briddle or brittle diabetes

[Guest guest]

I read the posts on this type of diabetes and I really dont understand

it, would someone explain it to me? What happens to a person with

it? What aret he symtoms? Is it worse to have it than pancreatitis?

Thank you,

Jean

[Guest guest]

>

> I read the posts on this type of diabetes and I really dont understand

> it, would someone explain it to me? What happens to a person with

> it? What aret he symtoms? Is it worse to have it than pancreatitis?

> Thank you,

>

> Jean

Jean,

Brittle diabetes can result when a person who has chronic pancreatitis has so

much

damage to their pancreas that the beta cells (islets) are destroyed and they

become an

insulin dependent diabetic. Their diabetes becomes very difficult to control,

with wild

swings of hypoglycemic or hyperglycemic episodes that happen without

explanation.

I've copied and pasted just a short mention of it from a great article on

chronic

pancreatitis at this website:

http:///www.emedicine.com/radio/topic522.htm

******

Diabetes can develop in 70-90% of patients with chronic calcific pancreatitis.

Diabetes

tends to be brittle in these patients, probably because of the lack of both

insulin and

glucagon. However, patients with chronic pancreatitis–associated diabetes are

less prone

to complications such as retinopathy, nephropathy, atherosclerosis, and

ketoacidosis than

patients with primary diabetes. On the other hand, neuropathy and myopathy can

occur in

one third of patients with chronic pancreatitis–associated diabetes. However,

controversy

exists regarding the exact etiology of neuropathy and myopathy in these

patients, because

these conditions occur with alcohol abuse in the absence of pancreatitis.

***********

I was dx. as " brittle " when I was discharged from the hospital after my diabetic

ketoacidosis, which I had, in spite of the fact that they say chronic

pancreatitis-associated

diabetics are less prone to ketoacidosis.

I hope this answers your question. Write again if you have any more questions

about it.

With love, hope and prayers,

Heidi

Heidi H. Griffeth

South Carolina Rep.

Southeastern Regional Rep.

PAI

Note: All advice or comments are based on personal experience or opinion, and

should

not be substituted for professional medical consultation.