Brittle Diabetes
Brittle diabetes is a type of diabetes that causes the person diagnosed to witness blood sugar levels that swing very quickly from high to low, which is also known as unstable diabetes or labile diabetes. One of the most notable characteristics about this type of diabetes is its uniqueness. There are no two people with the diabetes alike. Although they may have the same levels of blood sugar, doesn’t mean that their bodies will respond the same to food, insulin and exercise. No two individuals will experience precisely the same complications.
Because of this fact, the disease is very unpredictable, which can be very critical. There are many surprises to be had. For some people, the usual rules work, but for others with the illness have different results; the rules don’t apply to them and this causes them to be diagnosed with brittle diabetes. There is an issue with separating brittle from the non-compliant and poorly controlled diabetics (or from those who have unstable sugars).
The known effects of more and less insulin, more and less exercise and more and less food don’t really to diabetics whose illness is labeled as brittle. Some researchers have insisted that if diabetics diligently practiced tight control, which is described by the DCCT, no one would be considered brittle. This is in fact partially true. The number of those who are “brittle” would be much lower. But then there are other diabetics that do everything they can and yet they still become or remain brittle.
Even those who are practicing tight control who have blood sugar levels that over reacts to minute changes in diet, exercise and insulin. They experience unpredictable increases and swings in their blood sugar in a very short period of time. This can be caused during very small departures from a routine schedule. The small changes disrupts their control and is said to be brittle.
Having symptoms of brittle diabetes could also be a sign of another problem, so it is very important that you speak to a doctor if practicing tight control isn’t effective. There are also people who have similar symptoms of having diabetes that are brittle, but aren’t. It could also be something called the dawn phenomenon and the Somogyi Effect. If you notice that your blood sugar levels are higher by morning, these can be the cause.
During a person’s sleep cycle, the body tends to go on its own schedule; releasing hormones like glucagons into the blood on schedule. This helps to wake you up. Your blood sugar rises when there is expectation of activity.