What is brittle diabetes? How condition differs from typical Type 1 and 2
DIABETES is an often lifelong affliction, depending on the type people develop, and can prove tough to treat. One of the rarest forms is brittle diabetes, but what is it?
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Diabetes comes in two forms, types 1 and 2, that produce varying but often debilitating symptoms. Some people will find themselves battling the condition for their whole lives, while others manage to treat it into remission. Those who have the most trouble may suffer from a type of the disease known as "brittle diabetes".
What is brittle diabetes?
Diabetes has several potential treatments, including regular insulin shots and dietary changes.
Sometimes this isn't enough, however, and the disease can get more severe.
Brittle diabetes, otherwise known as labile diabetes or diabetes mellitus, is harder to treat.
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The condition presents as type 1 diabetes with intense blood sugar swings.
The blood glucose levels may surge and drop, causing hyperglycaemia or hypoglycaemia.
The former condition describes when blood sugar levels rise too high and the latter when they fall too low.
Diabetes will occasionally induce both, but brittle diabetics have trouble with rapid swings.
Symptoms of brittle diabetes include:
- Sharp changes in blood sugar levels seemingly without cause
- Regular episodes of both very high and low blood sugar
- A higher likelihood of experiencing frequent ketoacidosis or severe hypoglycaemia
Ketoacidosis develops when people run out of insulin, building ketones that can kill is left unattended.
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Diabetic people - particularly those suffering from type 1 - will need to keep the warning signs of ketoacidosis in mind.
They include:
- Frequent urination
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Excessive thirst
- Sweet, pungent breath
- Deep or fast breathing
- Fatigue or sleepiness
- Confusion
- Passing out
Brittle diabetes is rare, and women are most likely to develop it at a young age.
Doctors will pursue treatment in the same way they might traditional diabetes.
People may need to regulate their blood glucose by reducing carbohydrate intake, which can help them handle any swings.
Glucose monitors and insulin pumps will also help control the general symptoms of brittle diabetes.