Guest guest Posted July 26, 2006 Report Share Posted July 26, 2006 Is anyone here a brittle? Has anyone here been on the pump? Does anyone here have diabetes bad enough that they are considering the islet cell transplant or had any kind of pancreatic surgery? Thank you- Kat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 26, 2006 Report Share Posted July 26, 2006 Yes, my Uncle, 73, is a brittle. If you mean your bg can swing from low to high, or vice-versa, then yes. We thought it was stress related, but he has it happenning since the stressors have left. > > Is anyone here a brittle? Has anyone here been on the pump? Does > anyone here have diabetes bad enough that they are considering the > islet cell transplant or had any kind of pancreatic surgery? Thank you- > Kat > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 26, 2006 Report Share Posted July 26, 2006 Hi Kathleen, I am on the insulin pump. I have been for a bit over 2 years now. I am getting better numbers now then when I was on MDI's. Yes, with the pump it makes bolusing too easy, but it also makes it easier to count carbs, cough, when done right, and its easy to just take the pump out of your pocket and press some buttons and press enter. It can be a nusiance in a few ways though. One, is that you have to keep loading the insulin cartridge every 3-4 days, it uses batteries, an alarm can go off when there is an occlussion or its low on insulin, etc. Are you interested in becoming a pumper? There is a good site you can go to " http://www.insulin-pumpers.org At the moment, I am not considering any type of transplants. Its too risky, but with technology, this type of operations can change. Kathleen Cowart katseye1969@...> wrote: How does your Uncle control his brittle? I am asking if anyone is on the insulin pump and if anyone is considering the islet cell transplant to cure their diabetes. the > --------------------------------- Groups are talking. We´re listening. Check out the handy changes to Yahoo! Groups. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 26, 2006 Report Share Posted July 26, 2006 Thank you , I just got off the pump. I am not real interrested on going back on it. I got off mine in Dec after my Whipple. I am either going to do a whole organ or islet cell xplant. Dr Sutherland in MN has been doing them for over 30 yrs, he did my Whipple. He is the only one I would go to for xplant. The pig cell stuff looks promising...I was not on the traditional pump you are on. Mine was hooked up through my TPN, so it was all automatic. I didn't have to do anything. I don't like tubes in my belly, I tend to yank those out...that's the main reason why I don't want back on the pump. How do you feel about it personally? I mean, when you look at yourself in the mirror, how does it make you feel? I hated my drain tube. Hated it. That's the thing that freaks me out about your kind of pump...I guess I am more interrested in what the pump is like for you emotionally. Thanks. Nodge misguided_mortal_1970@...> wrote: Hi Kathleen, I am on the insulin pump. I have been for a bit over 2 years now. I am getting better numbers now then when I was on MDI's. Yes, with the pump it makes bolusing too easy, but it also makes it easier to count carbs, cough, when done right, and its easy to just take the pump out of your pocket and press some buttons and press enter. It can be a nusiance in a few ways though. One, is that you have to keep loading the insulin cartridge every 3-4 days, it uses batteries, an alarm can go off when there is an occlussion or its low on insulin, etc. Are you interested in becoming a pumper? There is a good site you can go to " http://www.insulin-pumpers.org At the moment, I am not considering any type of transplants. Its too risky, but with technology, this type of operations can change. Kathleen Cowart katseye1969@...> wrote: How does your Uncle control his brittle? I am asking if anyone is on the insulin pump and if anyone is considering the islet cell transplant to cure their diabetes. the > --------------------------------- Groups are talking. We´re listening. Check out the handy changes to Yahoo! Groups. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 26, 2006 Report Share Posted July 26, 2006 I don't mean to sound stupid but what is a " brittle " and what is a " whipple " . I'm sure these are things that I need to be made aware of. > > > > Is anyone here a brittle? Has anyone here been on the pump? Does > > anyone here have diabetes bad enough that they are considering the > > islet cell transplant or had any kind of pancreatic surgery? Thank > you- > > Kat > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 26, 2006 Report Share Posted July 26, 2006 " Brittle " means a brittle diabetic and the whipple has nothing to do with diabetes. The whipple is a procedure where they remive 1/2 your stomach, 1/2 your pancreas, your small bowel and biliary. It is typically done for pancreatic cancer and severe chronic pancreatitis. Because the islet cells are in the tail of your pancreas, generally speaking the Whipple does not effect diabetes. However, in my case it did. So I am now thinking about a transplant. If you are diabetic, you need not concern yourself at all with the Whipple. Marie awendela@...