HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

A little confused...

Support Forums
>
Diabetes
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 12/15/2013 10:35 PM (GMT 0)
So I just found out last week that one of my friends, who is not even 25 years old yet, has been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. I am still in shock how this is even possible. She is in excellent shape, is a former ballet dancer and is currently a model. What I mean by that is she is super tall and super skinny. She lives the traditional party girl life, drinks alcohol regularly but is hardly ever drunk, doesn't do many recreational drugs, and has had common plastic surgery. When I asked how she could have developed diabetes, she said it was from alcohol. Doctors discovered it because of her recent trips to the ER with seizures.

Does anyone ever heard of diabetes developing in this manner.. or even this quickly? I am scared for my friend, and I feel like there has to be more involved. She is really sad because she is constantly sick now, and I don't think the idea of readjusting her lifestyle is sitting with her too well.

Any ideas on what can I say.. or do.. to help? I normally know what to say, but I am so completely in shock.
Posted 12/16/2013 3:48 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Olivia. I'm really sorry about your friend. I can only think that her pancreas has been damaged by the alcohol and this has caused the diabetes. I'm surprised they haven't classified her as a type 1.

The pancreas produces insulin and this is needed by the body for metabolism. If the pancreas is not working correctly, then depending on if and how much insulin it produces, that person may need insulin or other diabetes medication.

Further - and extremely important - she should stop drinking. If the pancreas has developed pancreatitis, this can be a life threatening condition and alcohol will further damage it. She will need to be very careful about what she's eating as well.

She needs to listen to her doctor and probably see a nutritionist so she can live a long life. I hope you can encourage her to get into a healthy lifestyle.
Posted 12/16/2013 3:12 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Olivia, I agree with Lanie about being Type 1, but the pancreas can go at any time it is an organ after all, if it was diagnosed by a ER doctor they are only giving her a observation get her to see her family doctor so he/she can do a more thorough investigation and even recommend an Endocrinologist
Posted 12/18/2013 4:42 AM (GMT 0)
I think she did say something about her pancreas, and I'm pretty sure it was an ER doctor that diagnosed her. I'm almost certain she doesn't have health insurance or a regular doctor. (The young never get sick right?) So she is probably going to the ER every-time things act up.
Posted 12/18/2013 12:10 PM (GMT 0)
That's no way to manage diabetes, and can lead to complications including blindness, kidney failure, leg amputation or even death.

Really, though, I don't know that it's fair for us to try to guess what's going on from third-hand information. Your concern for your friend is commendable, but your best course probably is to ask her how she is and what you can do to help.
Posted 12/19/2013 2:49 AM (GMT 0)
Yeah I understand that it is not fair to ask third hand for an explanation, and I know I should talk to her more about it. I posted in here more for information about the possibility of drinking causing diabetes. I saw online that it makes it worse, but directly causing seemed weird. The answers I have received so far have been quite helpful actually, and I am a little bit less afraid to approach her about it. I hate not understanding what she might be going through..even if I should just ask her. I think seeking out the info first helps me better empathize.
Posted 12/19/2013 4:12 PM (GMT 0)
Don't be afraid Olivia it might be what she is looking for, somebody to talk too
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply