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Question: From Leicestershire, United Kingdom: I am 35, female, have had diabetes for six years, and have until very recently been tightly controlled with an average hemoglobin A1c of 5.5%. However, over the last three weeks, my diabetes has become "brittle" with extreme highs and lows in blood glucose levels. I am now taking more than four times as much soluble (fast acting) insulin than three weeks ago, and obviously I am very concerned about this! I have been to my consultant whose response was, "Welcome to the reality of diabetes" and gave me no real guidance. I hope that you might be able to give me some insight. What events or underlying factors may contribute to such erratic and drastic changes in a person with diabetes who is normally very well controlled? When diabetes becomes brittle, is this likely to be a temporary situation? Answer: I expect your consultant thinks that you had a remarkably long honeymoon and now have real diabetes with true insulin dependence. I might believe it if you were on a very low dose of insulin earlier and now seem to be on a more "normal" dose of about 1 unit per kilogram of body weight. If true, then you are giving the insulin and it is more difficult, but brittle isn't a word I'd like to use as it implies diabetes impossible to control. You may just have to start over and use a better approach with a basal/bolus insulin regimen and the use of carbohydrate counting. LD DTQ-20011223105418 Original posting 31 Dec 2001 Posted to Daily Care

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			Jump to a new section --[ Getting Around ]-- Home Page What's New Privacy Policy Search --[ People ]-- Family Support Network Adults with Diabetes Care Photos Chat Rooms Conferences Kids with Diabetes Parents Parent Humor Scholarships and Financial Aid Grandparents Humorous Tidbits Jobs Mailing Lists CWD Forums Poetry and Art Videos Polls Quilt for Life Surveys Blogs --[ Clinic ]-- Ask the Diabetes Team Alternate Site Testing Alternative Treatments Care Suggestions CWD Español Diabetes Basics Diabetes at School 504 Plans Diabetes Camps Diabetes Dictionary Insulin Pumps Nutrition Podcasts Presentations Products Product Marketplace Sports Studies Warning Signs --[ Sources ]-- News and Information Diabetes Advocacy Links to Other Web Sites Press Releases Regional Information Services Support Groups --[ Feedback ]-- About CWD Advertise Awards Contribute Your Experiences Disclaimer Letters to the Editor Logos and Linking Share our Brochures

Last Updated: Tuesday April 06, 2010 15:09:28
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