

Thanks for your reply, I'm heading over to the drug interactions now.

[Buttons2]

Well I could have clarified more: I had severe myoclonic jerks,vertigo,foot drop,loss of memory.....alot of neuro issues @ the same time I was told I had diabetes.

I will ask this: does your hubby consume any aspartame products? Of course my ignorant doc told me to drink diet soda,eat sugar free jello,etc. After years of suffering many health issues I researched aspartame poisoning & bingo! When I finally gave up the last diet Pepsi my myoclonic jerks stopped altogether!

[Buttons2]

Another thing, B12. Metforim depletes the B12 in our bodies,your doc won't tell ya this I'm sure. My advice is to never depend on the doc for help with diabetes. I've done research on my own,bought & read books by doc's that have diabete's,etc.

This is not an active forum on BT,however I will try to help anyways I can. Following a diet is the hardest thing to do! It calls for alot of self discipline & most of us are short on that,including myself. It's also denial that we can "get away with it". Trouble with that is it catches up in heart failure or kidney disease,blindness,etc.

If DH's numbers run over 200 he needs to get wised up. Read labels on food,aspartame is in everything! Splenda is no better.

Sorry I forgot to mention aspartame @ first post,I rant about that crap all the time.

Always feel free to PM me also.

[karri]

Thanks, Buttons. I stopped my husband as he walked by and read this out loud to him. I had a chance to glance at his face, and I'm pretty sure he was affected. Good timing. Good post. Good info. By the way, I did the drug interactions and nothing really came up describing vertigo too much.

So, I think I'll try one of those hubby/wife talks here and see if I can make sure he remembers what you said about the heart and kidneys. Just a little scare. Heck, it's Halloween anyway.

Karri

[Buttons2]

Well don't forget the eyes. He should have had a thorough eye exam after he was first diagnosed & then 2 yrs after which would be about now right? If any sign of diabetic retinopathy he'll need testing every year or even 6 mos.

My eyes have been an issue for years,trouble with me is I've run out of eye doc's in my area! One said I was going blind,one said I have cataract's & found no reason other doc said blindness.....one's before that said I took LSD or was imagining things!!

So find a good eye doc & good luck with that little "chat". I do have some books to recommend if he's interested.

One thing he cannot go wrong on: take a walk 30 min after eating! It will drop those numbers alot depending on how fast he walks & how many carbs he ate.

The key here is balance,trying to keep the numbers fairly level & NOT go up/down to extremes.