Being diabetic and hormones

[Valentina]

I have been scouring the web for information on Diabetes and how it relates to transition. All I have found are medical abstract that state "poor diabetes control" is a contra-indicator. There is nothing about the oral meds that can and do speciffically effect the liver and kidney nor is  any information regarding added risks of HRT & GRS for the diabetic.
Please don't get me wrong. I am not a doctor nor do I have any formal medical training. But with that said I have educated myself, as most diabetics do, to know my illness and what the medical professionals are trying to accomplish for me.
My open question to the forum is this:
Are you, or someone you know, a diabetic also on HRT? Has anyone come across any more information other than the 1996 abstract on diabetes and transitioning you can find in the web?

[Suzy]

Hi, Valentina!

I am not an MD, but I am also a diabetic.  It is a good news/bad news situation with HRT.  First the bad:  You have to be very careful here.  If you are going to do HRT, do it very gradually, checking the baselines every step of the way to make sure that things are not getting messed up in the process.  A lot of this will depend on which meds your doctor has you on.  On the other hand, hormones and diabetes are closely related.  Some of the more common drugs, like Glocophage, have other effects which might just be beneficial because it works, in part, by regulating  Testostrone levels.  Look up the side effects.  You will see that it reduces T levels so that it is often given to GGs to restore their periods to a normal cycle.  It also seems to help with weight loss.  So it's not all bad.  In theory, HRT should work quite well on someone who has been on this type of medication for some time.  I'm hoping that proves to be true.

As for surgery, it all depends on how well you are under control.  If you are Type 2 and do what you are supposed to, it is quite possible.  If you are Type 1 and require insulin injections, you are likely going to have more difficulties with surgery of any kind.

Best of luck!

Kristi

[reginaNJ]

valentina, I am a diabetic and I have been taking medication  for diabetes for about 5 years now and hrt for over 2 now with no problems. I do take a conservative amount of hrt thou.. In the few times where is stopped taking hrt before dental work or such i didnt notice any change in my sugar levels.. and with taking spiro not only has it helped with development it does keep my blood pressure at a very good number althou  i never had a bp problem

[HelenW]

I've known that I am diabetic for ten years.  I was very afraid it wold keep me from getting HRT and I was happily surprised that it didn't.  I have things well under control.

The diabetes did affect my kidneys. however.  Only slightly but that plus my age dropped the kidney function a bit.

As my spironolactone reached the maximum dose usually given nothing seemed amiss but after I was on that dose for a few months my kidney tests came back showing a 50% decrease in function.  My endo decided to wait a month and retest.  My primary physician, however, suggested I stop taking the spiro completely, not realizing what she was asking me would be impossible.

I voluntarily cut my spiro dosage in half and I'm happy to say the kidneys are functioning at the original good levels.  Of course, I'm only receiving half the benefit of the spiro than I had before.  It has only been a month and a half and I am already seeing small signs of remasculinization.  Nothing too terrible yet but it's scaring me nonetheless.  It's because of this that I am pursuing an orchiectomy.

In short, the lesson is: Pay attention to your blood sugar levels, get the tests when they are scheduled and be flexible if things don't go perfectly.

hugs & smiles
Emelye

[Suzy]

That's really interesting Emelye, and good advice about being flexible.

Do you mind is I ask which other meds you are on?

Kristi

[Valentina]

Many thanks everyone.  I'm being seen my a doctor that prescribes my hormones.  I only wanted to educate myself more on this subject because I had not found anything recent on the web.