I am an almost 50 yr old female. I have been a diabetic for over 30 years and have been pumping for the last 6 years. For the most part I have had fairly good control.

My first child was born 22 yrs ago and that was the beginning of the thyroid issues. I have been taking synthroid in different amounts for the last 21 years.

After the birth of my second child, 18 years ago I developed RA. Which came on with great force. For several weeks I was confined to bed and had to rely on my husband and friends to take care of me, the 4 yr. old and the baby.

The meds kicked in and things got better. I even did a triathlon but not painfree. That was the last of my competitive running. Basically, I have only been walking and swimming for exercise and that also has been very limited because of the Ra and feet issues.

Things for the most part were ok for several years.

About 6 yrs ago I began to have feet and eye issues. I have had a few laser eye surgeries for leaky blood vessels. That seems to be under control. However, the feet issues continue. It started with a little blister on a baby toe. I went to the dr immediately. Eleven day later the toe needed to be amputated because the infection was in the bone. After this I needed to adjust RA meds since many of the meds I had been on supressed my immune system and I wasn't healing well. Since then I continue to have several slow healing foot ulcers. Ra in the toe and finger joints has given me twisted and bumpy toes and fingers. I also broke my foot by stepping off a curb. I was in a cast for 5 months. Six week laters I broke the same foot-fell on black ice. I did break a different bone and have now developed an ulcer on the good ffot on the top of the big toe which likely has been caused from the pressure I put on it as I push off it using the crutches.

So yesterday I cornered the dr and said, "WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?" He didn't realy have a good anwser other than my foot was still weak from the first break.

I have been very insistant that my doctors talk to each other. The endo, RA, Wound Dr, Orthopaedic Dr. Sometimes I am present while they call each other. I also insist that all lab work be shared with each and every one of them. I wonder if they hate seeing me come???????

Wouldn't you think all these smart people could fix me to some degree? Just got a call from the RA drs lab saying to call the endo because my TSH came back low.

GGGGGGRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR I just want to be a contributing memeber of my family and community. I am so tired of all these drs, the appointments, the meds. etc.

Do any of you smart people have any ideas?

SEA

Our medical histories are very similar, I've been diabetic for 40 years, got my pump 20 years ago, got RA while preganant with our oldest DD, 20 years ago, went on MTX after I had our second DD 17 years ago. Had a terrible flare a year ago and after trying Enbrel with no help went on Remicade and Prednisone and am back to my semi miserable self. How are your A1C's? Did your eyes and feet problems start with the pump, usually you have better control with the pump, I haven't had damage yet and my thyroid is ok. What are you taking for the RA, it could be they are contributing to the slow healing. Are you careful to not expose your feet to all the germs in the pool locker rooms? I don't really have any suggestions, but this is a pretty slow board to get replies on. Good Luck. Deidre

Over the yrs I have been on many Ra drugs including methotrexate and enbrel. They worked well but with the slow healing issues I can no longer take them. I was on prednisone for ages. At some timess the dose was terrible high and my blood sugars were wild. I was constanting chasing them down,

I take Arava now. I also have some anti imflam. meds to take when things when joints are flaring. The arava at the moment seems to be keeping thing quiet.

When I saw RA dr last week we talked about a cortizone injection for my should which is frozen (even more so after this last fall) but decided with the sore on my foot it might be better to wait until it has healed a bit.

Sounds like we should compare notes!!!!!!!

SEA

Most of the stronger RA drugs are trying to suppress your immune system, even the Pred. An orthopaedic surgeon told me the pred shots stay in the joint, rather than go through the whole body like the pills. I really liked how the pred reduced the swelling and pain, I've been off it since Jan, but like you said I really had to adjust my pump. Now just on Remicade, MTX & OTC Aleve (if I'm feeling bad)

There used to be a guy on here called Wambo, he said to keep your A1C's under 7 was best to keep damage at a minimum. My last one was 5.9, keeping my diabetes in line is the only health issue I seem to be able to control and with the pump it's one of the last things I dwell on, the RA is however always on my mind. My diabetes doesn't seem to be as hard to control as say my brother who has it, he's had a lot of damage, his Dr. wouldn't give him a pump.

