Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is different from type 2 – it’s caused by the pancreas’ inability to produce insulin. On the other hand, in type 2 diabetes, the pancreas does produce insulin but either not enough or the body can’t properly use the insulin that’s being produced.

It used to be that type 1 diabetes was called juvenile diabetes and then the name changed to insulin-dependent diabetes. Originally, it was thought that only children developed type 1 diabetes but now we know that people as old as their late 20s can develop it. Then, it was insulin-dependent because insulin is the only treatment for type 1 diabetes. This was changed eventually too, because insulin is sometimes used to treat type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes used to be called adult-onset diabetes and then that name changed to non-insulin dependent. While it was true that mostly adults developed type 2 diabetes, people who were being diagnosed were getting younger and younger. In fact, now teens are developing type 2 diabetes. Non-insulin dependent was also a misnomer. Although people with type 2 diabetes usually start off by taking oral hypoglycemics, or pills to lower blood glucose levels, many end up taking insulin at some point because the medications stop being effective.

Insulin

Insulin is a life saver for people with diabetes. Without it, type 1 diabetics would die. It’s also considered the last resort for people with type 2 diabetes. Many people with type 2 fight being put on insulin because they feel that it means that they’re “really” diabetic, that they’ve failed, or that they’re getting worse.

Now, researchers are saying that insulin may not be a good idea for last resort for type 2 diabetes but, rather, as a first line treatment. Researchers wanted to know if using insulin early in type 2 diabetes could improve blood glucose levels, so they studied patients with type 2 diabetes who had not yet begun treatment for up to three years. The results of the study were published in the most recent onlin issue of Diabetes Care.

The researchers found that although the results (lower blood glucose) were similar between the two groups, more patients (83%) in the insulin group stayed with the treatment than the ones who took only pills (72%).

If the results are similar in terms of blood sugar control, but compliance is better with insulin, researchers suggest that insulin may be the best way to begin managing type 2 diabetes, rather than waiting to use it.

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Image: StockXchng

Post from: Blisstree

Insulin 1st-Line for Type 2 Diabetes?

Currently, management of type 2 diabetes includes a lifestyle component (healthy diet and exercise) as the first part. If lifestyle changes don’t help regulate blood sugar issues or the diabetes is too severe, doctors have a few options for medications.

Usually, type 2 diabetes is managed first with oral antihyperglycemics, pills that help the pancreas and insulin work more effectively. The main difference between type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes is that with type 1, the pancreas doesn’t produce any insulin. To manage this, people with type 1 diabetes must inject themselves with insulin at least once per day, but for many, they must do a few injections every day.

In type 2, the pancreas usually still is producing and excreting insulin, but the insulin isn’t effective enough. The medications help in this function. However, if someone with type 2 diabetes can’t be controlled with the pills, then their doctor may add insulin to their treatment program. Onglyza stimulates the pancreas to make more insulin after eating a meal.

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Image: MorgueFile.com

Post from: Blisstree

FDA Approves Onglyza for Type 2 Diabetes

A convenience store clerk wouldn’t open the register for a robber but gave the man $40 from his own pocket after the robber told him he needed the money for insulin. The clerk gave him $40 out of his own pocket. Police are trying to find the robber.

Image: Cherie Burbach

Post from: Blisstree

Clerk Gives Robber Money for Insulin

Don’t worry, I’ll still be providing diabetes news and updates here. And the “Putting a Face on Diabetes” interview series remains alive and well! (A little “health” humor there! Tee hee).

This is an exciting time for diabetics everywhere, as each day we know more about the disease and get closer to a cure.

Remember if you’re a Type 1 or Type 2 diabetic who is interested in being interviewed, please send me an email at: cherieburbach@yahoo.com. I look forward to meeting each and every one of you as we learn about and tackle this disease.

Post from: Blisstree

Diabetes Notes Has a New Home

As we’ve learned over the last several years, it isn’t just about the sugar. It’s about carbs and a healthy lifestyle.

To help understand how someone gets diabetes, here’s a visual explanation:

Post from: Blisstree

What is Diabetes? A Visual Explanation

Happy Thanksgiving to those celebrating today!