> wrote: I don't mean to sound stupid but what is a " brittle " and what is a " whipple " . I'm sure these are things that I need to be made aware of. > > > > Is anyone here a brittle? Has anyone here been on the pump? Does > > anyone here have diabetes bad enough that they are considering the > > islet cell transplant or had any kind of pancreatic surgery? Thank > you- > > Kat > > > " Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obsticles which he has overcome " . -Booker T. Washington http://www.cafepress.com/kathleensart --------------------------------- Talk is cheap. Use Yahoo! Messenger to make PC-to-Phone calls. Great rates starting at 1¢/min. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 26, 2006 Report Share Posted July 26, 2006 Thank You:) > > > > > > Is anyone here a brittle? Has anyone here been on the pump? Does > > > anyone here have diabetes bad enough that they are considering the > > > islet cell transplant or had any kind of pancreatic surgery? Thank > > you- > > > Kat > > > > > > > > > > > > " Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obsticles which he has overcome " . - Booker T. Washington > > http://www.cafepress.com/kathleensart > > --------------------------------- > Talk is cheap. Use Yahoo! Messenger to make PC-to-Phone calls. Great rates starting at 1¢/min. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 26, 2006 Report Share Posted July 26, 2006 Hi Kathleen, I have the Animas 1200 pump and I use the Disetronic Rapid D's for tubing and insert. Actually now its called Accu Check Rapid D's. It has its ups and downs for sure. I also tend to accidentally yank out my insert and then I have to get another insert since it loooses its stickyness once its pulled out. I can not stick that needle back into myself. I have tried. Then there are during the nights when I somehow make a funny move in bed and my site gets yanked out. It wakes me up. OUCH. When I look myself in the mirror skyclad and see that inserter sticking out my belly like that, even when I unhook my pump, I feel like an alien, or some sort of lab experiment gone awry. Other then this I have no problem with it. Its just something I have to keep an eye on. What are Whipple and TPN? I never herd of those. I may know TPN but I dont know what it stands for. Could it be total Parenteral nutrition? Kathleen Cowart katseye1969@...> wrote: Thank you , I just got off the pump. I am not real interrested on going back on it. I got off mine in Dec after my Whipple. I am either going to do a whole organ or islet cell xplant. Dr Sutherland in MN has been doing them for over 30 yrs, he did my Whipple. He is the only one I would go to for xplant. The pig cell stuff looks promising...I was not on the traditional pump you are on. Mine was hooked up through my TPN, so it was all automatic. I didn't have to do anything. I don't like tubes in my belly, I tend to yank those out...that's the main reason why I don't want back on the pump. How do you feel about it personally? I mean, when you look at yourself in the mirror, how does it make you feel? I hated my drain tube. Hated it. That's the thing that freaks me out about your kind of pump...I guess I am more interrested in what the pump is like for you emotionally. Thanks. --------------------------------- How low will we go? Check out Yahoo! Messenger’s low PC-to-Phone call rates. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 26, 2006 Report Share Posted July 26, 2006 Hi , Yes, TPN is juat what you said, tube feeding. The whipple is a surgery they do in transplant centers because it is the most major surgery done. (not for diabetes) They remove 1/2 the pancreas, 1/2 the stomach, the small bowel and biliary. You have to have one or more drain tubes hanging out of your belly for a long time. Drain tube with a bulb, called a JP, short for -Pratt. So after that, I don't do well with tubes. Liek you said, I too felt like an alian and I was always having to pin my bulb in the right place. Eventually I got decorative bags to put " Marvin " in os no would have to look at him. As dumb as it sounds, I just don't want to do through that agian. Though, my diabetes is becoming brittle pretty quickly since my whipple, So I thinking, if I do the islet cell I will need the pump agian, but if I get a donor pancreas, I should be good. It's something they don't know until transplantation. I am not sure how mentally prepared I am for that kind of pump. I won't have the luxery of a picc line this time. I will be eating real food and on a regular pump like you have. I don't know what I think about all of that. I just know how I felt when I looked in the mirror and showered, etc. To me, that's what's matters, how you really feel about it emotionally and mentally. Thank you for sharing with me, I appriciate it. Take Care, -Kat Nodge misguided_mortal_1970@...