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My diabetes has be categorized as being "brittle" by my endocrinologist because anything carb free or not affects my blood sugars. Has anyone else heard of this type of thing? I'm not as in control as everyone might think that I am. I have had high A1C readings the past three times every three months that my new endocrinologist has been doing it. When I say high I mean high. Because of lack of insurance I know that I do not care the same care that a lot of the other diabetics that my doctor is treating. Same goes for my other medical issues including a major knee problem that is now affecting me. I'm trying to learn different ways to control it by myself by doing research and have tried many different things, but this bit with anything affecting my diabetes is making it harder for me to control it. Any advice? Cherise |
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Hi Cherise, the defination of a " Brittle Diabetic " is a person whos blood glucose level often swings quickly from high to low or low to high. Have you tried googling " brittle diabeties " you might can find some answers there. Also go to the American Diabeties Association.org they have a lot of usefull information there including find help with getting insurance. I hope you can get some usefull information at these sites Cherise.  Maryb |
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I am considered brittle. I can go high or low just like that for no particular reason. I can have two exact days of eating and exercise. One of those days I can be high, another low. All I can do is adjust my insulin accordingly. It's a matter of trying our best. Some of us will never be perfect. Sun |
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Some schools of thought say that the term "brittle" is outdated, and all diabetes CAN be controled. Some doctors use the term instead of being willing to do ANYTHING necessary to work with more challenging cases. They say, "Oh well, it's brittle diabetes...nothing to do" and throw up their hands in confusion and frustration. You have to be really honest with yourself...and I am not trying to be hard on you. I've had plenty of experience with my own "brittle diabetes" to recognize that it is NOT easy! Are you truly being as compliant as you should? This is not as clear as you may think. Are you testing as often as necessary to monitor your sugars? Are you making notes as to your moods and foods at the times of high readings? Are you taking additioonal humalog, novolog, or fast acting analog insulin? Are you even on the correct insulin for your diet and schedule? Some doctors are not as savvy with control issues. Perhaps you need a doctor more experienced in handling diabetes...not all endocrinologists are. The endocrine system is composed of many glands, and not all endos specialize in the control of blood sugars. Perhaps you need a different doctor to help your specific issues. At 15 years old, I was termed "brittle." Now I am 50. I'm blind, lost an eye, had 4 kidney transpants, spent years on dialysis in between transplants, have wicked gastroparesis, neuropathy, blah blah...because I was "brittle." What I was, was a non-compliant teenager, and a miserable adult...who didn't take good care of herself. I pray you'll do MUCH better, and be more aware and careful. HUGS! sheryl |
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Dear Cherise, Brittle Diabetes. A term that can lead to much frustration and self doubt. I am brittle. Things that seem to be directly linked to bizare blood sugar readings for me are: physical pain, exposure to viruses = oncoming illness, emotional upset and trama. Tracking this tight makes us seem silly at best and down right neurotic to the "healthy" people. I test up to 8 times a day (on "good" days, as little as 3 or 4 times) and I log down information watching for patterns and cycles that can overlay with my food log and exercise. The other issues and illnesses can lead to exhuastion making much exercise almost impossible. My Novorapid insulin is adjusted every meal to reflect where I'm at the day before with the blood sugars. The greatest help lately has been the switch from novolin NGH for my longer term insulin control to Levemir but now its a battle, even in Canada, heh? to get my Levemir covered by our health insurance. The other saving grace in my life is the awesome team of dedicated, insightful, patient and caring Diabetic Clinic educators. If there is an equivlant in your area, get there quick. These people can help in all areas. The food and nutrition, funding to some degree, recommeds to rushed and unaware physicians, explaining med options, exercise and sit in, real time groups of other diabetics are some of the parts of their service. .......and which comes first? the yo-yo sugars or the emotional rollercoaster setting one up for a crazy cravings? For me, just now, its just doing the best I can with what I've got left. I have less than 20 degrees of vision left due to yet another, different condition and am a prime candidate for stroke and heart attck. I can no longer work, drive a car, operate my tools or gardening stuff. It is no longer safe for me to walk without accompanyment for more than a few minutes. I used to hike, planned hike paths, alone on trails up to 18 km a day. Cooking is a challenge. I loved to cook and experiment with receipes.Now days something, either me or the food, gets burned or is raw LOL. The medications I'm on have affected my voice so I can no longer sing in the choir. The best of luck to you, Cherise. "Type two gone brittle", Norma |