I love this holiday for many reasons. First, it gives us a chance to sit down and focus on gratitude. How often do we really get to do that? It also gives us an opportunity to be with family and friends, and celebrate what life is really about: caring for one another. It’s truly a day to realize how lucky we have it. We are blest.

There might be some diabetics out there who are sad because they have a disease which causes a lot of maintenance, pain, and restrictions. Beleive me, I am with you in all of that. There are days when I’m more positive, and some days when I feel defeated.

But not today. On this day, let’s be thankful that we are diabetics today. We have never had it so good in terms of medical knowledge. Insulin has allowed us to live. More than that, the knowledge we have about carbs and exercise have given us a leg up in the care for the disease.

Instead of focusing on food today (and it’s hard not to, with a holiday centered around it), let’s focus on the goodness of being a diabetic at the best possible time in history. Let’s support each other and as we sit down to say a prayer of thanks for the bounty before us, let’s also say a prayer for each other!

I will be saying a prayer of thanks for everyone who reads this blog and comments, all of those who write me, and all of those struggling with the disease. I will be saying a prayer for all my fellow diabetics, and I hope you will, too.

HAVE A BLESSED THANKSGIVING!

Post from: Blisstree

Happy Thanksgiving! Let’s Say a Prayer for Each Other Today

I always like studies directed especially towards Type 1 diabetics. I know the majority of people are Type 2 diabetics and so many studies need to be directed towards them. But, as someone that is a Type 1, it’s nice to see some research directed our way.

So anyways, here’s an interesting study that came out regarding Type 1 diabetics and exercise. According BD Diabetes, “Intense exercise training can help normalize muscle metabolism in people with type 1 diabetes, which could result in “clinically important health benefits,” Australian researchers report.”

What does that mean for us? That intensive exercise spurts might actually be able to help with weight loss. Of course, this is one study. More study needs to be done on the subject, but to me this is very exciting research. I know a lot of Type 1 diabetics who have struggled with weight, and this could be one reason why.

Post from: Blisstree

Type 1 Diabetics and Intensive Exercise

“The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an alert that 471,000 mislabeled syringes for diabetics being recalled from Wal-Mart and Sam’s Clubs stores pose risk of insulin overdose.

The agency warned patients and health care professionals not to use disposable 31-gauge, 1cc ReliOn syringes with Lot Number 813900 as its manufacturer, Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Covidien), recalled the product on Oct. 9, 2008 and Wal-Mart notified buyers to return them in exchange for replacements. The said syringes were sold at Wal-Mart and Sam’s Clubs stores from Aug. 1, 2008 to Oct. 8, 2008.

The syringes being recalled are for use with U-40 insulin but were packed in boxes of syringes for use with U-100 insulin.”

~source

Post from: Blisstree

Syringe Recall From Sam’s and Wal-mart

The results showed that children given additional vitamin D were around 30% less likely to develop type 1 diabetes compared with those not given the supplement. And the higher and the more regular the dose, the lower was the likelihood of developing the disease, the evidence suggested.

What do you think about this one? Several logical reasons were given to back this research up…

1. There is a striking difference in the incidence of type 1 diabetes according to latitude and levels of sunlight exposure, with a child in Finland 400 times more likely to develop the disease than a child in Venezuela.

2. Pancreatic beta cells and immune cells carry receptors or docking bays for the active forms of the vitamin.

Do you buy it? Tell me your opinion, I am on the fence…

via Science daily/Eurek Alert 

Post from: Blisstree

Vitamin D in childhood can help prevent diabetes later in life

The evidence is compelling that when insulin levels are high, certain tissues are overloaded with fatty molecules, which leads to insulin resistance. And yet, the high blood glucose levels of many obese patients with insulin-resistant type 2 diabetes are being treated with increasing amounts of insulin in an attempt to overpower that resistance. While high doses of insulin may lower glucose levels, it will also increase the fatty molecules and may cause organ damage.

There are so many options to help one lose weight in this case. You can search out a nutritionist, see a weight loss specialist and use combination medication and exercise and then in severe cases there is bariatric surgery. We know from countless research that bariatric surgery is successful in the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

I know just how tough weight loss can be but I also know when my diet, exercise and weight is at a controlled level, my diabetes is almost obsolete.

via UT Southwestern Medical Center

Post from: Blisstree

Weight loss most effective treatment for type 2 diabetes