> wrote: Hi Kathleen, I have the Animas 1200 pump and I use the Disetronic Rapid D's for tubing and insert. Actually now its called Accu Check Rapid D's. It has its ups and downs for sure. I also tend to accidentally yank out my insert and then I have to get another insert since it loooses its stickyness once its pulled out. I can not stick that needle back into myself. I have tried. Then there are during the nights when I somehow make a funny move in bed and my site gets yanked out. It wakes me up. OUCH. When I look myself in the mirror skyclad and see that inserter sticking out my belly like that, even when I unhook my pump, I feel like an alien, or some sort of lab experiment gone awry. Other then this I have no problem with it. Its just something I have to keep an eye on. What are Whipple and TPN? I never herd of those. I may know TPN but I dont know what it stands for. Could it be total Parenteral nutrition? Kathleen Cowart katseye1969@...> wrote: Thank you , I just got off the pump. I am not real interrested on going back on it. I got off mine in Dec after my Whipple. I am either going to do a whole organ or islet cell xplant. Dr Sutherland in MN has been doing them for over 30 yrs, he did my Whipple. He is the only one I would go to for xplant. The pig cell stuff looks promising...I was not on the traditional pump you are on. Mine was hooked up through my TPN, so it was all automatic. I didn't have to do anything. I don't like tubes in my belly, I tend to yank those out...that's the main reason why I don't want back on the pump. How do you feel about it personally? I mean, when you look at yourself in the mirror, how does it make you feel? I hated my drain tube. Hated it. That's the thing that freaks me out about your kind of pump...I guess I am more interrested in what the pump is like for you emotionally. Thanks. --------------------------------- How low will we go? Check out Yahoo! Messenger’s low PC-to-Phone call rates. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 26, 2006 Report Share Posted July 26, 2006 My Uncle is retired RN, he says a person can't control being brittle, thats why it is so dangerous. He said all you can do is be prepared in case it does happen. WHich for him could be 2AM or while we are driving down the highway. He ALWAYS has the sucrose tabs, and we are constantly hitting the nearest store for candy. His sugar can race from 105 to 420 just out of the blue. I --think-- he said he is allergic to his own insulin. ?? I am not an expert on technical stuff. I just live with it. As far as the pump, my own personal experience is they are creepy. I saw a guy go into convulsions after his sugar bottomed out in public, and while having a grand mal seizure, his pump was flailing about. So, my experience was negative. The guy admitted he neglected to eat. Hmmm, I never have THAT problem. I just cant stand the thought of anything staying stuck in my stomach. My sister's husband (a Type I diabetic) has had two transplants. One to get off dialysis, which was successful and one pancreas (?) to stop being diabetic. His body rejected that one. It can be rough living with this challenge. But having knowledge is your best weapon. > > How does your Uncle control his brittle? > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 26, 2006 Report Share Posted July 26, 2006 I realize being brittle means you can not control your BS, Is he in the pump? does he self inject? Is he on the pill? That is what I meant by " control " . How is your cousin doing with the donor pancreas? redbird4848 redbird4848@...> wrote: My Uncle is retired RN, he says a person can't control being brittle, thats why it is so dangerous. He said all you can do is be prepared in case it does happen. WHich for him could be 2AM or while we are driving down the highway. He ALWAYS has the sucrose tabs, and we are constantly hitting the nearest store for candy. His sugar can race from 105 to 420 just out of the blue. I --think-- he said he is allergic to his own insulin. ?? I am not an expert on technical stuff. I just live with it. As far as the pump, my own personal experience is they are creepy. I saw a guy go into convulsions after his sugar bottomed out in public, and while having a grand mal seizure, his pump was flailing about. So, my experience was negative. The guy admitted he neglected to eat. Hmmm, I never have THAT problem. I just cant stand the thought of anything staying stuck in my stomach. My sister's husband (a Type I diabetic) has had two transplants. One to get off dialysis, which was successful and one pancreas (?) to stop being diabetic. His body rejected that one. It can be rough living with this challenge. But having knowledge is your best weapon. > > How does your Uncle control his brittle? > " Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obsticles which he has overcome " . -Booker T. Washington http://www.cafepress.com/kathleensart --------------------------------- See the all-new, redesigned Yahoo.com. Check it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 27, 2006 Report Share Posted July 27, 2006 No, brittle, as I am using the term, means his blood sugar can go from 400 to 40 in no time flat. He eats right, takes right amount of medicine and is not a couch potatoe. We can eat sensibly- and an hour later my sugar is starting to soar and out of the blue, he starts having low blood sugar. BTW, he is on pills, not insulin. He is not overweight and prefers insulin. That is what brittle means. This does not happen all the time. My brother in law who had the pancreas transplant is fine, although his body rejected the pancreas. We tease him because his kidneys came from an african american woman. You know Indians like to tease. > > I realize being brittle means you can not control your BS, Is he in the pump? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 27, 2006 Report Share Posted July 27, 2006 No, he is not on the pump. He takes pills, but I don't know the names. > > I realize being brittle means you can not control your BS, Is he in the pump? does he self inject? Is he on the pill? That is what I meant by " control " . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 27, 2006 Report Share Posted July 27, 2006 Hi Redbird. I am a type 2 diabetic. I am on a pump. It became necessary when my pancreas stopped producing insulin after 23 years on diet and exercise then medicine. I was Dxed in 1982 at 42 years of age. I was injecting 7 or 8 times a day. I was like you, I thought that I could not live with a pump tied to me 24 hours a day. It is amazing what I can do when I have to. The positives with the pump out weigh the negatives. I can now eat anything I want to, even though I still stick to a diabetic meal plan. I can go all day without eating anything, and not have any problems. I have an A1c of 5.4 to 5.8%. I still have to test my BG 12 times a day. I am very insulin resistant. I started on the pump with 1 unit of insulin to 1.5 mg/dl BG. I am now up to 1 for 6 mg/dl BG. I am living much better since I went on the pump. I have been on insulin for 2 years and the pump since Nov 2005. Keep an open mind and things tend to work themselves out. S Wilkinson, Rome, New York Re: Brittle and the pump, etc My Uncle is retired RN, he says a person can't control being brittle, thats why it is so dangerous. He said all you can do is be prepared in case it does happen. WHich for him could be 2AM or while we are driving down the highway. He ALWAYS has the sucrose tabs, and we are constantly hitting the nearest store for candy. His sugar can race from 105 to 420 just out of the blue. I --think-- he said he is allergic to his own insulin. ?? I am not an expert on technical stuff. I just live with it. As far as the pump, my own personal experience is they are creepy. I saw a guy go into convulsions after his sugar bottomed out in public, and while having a grand mal seizure, his pump was flailing about. So, my experience was negative. The guy admitted he neglected to eat. Hmmm, I never have THAT problem. I just cant stand the thought of anything staying stuck in my stomach. My sister's husband (a Type I diabetic) has had two transplants. One to get off dialysis, which was successful and one pancreas (?) to stop being diabetic. His body rejected that one. It can be rough living with this challenge. But having knowledge is your best weapon. > > How does your Uncle control his brittle? > Diabetes homepage: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/diabetes/ To unsubscribe to this group, send an email to: diabetes-unsubscribe Hope you come back soon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 27, 2006 Report Share Posted July 27, 2006 Kathleen, Noticed that Dr. Sutherland did your surgery. From the it's a small world department I met Dr. Sutherland's son Rick when he sold beer and I sold peanuts as a vendor at the Metrodome. Rick helped me understand the vending process while being sympathetic about my type 1 diabetes. Kind regards, Tim Kathleen Cowart katseye1969@...> wrote: Thank you , I just got off the pump. I am not real interrested on going back on it. I got off mine in Dec after my Whipple. I am either going to do a whole organ or islet cell xplant. Dr Sutherland in MN has been doing them for over 30 yrs, he did my Whipple. He is the only one I would go to for xplant. The pig cell stuff looks promising...I was not on the traditional pump you are on. Mine was hooked up through my TPN, so it was all automatic. I didn't have to do anything. I don't like tubes in my belly, I tend to yank those out...that's the main reason why I don't want back on the pump. How do you feel about it personally? I mean, when you look at yourself in the mirror, how does it make you feel? I hated my drain tube. Hated it. That's the thing that freaks me out about your kind of pump...I guess I am more interrested in what the pump is like for you emotionally. Thanks. Nodge misguided_mortal_1970@...