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Cherise, Oh yes do I ever know of being a brittle diabetic. I have been one since the day I was diagnoised. I still to this day don't have it totally undercontrol. My new Endo is talking about putting me on a pump. All my other Dr.'s just wanted to mess with my doses of shots and/ or told me that if I went on the pump I would have to check my bloodsugar alot more then what I already do today. My new Endo thought there was a chance that my body just might be producing insulin for the simple fact that spaghetti, lazangas, and the Bisquick Chicken Pot Pies I could eat as much as I want but with in 30 minutes my bloodsugars would drop. That and amoung other things. I have been diabetic now for 24 years ever since I was the age of 13. Talk about a slap in the face. My bloodsugar was 2200+ I was still up talking and walking but barely. The last month before being diagnoised was pretty much the same. I slept in the same class, asked to use the bathroom in the same class, visit the nurse every single day. No one knew what was up with me. After a day in the hospital the Doc put me on a 2200 cal. diet. I wasn't that active of a kid. That cal count was like eating 6 meals aday for me. Never had time to go excersie it off. When I was younger I wan't compliant. I was in very bad deniel as well as getting into more dangerious bad habits. By the time I married at 23 and had my first child that didn't make it past 20 weeks gestational. I was determined to do my best. But the Dr.'s weren't listening to me and that makes it even more complicated to have the desire to try harder. So I started dealing with it all on my own. I had been on sliding scales and new what my body was capible of. And after having my 1st child I started experiencing more low bloodsugars. I know have 2 beautiful children and 2 steps that I call my own. My A1C is almost down to normal and my cholesterol good and bad are excellent. You might want to talk to your Dr. about the C-plats blood test. This test will give the Dr. a more clearer idea of what your possiblities are. The C-plats is what your body produces when it produces insulin and no sinthetic insulin has it. Any number means that your body is producing insulin and you maybe able to go on the pills rather then on the shots. I never heard of the test until I went to my new Endo Dr. My new Dr. is truely concidering putting me on the Pump. Now days from what I have read there are pumps out there that can test your sugar and give insulin. (that was the main reason why I joined was to get the pros and cons of an insulin pump). And I have heard that they have alarms now days to warn you before you get too drastically high or low. Also you might want to try finding it at Walgreens or another vitiamn story Cinnamon I have heard it helps control bloodsugars. At one time I was actually putting 1 tsp of cinnamon into my coffee Yuck. LOL and it seemed to work. My mom takes the pills of cinnamon that she gets from Sam's Club. She says she feels better when she takes them. She is Hypoglycemic. |
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My doctors dont use the word brittle anymore, it isnt as common to say it as it used to be. But, my pump trainer said it will never ever be easy for me. Food doesnt react the same at any given time, things like stress and even arthritis pain play into it, and even the possibility of slower stomach emptying (not necessarily full blown gastroparesis). Type I's can do nothing but try to get it decent, and if you are a type II and want to try supplements, it's kind of your call. But lots and lots of us are far from having exceptional numbers, and it truly isnt always anything we can help. There are zillions of factors. |
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Hi,, im not here much but this one really hit home! i was told i was brittle since day one,, altho i have had dr.s tell me im very brittle meaning very sensitive to EVERYTHING! But i had ONE dr tell me he didnt believe in it when i told him that i was brittle and it didnt exsit in his dictionary,, which at that point in my life was my last visit with him! Brittle has not only have to do with how sensitive you maybe to not only food but excersise,, illness such as colds and flus and infections,, but also has to do with your control too ive come to realize. For those who are told they are brittle need to put more work into themselves as far as taking control of your diabetes. When i was first told i was brittle i was young and dumb! i took that as to my advantage everytime i landed in the hospital or was out of control. With out the proper ins. i know that makes it even more challenging,, but anyone can still do it,, when i was with out insurance i would buy ketone strips to ck my urine to see how my bs were and i cut all those strips in half,, i did what ever it took and had to watch my diet even closer! Being brittle makes it a bit more of a challenge but thats what makes you strong. i too have many complications now,, NOT becuz im brittle but becuz i didnt care for myself in my younger years like i should have. Good luck. Take care Hugs Susie |
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Hi I too am "brittle".There is nothing wrong in my opion about this term,it just means you have to be more aware of things.Even without this term everything does affect diabetes for the good or the bad.I can do and eat the same things day after day after day and have different results each day.At many times this disease does not make any sense and you feel as if you are going crazy. |
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hi name is eddye i have type 1 and find that active days need less insulin, and tried days more. I believe that the body is using more carbs/sugars in the system for more fuel. But, i also find that mood and active days can change day to day. So try to plan two full days of activeness, and compare to last weeks numbers. For me it is hard, and i'm sure it is hard for everyone, but planning is one of the best things to help try to control your A1C. |
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I want to say I am brittle again, and sugars never make sense to me, but I have found that careful monitoring and the right insulins adjusted accordingly can lead to reasonable A!C's. It is a lot of hard work, but it can pay off. First though, you must be on the right insulin regime, and second have enough strips to test often. The two go hand in hand. Sun |
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Yes my Dear,my Mother was a brittle . So is my sister. It is a hard one to care for.  |
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