Diabetes FAQ » Diabetes Q&A » I have fibromyalgia and diabetes how do they interact with other?

I have fibromyalgia and diabetes how do they interact with other?

It sometimes can be difficult to tell the difference between the two conditions. Diabetes can bring on the symptoms of general feeling of tiredness, with sore and achy muscles, and loss of energy. Couple that with fibromyalgia and it is not a very nice situation to be tired and lacking energy all the time.

It is sometimes hard to tell the symptoms apart and sometimes the aches and soreness associated with diabetes will be confused with fibromyalgia. There really are no specific tests that diagnose fibromyalgia however there are certain things to look for which a doctor will find during a physical examination.

Unlike diabetes, which can be diagnosed by urine and blood tests and even arthritis, which also shows up on x-rays, there are no diagnostic tests that actually pinpoint fibromyalgia. The doctor checks for tender points in various parts of the body, which seem to be very sensitive to touch regardless of the amount of pressure applied. This sensitivity is found in the arms the legs and various other parts of the body. The American College of Rheumatology recognizes a total of 18 different tender points “fibro points” and it will take the identification of 11 of them to afford a diagnosis of fibromyalgia.

The aches and pains in people suffering from diabetes mellitus are confined to a certain area of the body. There are many diabetics who also suffer from nerve compression and these symptoms appear specifically in the arms and legs. Yet it is very easy to confuse the two medical conditions.

How to tell if the aches and pains are a result of diabetes

Diabetics who have nerve compression or nerve entrapment will have this pain in a localized site it will not be all over the body as it is with fibromyalgia. In the diabetic patient the nerve may be entrapped at the wrist or the ankle. This does not seem to be the same for fibromyalgia pain. Fibromyalgia pain is undefined pain anywhere in the body and this pain is of unknown origin. Doctors can tell through an examination which pain is associated with which disease.

Irritable bowel syndrome

Beyond the symptoms of pain, fibromyalgia patients can suffer from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS); Irritable bowel syndrome is a trademark symptom of fibromyalgia. (IBS) is a condition where the bowel does not function normally and there is chronic diarrhea and abdominal pain associated with bowel movements, bloating and gas. There is evidence that certain foods such as diary and fatty food, carbonated drinks, alcohol and caffeine can trigger the bouts of IBS.

Diabetics who have certain digestive disorders can also suffer from complications and irritable bowel syndrome is often one of the symptoms. Often time a diet high in fiber is recommended for irritable bowel syndrome sufferers who have fibromyalgia, but at the same time these high fiber foods can interact with the blood sugar levels and make it harder to control blood glucose levels in diabetics.

The best thing to do is to consult with a gastroenterologist or and endocrinologist and let the specialist know that you are suffering from diabetes mellitus and fibromyalgia. Also, you may need to see a dietitian for a diabetic diet, which will keep your blood sugar levels in control while controlling you irritable bowel syndrome. Juggling the foods for the two conditions can become very tricky and it is important to get good fibromyalgia and diabetic information about the foods you will need to eat and the foods you will need to avoid.

Stress

Stress is a big concern for people suffering from both diabetes and fibromyalgia. Stress does not cause irritable bowel syndrome but it does contribute to bouts of diarrhea.

There is no doubt that people suffering from both diabetes mellitus compounded with fibromyalgia live very stressful lives. Daily routines are interrupted and social lives can become almost non-existence. With the myriad of aches and pains, and painful flare ups sufferers of these two conditions never know from one day to the next how they will feel. It is hard to plan activities in advance. Even though people can still work and live a quality life with diabetes mellitus, sufferers of fibromyalgia are often no longer able to work and become disabled.

Besides being followed by your regular medical specialists, your doctor may suggest a psychologist or counselor to help you cope with the stress of everyday living and having to deal with these two diseases at once.

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One Response to “I have fibromyalgia and diabetes how do they interact with other?”

Comment from Nancy
Time May 17, 2010 at 6:51 pm

Not to mention the stresses that are compounded by an inability to work, no support programs to speak of for those of us who can’t afford the medical costs. When there’s barely enough money to bring basic food into the house, and there are children, who do you think eats first? ($500 a year for diabetic supplies when that’s less that one month’s medical bill isn’t even worth mentioning.) I’m not asking for things to be free, but the diabetic supplies alone are overwhelming… try having tried every med on the market, finding one that works, then being told they won’t even SUPPLEMENT the cost of it, because there are other “just as good” medications – well not for me there aren’t. And the hoops they want me to jump through cause more and more stress, elevagting my sugars and causing fibro flare-ups… And the cycle begins again.