> wrote: Hi Kathleen, I am on the insulin pump. I have been for a bit over 2 years now. I am getting better numbers now then when I was on MDI's. Yes, with the pump it makes bolusing too easy, but it also makes it easier to count carbs, cough, when done right, and its easy to just take the pump out of your pocket and press some buttons and press enter. It can be a nusiance in a few ways though. One, is that you have to keep loading the insulin cartridge every 3-4 days, it uses batteries, an alarm can go off when there is an occlussion or its low on insulin, etc. Are you interested in becoming a pumper? There is a good site you can go to " http://www.insulin-pumpers.org At the moment, I am not considering any type of transplants. Its too risky, but with technology, this type of operations can change. Kathleen Cowart katseye1969@...> wrote: How does your Uncle control his brittle? I am asking if anyone is on the insulin pump and if anyone is considering the islet cell transplant to cure their diabetes. the > --------------------------------- Groups are talking. We´re listening. Check out the handy changes to Yahoo! Groups. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 27, 2006 Report Share Posted July 27, 2006 My sons's former German teacher is type 2 and he uses an insulin pump. He says he loves it. It makes his life easier. > > > > How does your Uncle control his brittle? > > > > > > > > > Diabetes homepage: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/diabetes/ > > To unsubscribe to this group, send an email to: > diabetes-unsubscribe > Hope you come back soon! > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 27, 2006 Report Share Posted July 27, 2006 Wow, your A1C says it all. That is great. You are right about the necessity of keeping an open mind. Unfortunately, I get my meds/supplies from IHS, and they are famous for having " leftovers " from other medical/pharmaceutical companies. Most of the pills ya'll talk about here, I have never heard of. IHS (in my area) definitely does not have the pupm available. > > > > How does your Uncle control his brittle? > > > > > > > > > Diabetes homepage: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/diabetes/ > > To unsubscribe to this group, send an email to: > diabetes-unsubscribe > Hope you come back soon! > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 27, 2006 Report Share Posted July 27, 2006 Kathleen, I applied directly to the U. of M. Islet of Langerhans transplant department. Feel fortunate to be so healthy. My lone complication after 37 years is hypoglycemic unawareness. Never heard of Anne Marie. Tim --- Kathleen Cowart katseye1969@...> wrote: > Tim, > YOU ARE KIDDING ME!!!! What type of xplant were > you looking at doing? My buddy just did the TP/ICT > and he is over 50. True, whole organs are different > and they generally do not like to do them over 50 > yrs of age...My grandfather had one and I know he > was over 50 because I was an adult when he got his > liver..how weird...Did you go through Ann Marie? > > Tim snikpoh8@...> wrote: > Kathleen, > > Glad I have a sense of humor. When applying for a > transplant > four years ago The U. of M. told me I was " too > healthy. " Now at 52 > am told I am too old, too great a risk for a > transplant. You gotta laugh. > > Tim > > Kathleen Cowart katseye1969@...> wrote: Tim, > That is so cool. Doc S is the best. He will do my > xplant too if I decide to go through with it. He is > really awesome. He amazes me..he has dedicated his > entire life to find the cure for diabetes..which he > has done..and through his progress has also found > ways to help pancreatits patients. He is a wonderful > human being..a pleasure to be around. Take it easy, > Kathleen > > Tim snikpoh8@...> wrote: Kathleen, > > Noticed that Dr. Sutherland did your surgery. From > the it's a small world > department I met Dr. Sutherland's son Rick when he > sold beer and I sold > peanuts as a vendor at the Metrodome. Rick helped me > understand the > vending process while being sympathetic about my > type 1 diabetes. > > Kind regards, Tim > > Kathleen Cowart katseye1969@...> wrote: > Thank you , I just got off the pump. I am not > real interrested on going back on it. I got off mine > in Dec after my Whipple. I am either going to do a > whole organ or islet cell xplant. Dr Sutherland in > MN has been doing them for over 30 yrs, he did my > Whipple. He is the only one I would go to for > xplant. The pig cell stuff looks promising...I was > not on the traditional pump you are on. Mine was > hooked up through my TPN, so it was all automatic. I > didn't have to do anything. I don't like tubes in my > belly, I tend to yank those out...that's the main > reason why I don't want back on the pump. How do you > feel about it personally? I mean, when you look at > yourself in the mirror, how does it make you feel? I > hated my drain tube. Hated it. That's the thing that > freaks me out about your kind of pump...I guess I am > more interrested in what the pump is like for you > emotionally. Thanks. > > Nodge misguided_mortal_1970@...