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Suggest Treatment For Night Sweats And High MCV In A Type 1 Diabetic Patient
Question: I have been suffering from night sweats for the last 3 months. I am a 40-year-old Type 1 diabetic female but my blood sugars are fairly well controlled and I don't think I am having hypos during the night. My periods are regular so I think - although I don't know - I'm not perimenopausal - and I recently had a blood count done - I as being tested for sleep apnea - which didn't reveal any abnormalities except a high MVC, which is probably related to my fairly regular alcohol consumption. Should I be concerned?
Brief Answer:
If the MCV is higher than 100 there is reason for concern
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
you've mentioned that your MCV is high, but you haven't given a value. Will you please upload the reports? Uploading all the tests you've done may be more helpful than uploading the complete blood count only.
I'll be waiting for your input.
If the MCV is higher than 100 there is reason for concern
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
you've mentioned that your MCV is high, but you haven't given a value. Will you please upload the reports? Uploading all the tests you've done may be more helpful than uploading the complete blood count only.
I'll be waiting for your input.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I didn't actually get the MCV number. The doctor stated it as high enough - I didn't actually know what it was at the time and had to look it up - but suggested further blood tests but didn't seem to suggest their was cause for alarm but he was treating me for a possible respiratory disorder so maybe it just wasn't his concern. I recently learnt that my father is B12 deficient. Is this hereditary and can it affect MCV. At the time of the blood test that revealed high MCV I was drinking a lot, which I'm not anymore - I am now following recommended guidelines. Within what time frame is it possible to regain normal MVC levels; are they indicative of long term damage and as I hope to get pregnant within the next 6 months, is there anything I should look out for?
Brief Answer:
I can't tell without the results
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
if your doctor mentioned it's high then it probably is! Having a high MCV might mean different things depending on the context. Drinking alcohol may raise it (a lot of alcohol, not just social drinking) in two ways: (a) there is a direct toxic effect of alcohol to the red blood cells and (b) many drinkers do not consume enough B12 with their food. B12 deficiency may raise it. Hematologic disorders may raise it.
Since your father had B12 deficiency (without drinking too much, I suppose) there is a chance that he had B12 malabsorption which may be passed on his children, although this doesn't happen so often.
Whether it's serious or not depends on how impaired your blood count was. I can't judge that without the report and perhaps also comparing it with a previous ("normal") report.
If it's just the toxic effect of alcohol on the red blood cells then your complete blood count should be back to normal within a month's time. If it's the B12 then supplementation might be needed.
I hope I've helped!
Contact me again, if you have more questions on this subject. I'll be glad to help more.
Kind Regards!
I can't tell without the results
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
if your doctor mentioned it's high then it probably is! Having a high MCV might mean different things depending on the context. Drinking alcohol may raise it (a lot of alcohol, not just social drinking) in two ways: (a) there is a direct toxic effect of alcohol to the red blood cells and (b) many drinkers do not consume enough B12 with their food. B12 deficiency may raise it. Hematologic disorders may raise it.
Since your father had B12 deficiency (without drinking too much, I suppose) there is a chance that he had B12 malabsorption which may be passed on his children, although this doesn't happen so often.
Whether it's serious or not depends on how impaired your blood count was. I can't judge that without the report and perhaps also comparing it with a previous ("normal") report.
If it's just the toxic effect of alcohol on the red blood cells then your complete blood count should be back to normal within a month's time. If it's the B12 then supplementation might be needed.
I hope I've helped!
Contact me again, if you have more questions on this subject. I'll be glad to help more.
Kind Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you for your response. Just a few more questions - I think my previous response was lost in the ether
- Is a high MCV a big indicator of health problems?
- If I'm trying to get pregnant should my liver function be tested and if so what tests?
- Do you have any suggestions as to what is causing my night sweats? Could it be MCV levels or perhaps blood sugar drops during the night that I'm not aware of?
- Is a high MCV a big indicator of health problems?
- If I'm trying to get pregnant should my liver function be tested and if so what tests?
- Do you have any suggestions as to what is causing my night sweats? Could it be MCV levels or perhaps blood sugar drops during the night that I'm not aware of?
Brief Answer:
Many questions to give a short answer. Please read the complete answer
Detailed Answer:
(1) MCV may indicate serious problems. I've mentioned some of them in my previous answer. The most serious ones are the hematologic disorders (myelodysplastic syndrome - MDS or other disorders). MDS is not very common for individuals in your age.
(2) If you don't have any other medical issue then your liver function won't prevent you from having a baby unless you've very serious liver damage (cirrhosis). I'm sure your doctor will prescribe liver function tests to you among others (B12, folic acid are essential).
(3) I couldn't give you a definite answer on your night sweats. I'll mention some potential causes though:
- low blood sugar: a hint to detect a low blood sugar during the night is a unusually high blood sugar in the morning. If you want to be certain, you'll have to wake up and take a measurement. Please note that drinking too much may cause hypoglycemia in itself.
- infection: you should check your temperature 2-3 times a day to reveal that.
- hematologic disorders (like lymphoma, Hodkgin's disease etc): they may cause night sweats, weight loss etc.
If I had to guess what's wrong I would have gone for the first explanation (hypoglycemia) due to the alcohol consumption.
Kind Regards!
Many questions to give a short answer. Please read the complete answer
Detailed Answer:
(1) MCV may indicate serious problems. I've mentioned some of them in my previous answer. The most serious ones are the hematologic disorders (myelodysplastic syndrome - MDS or other disorders). MDS is not very common for individuals in your age.
(2) If you don't have any other medical issue then your liver function won't prevent you from having a baby unless you've very serious liver damage (cirrhosis). I'm sure your doctor will prescribe liver function tests to you among others (B12, folic acid are essential).
(3) I couldn't give you a definite answer on your night sweats. I'll mention some potential causes though:
- low blood sugar: a hint to detect a low blood sugar during the night is a unusually high blood sugar in the morning. If you want to be certain, you'll have to wake up and take a measurement. Please note that drinking too much may cause hypoglycemia in itself.
- infection: you should check your temperature 2-3 times a day to reveal that.
- hematologic disorders (like lymphoma, Hodkgin's disease etc): they may cause night sweats, weight loss etc.
If I had to guess what's wrong I would have gone for the first explanation (hypoglycemia) due to the alcohol consumption.
Kind Regards!
Note: Do you have more questions on diagnosis or treatment of blood disorders? Ask An Expert/ Specialist Now
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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