What is brittle diabetes? Causes, symptoms and treatment.
Brittle diabetes is diabetes that is particularly difficult to manage and often disrupts everyday life. People with brittle diabetes have severe fluctuations in blood sugar. Swings can lead to frequent episodes of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) or hyperglycemia (high blood sugar).
Brittle diabetes is sometimes called unstable diabetes OR labile diabetes.
What is the difference between diabetes and brittle diabetes?
With treatment and lifestyle changes, most people with diabetes can live healthy lives. But people with brittle diabetes often have problems managing the disease, which can:
1. Affect their ability to live life normally.
2. Causes anxiety and depression.
3. Leading to hospitalization or even death.
How common is brittle diabetes?
Brittle diabetes is rare. It affects only 3 out of every 1,000 people with insulin-dependent diabetes.
Who can get brittle diabetes? Who can get brittle diabetes?
Brittle diabetes often occurs in people with type 1 diabetes (in type 1, the body does not produce insulin). For reasons that are not fully understood, it is most common in women in their 20s and 30s.
What causes brittle diabetes?
Brittle diabetes occurs when diabetes is particularly difficult to manage. Diabetes can be difficult to manage for several reasons:-
1. Celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder that affects the intestines.
2. Drug or alcohol use.
3. Eating disorders.
4. Gastroparesis, a condition in which nerve damage prevents the stomach from emptying food properly.
5. Hormonal imbalance, such as adrenal insufficiency and hypothyroidism.
6. Problems with the way the body absorbs insulin or nutrients from food.
7. Stress, anxiety, depression and other psychological problems that can force the body to resist insulin.
What are the symptoms of brittle diabetes?
People with brittle diabetes experience sudden and frequent changes in blood sugar levels for no apparent reason. The swings lead to hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia.
Symptoms of hypoglycemia include the following:-
1. Dizziness, weakness or tremors.
2. Fast heart rate.
3. Irritability or confusion.
4. Pale skin.
5. Restless sleep.
6. Sweating.
7. Sudden hunger.
Symptoms of hyperglycemia include the following:-
1. Blurred vision.
2. Fatigue (feeling weak, tired).
3. Frequent urination (urination).
4. Headache.
5. Skin infections and slow-healing injuries.
6. Thirst or hunger.
Untreated hyperglycemia can lead to diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a complication of diabetes, which can cause :-
1. Confusion.
2. Dehydration.
3. Fast heart rate.
4. Fruity breath.
5. Difficulty in breathing.
6. Vomiting.
7. Deep unconsciousness.
How is brittle diabetes diagnosed?
Brittle diabetes is diagnosed after severe, persistent episodes of hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia that impair life or lead to hospitalization. A healthcare provider specializing in diabetes (endocrinologist) can diagnose brittle diabetes by reviewing your blood sugar levels over time.
How is brittle diabetes treated? How is brittle diabetes treated?
Several treatments and technologies can help people with brittle diabetes manage the condition. They include the following:-
1. Continuous glucose monitor.
2. Insulin pump.
3. Islet cell transplant:- A healthcare provider takes healthy insulin-producing cells from a deceased person’s pancreas and puts them into the liver.
4. Pancreas transplant:- A surgeon transplants the donated pancreas.
Your healthcare provider will try to rule out any underlying causes of brittle diabetes. For example, therapy to reduce psychological issues and stress can help manage diabetes.
How can I prevent brittle diabetes? How can I prevent brittle diabetes?
It is not always possible to prevent brittle diabetes depending on the underlying cause. Monitoring your blood sugar regularly and following your healthcare provider’s instructions closely can help.
Note, do not take any medicine without doctor’s advice. Self-medication is life-threatening and can lead to serious medical conditions.
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