Suggest Treatment For Severe Stomach Cramps In A Diabetic Patient

Posted on Mon, 31 Aug 2015

Question: My daughter is 24 and she has had type 1 diabetes since the age of five. She has taken Adderall since the ade of 8. She for the past several weeks has had worsening stomach cramps and under her rib cage that become unbearable. She has been two the emergency room twice where they found nothing and sent her home. Two weeks ago she was taken again to another emergency room and they admit her for a week. They had trouble getting her blood sugar under control through the night. She would go to sleep at 110 and wake up at 350. She drank a lot of liquids but never got over the pains. After a week they said they did all the normal tests and don't have a reason she is in pain, then she was discharged last Saturday. Today the pain became so intense she had to return to the hospital again. We need help.

Answered by Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
possible causes

Detailed Answer:
Good day,
Sorry to hear about your daughter. There are a number of probles to be ruled out.
1) Infection of pancreas and gall bladder.
2) Intestinal colic.
3) Low cortisol levels ( being Type i diabetes especially).
4) High Sugars causing DKA.
5) Porphyria
6) Psychogenic causes.

A doctor has to carefully rule out these disorders. She ay need few blood tests like Urine ketones, CBC, ESR, Calcium, Liver and kidney function tests, Electrolytes, Serum Amylase and Lipase. She may also need Ultrasound scan abdomen.

For time being, she need pain killers to control pain.Please discuss with your PCP about above points.

Regards
Binu

Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar