'Diabetes can't be blamed for everything'

I have had Type 1 diabetes since the age of three and have always had excellent control of my blood glucose levels and have never suffered any complications. 

However in 2009, as part of my annual review, I was told I had high cholesterol.  I was very surprised with the diagnosis because I had always been very fit and active and had a healthy diet.  My doctor said that because I was diabetic my cholesterol level had to be controlled and I was put on statins. 

Within months of taking them I began to feel very weak in my legs and generally unwell all of which I put down to the medication. Then at my next annual review I was told that I had high blood pressure and I was prescribed blood pressure tablets. I couldn't understand why at 32 my health was deteriorating for no apparent reason. 

Despite discussing it with my doctor I was offered no explanation other than that diabetes makes you prone to these complications and was sent away with a prescription. I continued to go to the gym because I needed to try and keep myself as fit as possible to bring my blood pressure and cholesterol down. 

However, I was finding that every time I tried to exercise I would get an injury and despite all my efforts I was gaining weight. This was made worse because I also found that my appetite was increasing massively. 

My insulin requirements were also increasing although I still managed to keep good control of my HBA1C.  As time went by I began to develop more and more strange symptoms: I couldn't sleep, I was irritable,  I was losing muscle mass, my skin was thinning and I was covered in cuts and bruises and my face became very fat and rounded.  The worst part for me was that with all of my symptoms I no longer had the strength to do my main passion of windsurfing. 

At the beginning of 2011 I decided that enough was enough and I Googled all of my symptoms. The search results were fairly conclusive indicating that I had all of the symptoms of Cushing's Disease which is a rare disease caused by an adrenal tumour which swamps the body with Cortisol; a natural steroid. I was so relieved to have found an explanation for my symptoms. 

I went to my doctor who sent me for further tests all of which confirmed that I did have Cushing's Disease. In June 2011 I had an operation to remove my left adrenal gland which contained the tumour and within a week my blood pressure was back to normal.  Over the last year and a half I have gradually been recovering and I am now back to how I was before Cushing's. I'm glad to say I am now  able to windsurf again. 

If my experience has taught me one thing it is to always take control of my own health.  It is so easy for doctors and us to put symptoms or complications down to diabetes, but diabetes can't be blamed for everything.