> > wrote: > Hi Kathleen, > > I am on the insulin pump. I have been for a bit over > 2 years now. I am getting better numbers now then > when I was on MDI's. Yes, with the pump it makes > bolusing too easy, but it also makes it easier to > count carbs, cough, when done right, and its easy to > just take the pump out of your pocket and press some > buttons and press enter. It can be a nusiance in a > few ways though. One, is that you have to keep > loading the insulin cartridge every 3-4 days, it > uses batteries, an alarm can go off when there is an > occlussion or its low on insulin, etc. > > Are you interested in becoming a pumper? There is a > good site you can go to " > > http://www.insulin-pumpers.org > > At the moment, I am not considering any type of > transplants. Its too risky, but with technology, > this type of operations can change. > > > > Kathleen Cowart katseye1969@...> wrote: > How does your Uncle control his brittle? > > I am asking if anyone is on the insulin pump and if > anyone is considering the islet cell transplant to > cure their diabetes. > > the > > > > --------------------------------- > Groups are talking. We´re listening. Check out > the handy changes to Yahoo! Groups. > > [Non-text portions of this message have been > removed] > > " Success is to be measured not so much by the > position that one has reached in life as by the > obsticles which he has overcome " . -Booker T. > Washington > > http://www.cafepress.com/kathleensart > > --------------------------------- > How low will we go? Check out Yahoo! Messenger’s low > PC-to-Phone call rates. > > [Non-text portions of this message have been > removed] > > --------------------------------- > How low will we go? Check out Yahoo! Messenger’s low > PC-to-Phone call rates. > > [Non-text portions of this message have been > removed] > > " Success is to be measured not so much by the > position that one has reached in life as by the > obsticles which he has overcome " . -Booker T. > Washington > > http://www.cafepress.com/kathleensart > > --------------------------------- > Do you Yahoo!? > Next-gen email? Have it all with the all-new Yahoo! > Mail Beta. > > [Non-text portions of this message have been > removed] > > > > > > > --------------------------------- > Do you Yahoo!? > Next-gen email? Have it all with the all-new Yahoo! > Mail Beta. > > [Non-text portions of this message have been > removed] > > > > > > > " Success is to be measured not so much by the > position that one has reached in life as by the > obsticles which he has overcome " . -Booker T. > Washington > > http://www.cafepress.com/kathleensart > > --------------------------------- > Yahoo! Music Unlimited - Access over 1 million > songs.Try it free. > > [Non-text portions of this message have been > removed] > > __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 28, 2006 Report Share Posted July 28, 2006 So what does brittle diabetic mean? Kathleen Cowart katseye1969@...> wrote: " Brittle " means a brittle diabetic and the whipple has nothing to do with diabetes. _,_._,___ __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 29, 2006 Report Share Posted July 29, 2006 " BRITTLE " DIABETES by J. Nebergall, PhD One of the most prominent features of diabetes is its uniqueness. No two diabetics respond in exactly the same way to their food, insulin, or exercise, and no two individuals, even if they show the same glucose test results, will experience precisely the same complications. The disease is, by definition, unpredictable. Still, making allowance for surprises, we know the effects of more insulin, less insulin, more exercise, less exercise, more food, etc. For most diabetics, most of the time, the " rules " work. " If I do this, or do not do that, I can expect this result. " But there is a body of individuals for whom the rules do not appear to apply, and to them is often applied the adjective " brittle. " The problem becomes separating the truly " brittle " diabetics from the non-compliant, the poorly-controlled, or those whose unstable sugars have other explanations. Some have insisted that if all diabetics diligently practiced " tight control " (as described by the DCCT), none would be " brittle. " They're partially right; the numbers would go down, but some diabetics can do everything right and still remain " brittle. " These are the diabetics, even practicing tight control, whose blood glucose level " over-reacts " to minute changes in diet, exercise, and/or insulin. These individuals experience unpredictable rises and swoops in blood glucose, within very short periods, as the result of very small departures from schedule. Small changes " break " their control, and they are thus said to be " brittle. " If you are practicing tight control, are in good compliance with your schedule, and are still experiencing rapid, out-of-proportion blood glucose changes, talk to your doctor. You (or more correctly your diabetes) may be " brittle, " but your instabilities may well be a sign of some other problem. Maybe You're Not Brittle Many diabetics whose sugars seem to run unpredictably, " all over the map, " have heard their diabetes described as " brittle. " Sometimes it is; but there are other possible explanations, such as the dawn phenomenon, and the Somogyi Effect. If your sugars are unexpectedly high