I didn't start taking it seriously until I got the pump and had my girls, just figured I'd die at 40, my husband insisted we have children, it was the best thing I ever did for myself. Deidre

You are a great contibutor to the community. I am very aware of this as you know. Your Med team will continue to consult each other I would hope. Don't give up being persistant. Please send my best to hubby. Take care Jedski

PS Isn,t the pump great!!

Hi sea sheshells, I cant remember your name but we use to correspond alot. My name is Leslie and I am from canada, it has been along time and if I am correct you have a son in the navy or the air force and you also have a daughter. I hope you remeber me as it has been a long time since we talked. My new email address is mles@clearwave.ca. hope to hear from you soon

Sea: diabetes, RA, asthma, allergies and nearly 30 other diseases are inflammatory. I am shocked that your doctor did not know that. But yet again, I am not.
Inflammation is the root cause of all of those diseases. Inflammation, especially when overweight, complicates treating all of them as well.

Primarily, inflammation is based in diet. Particularly carbohydrates. You need to learn as much as you can about carbohydrates, especially glycemic index. You can find an article on the internet entitled "a diabetic's guide to understanding glycemic index" if you don't know about it. The key is, cut the high glycemic index foods from your diet, then test the rest for AA sensitivity. You will find that you are sensitive to some low glycemic index foods as well. There are two books on the internet that will help you. "win the war within" on www.amazon.com - it is written by a research doctor that stopped the progression of RA for his sister. The book will show you how glycemic index affects RA. He will tell you to take GLA 300mg per day, and EPA 400 mg per day. That will restore your AA production to near normal and the diet will aid in that. (AA's are arachidonic acid - the mechanism that sets your immune system into motion, and is the root cause of inflammation)
the other book is "how to take charge of your diabetes" it is found on a web site of the same name with a dot com. at the end. I believe that the article above will take you to it. This book will cover a multitude of subjects that work together to control inflammation and diabetes. It is very heavy on the diet side. Loaded with info on food, vitamins and minerals etc.
You should also be aware that because you are diabetic (inflammatory) your body is chronically deficient in 5 vitamins and minerals. Two of which are pivotal in glucose management. Your doctor won't know that. Mine didn't.

Our doctors are trained to treat everything with pharmaceuticals, step outside of that box and you quickly lose them. They have no training in nutrition. If you need additional help, try an acupuncturist. Especially one that is trained in Chinese herbs. You will be pleasantly amazed at the difference in your life when you do. NO, it doesn't hurt, and yes, your insurance covers it. Just be certain that the practitioner is board certified in both. There are a lot of quacks out there that have taken weekend seminars on the subject and are trying to practice the art.
let us know how it turns out.

I'm so sorry to hear all the trouble you've been through. You sound like a real trooper though. Unfortunately, I don't have a great deal of belief in drs because of the kickbacks most of them take from pharmacudical companies that claim anything to sell a product. I do believe that when given the proper nutrients, our bodies can usually repair themselves. Have you been taking any supplements to give your body the best fighting chance?

I'm not real familiar with the medications that you're taking, but I can tell you that a friend of mine had problems with a foot ulcer and found a product that works great for her to heal the wound-the product was referred to her by several of her diabetic friends who healed rapidly using it. photos of her toe are at www.badassspray.com/pressuresorephotos.htm these photos are after a couple of days of using the product. She has had further healing since then but she hasn't sent in the pictures. There's also some vitamins that help our bodies heal faster posted on the website. I'm into natural health--which I know isn't always pratical with diabetes, but I don't think there is any reason you couldn't take the vitamins and the medicines (as long as you make sure none of the vitamins interfere with the medicines) and try to hit whatever is causing your body to do this from both sides. I will pray for the healing of your feet. I have seen the frustration of dealing with a body that just doesn't want to heal.

[This Message was Edited on 10/30/2009]