Hemochromatosis and diabetes self advocacy
Hemochromatosis and diabetes do not always occur together, but they can. It depends on several factors whether these two somehow create a perfect storm within your body. The good news is that if Hemochromatosis is diagnosed early enough diabetes can be avoided, at least as it relates to Hemochromatosis.
What happens to the body when it has a mutated gene referred to as HFE is that the gene that is meant to regulate the amount of iron that is absorbed by the body in food. The mutation fails to do its job so instead of helping control levels the body is unable to excrete the iron that is instead absorbed into the intestine. When the iron that is unable to leave the body is built up it can cause damage to tissue and organs, including the heart, liver and pancreas.
As diabetics know, the pancreas it is vitally important for the production of insulin. If the pancreas suffers damage from Hemochromatosis it cannot do its job, thus the onset of diabetes occurs. It is interesting to know that if Hemochromatosis is caught early enough, the pancreas can be saved from permanent damage. Even if the pancreas is partially damaged, patients and doctors notice an improvement in insulin production in the pancreas that is left undamaged.
Hemochromatosis happens in about 1 in every 200 to 300 people. It strikes both men and women. Men are diagnosed with it more often than women. This may be the case because women have a natural means to excrete iron during their monthly cycles. Onset in women usually occurs after the age of 50. Men may be diagnosed with it between the ages of 30-50.
Symptoms laymen may notice enough to bring it to the attention of their doctors is a grey or bronze discoloration of the skin, which is caused by the excess iron in the tissue and organs. One of the nicknames given to Hemochromatosis is the “bronze diabetes” due to this coloration of the skin. Other symptoms include joint pain, extreme tiredness, stomach pain, and lower sex drive.
The best treatment for Hemochromatosis is bloodletting, whereby the patient gives a pint of blood once or twice a week for several months until the iron levels are within normal ranges. Once the normal range is achieved, the bloodletting will need to continue only once every 2 to three months. If the body’s organs are not permanently damaged, even if the patient may have signs of pre-diabetes, they may actually prevent the onset of diabetes completely.
If your doctor suspects or diagnoses you as being pre-diabetic, you should ask them to check your iron levels with simple blood tests called transferrin saturation test or serum ferritin test. Either one of these will detect whether your iron levels are too high. Not all doctors will automatically request such tests, so it is up to you to act as your own medical advocate. If you already know that your family carries the gene for mutated HFE, you have even more reason to advocate for testing.