in the morning, one of these may be the explanation. We all have our normal " sleep cycles. " When the human body becomes used to a schedule, it releases hormones, including glucagon, into the blood on schedule, to help you wake up. Your sugars rise, in the expectation of activity. How many times have you opened your eyes, looked at the alarm clock, and found it was one minute short of going off? That hormone and blood sugar rise is the dawn phenomenon. It is very normal, and perhaps your morning glucose monitor test is catching it. Problems come either when this response, the dawn phenomenon, fools you into thinking you need more insulin, when you don't, or when it gets out of hand, excessive, requiring you to readjust your diet/medication balance. There is also the Somogyi Effect (named for the researcher who first described it in the 1930s). Your body naturally seeks balance, what the doctors call homeostasis, in all things, including blood glucose. After you eat, a healthy, non-diabetic pancreas will secrete more insulin, to bring the numbers back down. If you have a " low, " your liver will release stored glucose, to bring you back up. But this " rebound " is imprecise; and when you have a low, and your body rebounds, it'll often take you way up into the high range. Then, if you happen to test your blood sugars, you'll see you're high, get worried, and perhaps add more insulin to bring your numbers back down. BUT--you're only high because you're having a rebound from a low, so that extra insulin just points you back into another low, which will likely trigger another rebound, making you think you're high again... You're not brittle; you're in the midst of the Somogyi Effect! So what should you do about this vicious cycle? Slow down, and do some tests. Are you having unrecorded night-time " hypos? " If your early morning high is regularly preceded by a night-time low, treat the cause of that low; perhaps you need to lower your afternoon insulin dose, and/or add a bedtime snack. If you can eliminate the " low, " you'll eliminate the body's rebound. You may need less insulin. If your sugars are not running low at night (and a week's late-night tests should let you know), but you're too high in the morning, it could be the dawn phenomenon, and if it is, you may need more insulin. You can see how important it is to tell which phenomenon you're dealing with. Real " brittle diabetes " doesn't follow patterns. Individuals who'se diabetes is " brittle " experience unpredictable, out-of-proportion rises and swoops in blood glucose, within short periods of time, as a result of very small deviations from schedule. Talk to your doctor, and to your health care team. They should help you set up an individualized testing program that will reveal what's going on--and then give you the tools to deal with it. Good luck! S Wilkinson, Rome, New York Re: Re: Brittle and the pump, etc So what does brittle diabetic mean? Kathleen Cowart katseye1969@...> wrote: " Brittle " means a brittle diabetic and the whipple has nothing to do with diabetes. _,_._,___ ==================snip============================= Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 29, 2006 Report Share Posted July 29, 2006 Brittle is actually an old term that isn't used much anymore, and now mostly by the older generation that was around when it was used. And it was always used in a confusing manner. A lot of folks used it as another name for Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (also called juvenile or Type I diabetes). Other people used Brittle to mean a diabetic who's sugar was not in control (usually due to not taking their insulin regularly). Still others used it to mean a diabetic whose diabetes was difficult to control, even when they were following procedure. It's the last use of brittle that is probably still in some use today. - Walter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 29, 2006 Report Share Posted July 29, 2006 , Thanks for the info. I wasn't exactly sure what a " brittle " was. Although it doesn't apply to me, it's nice to know. The " Dawn Phenomenon " seems to fit me to a " T " . My BG is always higher in the morning even if I eat a small snack before bedtime. I did notice however, I sometimes wake up @ 3 or 4 a.m. and my bg's will be high then. I've learned that if I eat a small snack and go back to sleep that my bg's will actually be lower @ 7 a.m. Before this group I did't eat the snack, I'd just stay up because I couldn't go back to sleep. I almost never feel hungry and because my bg's were high I didn't think I should eat yet. Marie > " Brittle " means a brittle diabetic and the whipple has nothing to do with > diabetes. _,_._,___ > ==================snip============================= > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 30, 2006 Report Share Posted July 30, 2006 Thanks, . This was very helpful. S Wilkinson jwilkins@...> wrote: " BRITTLE " DIABETES by J. Nebergall, PhD _,_._ __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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