Diabetes and A.S

[rotty508]

A very good friend of mine went to the ER last night and found out he has diabetes (just told me its type 2) and had a sugar level over 700. He told the doctor he was on AS and the doctor told him that he has to stop immediatly because that would screw up his sugar levels. Now i have heard in the past that many doctors do not know alot about AS so i figured i would ask you guys. My friend takes very good care of himself and eats good. Also if he does have to stop should he start taking clom/prov/nolva now since he abruptly stopped. If there is any other info that is needed please let me know and i will find out. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[TNT]

Nno, he probably does not have to stop doing AS, although it won't hurt him to cut back until his glucose is regulated. By the way, several A.R. members are diabetic and regularly use AS, including some members who are on HRT (hormone replacement therapy).

The key to this picture is that he just found out at the E.R. that he has diabetes. The issue, then, is not that the AS caused the diabetes - it didn't. The issue is that he had undetected diabetes in the first place and, with a glucose level over 700 he was probably beginning to have some symptoms (the most likely of which would be unexplained weight loss and frequent urination).

What he should do is quickly hook up with an endocrinologist (a physician that specializes in diabetes). As it happens, endocrinnologists are one of the two types of specialists that also focus on hormonal and HRT issues. (Urologists also do this, but to a lesser degree).

The primary reason to see an endocrinologist now is that his diabetes is uncontrolled. While a primary care or general physician may be able to help him control the diabetes, an endocrinologist will do it that much better - an endo may also start him out on a combination of oral medications rather than immediately placing him on insulin and, in most cases, the oral option is more desirable. (This is especially true if he is in a sensitive occupation in which insulin use would disqualify him. Driving commercial vehicles is an example: Diabetes is not a disqualifier, but insulin-dependent diabetes is a disqualifier.)

The other factors to consider will include diet, so if he is not literate about diabetes, he should get into a patient education program in order to learn how to eat properly - it's much easier than you might think, and most health insurance will pay for such a program. Also, exercise will be more important than ever - if he is simply a lifter and has not been doing a cardio program, this is the time to start - but he should start after consulting with his doctor to make sure he has no cardiac risk (especially if he is clinically overweight or a smoker, both of which are heavy contributors to diabetes).

Finally, he should be up front about his AS use with his doctor, who will hopefully (and probably) be more knowledgable than the dude at the E.R.

Incidentally, his situation is not unusual at all, since diabetes is largely asymptomatic (meaning no symptoms), at least until the sugar hits as high a level as your friend's. Another friend of mine recently had some unexplained weight loss and ran around for months thinking that he had cancer; when he finally saw the doctor, he was diagnosed with diabetes, started oral medications (in his case, Glucophage - for the Canadians and Brits, that's metformin), and is now diong fine.

[Gonna Be HUGE]

Excellent response as usual, TNT. Haven't seen you on the boards lately.

I personally have diabetes and cycle fairly regularly. What he needs to watch is his eating habits, not the steroids. If you have any questions that my personal experience might help with, let me know I'd be more than happy to help.

Later,
GBH

[rotty508]

Thanks guys for the help, GBH i will definatly get in touch if he has any questions. I am trying to get him to get on here himself but he just moved so still a little disorganized.