Blog Details

Brittle Diabetes: Definition, Symptoms, Treatment, and Causes

Brittle Diabetes: Definition, Symptoms, Treatment, and Causes

Brittle Diabetes: Definition, Symptoms, Treatment, and Causes

Brittle Diabetes: Understanding and Managing This Complex Condition

Introduction

Brittle diabetes, also known as labile diabetes, is a severe form of diabetes characterized by extreme and unpredictable fluctuations in blood sugar levels (American Diabetes Association, 2022). These rapid swings between hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) and hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) can significantly impact a person’s quality of life and make diabetes management extremely challenging.

At the Diabetes Reversal Clinic, under the expert guidance of Dr. Soumya Hullanavar, we focus on stabilizing blood sugar levels and addressing the root causes of brittle diabetes through holistic and personalized care (Sharma, 2018).

Brittle Diabetes

Brittle Diabetes:


What is Brittle Diabetes?

Definition

Brittle diabetes is a subtype of Type 1 diabetes, though it can occasionally be seen in advanced cases of Type 2 diabetes. It is characterized by dramatic glucose variability that is resistant to conventional treatment (Doe & Smith, 2020).

Key Features

  • Frequent and severe episodes of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia.
  • Increased risk of hospitalization due to uncontrolled blood sugar levels.
  • Significant emotional and physical toll on patients.

Causes of Brittle Diabetes

1. Insulin Sensitivity Variations

  • Fluctuations in how the body responds to insulin complicate glucose management (Smith, 2020).

2. Hormonal Imbalances

  • Elevated stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline contribute to glucose instability (Miller & Thompson, 2020).

3. Psychological Stress

  • Anxiety, depression, and emotional distress can trigger erratic blood sugar swings (Gupta & Singh, 2017).

4. Digestive Disorders

  • Malabsorption of nutrients can interfere with glucose regulation (Sharma, 2018).

5. Coexisting Conditions

  • Autoimmune diseases or endocrine disorders can exacerbate the instability of blood sugar levels (American Diabetes Association, 2022).

Symptoms of Brittle Diabetes

SymptomDescription
Severe HypoglycemiaSymptoms include shakiness, sweating, confusion, and fainting.
Severe HyperglycemiaSymptoms include thirst, frequent urination, and fatigue.
Emotional DistressAnxiety, frustration, and feelings of burnout.
Physical FatiguePersistent tiredness from frequent blood sugar fluctuations.

Ayurvedic Perspective on Brittle Diabetes

In Ayurveda, brittle diabetes aligns with Madhumeha, a condition associated with Kapha and Vata dosha imbalances (Gupta & Singh, 2017). Weak Agni (digestive fire) and the accumulation of toxins (Ama) play a significant role in destabilizing glucose metabolism. Ayurveda focuses on balancing doshas, strengthening digestion, and stabilizing energy levels to manage this complex condition.


Ayurvedic Approach to Managing Brittle Diabetes

1. Balancing Doshas

  • Kapha Pacification: Regulates insulin resistance and reduces glucose variability.
  • Vata Stabilization: Addresses erratic blood sugar swings and promotes emotional stability (Sharma, 2018).

2. Detoxification

  • Ayurvedic detox therapies remove toxins (Ama) and support metabolic balance (Chauhan, 2021).

3. Strengthening Agni

  • Enhanced digestive fire improves nutrient absorption and stabilizes blood sugar (Sharma, 2018).

4. Personalized Potent Ayurvedic Herbal Preparations

  • Tailored formulations support pancreatic function, improve glucose metabolism, and stabilize insulin activity (Gupta & Singh, 2017).

Lifestyle and Dietary Recommendations

1. Kapha-Pacifying Diet

  • Include: Warm, light, and low-glycemic foods like leafy greens, lentils, and millet.
  • Avoid: Sugary, fried, and processed foods that disrupt glucose levels (Sharma, 2018).

2. Regular Physical Activity

  • Engage in gentle activities like walking, swimming, and yoga to improve glucose utilization without stressing the body (Miller & Thompson, 2020).

3. Stress Management

  • Meditation and Pranayama: Techniques like Anulom Vilom reduce cortisol and improve glucose stability.
  • Mindful Practices: Engage in journaling or counseling to manage emotional stress (Sharma, 2018).

4. Adequate Sleep

  • Ensure 7–8 hours of restorative sleep each night to support hormonal balance and blood sugar regulation (Smith, 2020).

Practical Tips to Manage Brittle Diabetes

  1. Monitor Blood Sugar Frequently:
    • Use a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) to track patterns and adjust treatments (American Diabetes Association, 2022).
  2. Hydrate Well:
    • Drink plenty of water and herbal teas to maintain hydration and flush toxins.
  3. Balanced Meal Timing:
    • Eat small, frequent meals to avoid sharp glucose spikes or drops (Sharma, 2018).
  4. Avoid Alcohol and Smoking:
    • Both can worsen blood sugar variability and overall health (Gupta & Singh, 2017).
  5. Seek Professional Guidance:
    • Regular consultations help fine-tune your management plan (Miller & Thompson, 2020).

Success Stories at the Diabetes Reversal Clinic

Case 1: Stabilizing Blood Sugar Variability

  • Patient Profile: A 35-year-old male with frequent hypoglycemic episodes.
  • Intervention: Personalized detox therapies, tailored herbal formulations, and dietary adjustments.
  • Outcome: Stabilized blood sugar levels and reduced hospital visits within three months (EliteAyurveda, 2023).

Case 2: Managing Emotional Stress

  • Patient Profile: A 40-year-old female with brittle diabetes and severe anxiety.
  • Intervention: Stress management techniques, Kapha-pacifying diet, and yoga.
  • Outcome: Improved emotional resilience and better glycemic control within two months (EliteAyurveda, 2023).

From the Doctor’s Desk

Dr. Soumya Hullanavar shares:
“Brittle diabetes requires a nuanced and personalized approach, as it affects both the physical and emotional well-being of the patient. At the Diabetes Reversal Clinic, we combine Ayurvedic wisdom with modern insights to stabilize blood sugar levels and improve quality of life.” (Hullanavar, 2023)


Why Choose the Diabetes Reversal Clinic?

  1. Holistic Approach: Address both the physical and emotional aspects of brittle diabetes.
  2. Personalized Care: Treatments tailored to your unique constitution and imbalances.
  3. Expert Guidance: Led by Dr. Soumya Hullanavar, a specialist in Ayurvedic endocrinology.
  4. Sustainable Results: Focus on long-term stabilization and improved quality of life (EliteAyurveda, 2023).

Conclusion

Brittle diabetes may be a challenging condition, but it is manageable with a holistic and patient-centered approach. By addressing the root causes and focusing on overall balance, the Diabetes Reversal Clinic helps patients regain control of their blood sugar and overall health.

📞 Contact us today: +91 8884722267
🌐 Visit: Diabetes Reversal Clinic


Related-

Know more about Ayurveda Diabetes Reversal Treatments.


References

Click here for References

1.Woodyatt RT: Diabetes mellitus. In A Textbook of Medicine, 3rd edition. Cecil R. L., Ed Philadelphia, W.B. Saunders Company, 1934: 628.

2.Tattersall R.B. Brittle diabetes revisited: the third Arnold bloom memorial lecture. Diabet Med. 1997:99–110. doi: 10.1002/(SICI)1096-9136(199702)14:2<99::AID-DIA320>3.0.CO;2-I. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

3.Schade D.S., Drumm D.A., Duckworth W.C., Eaton R.P. The etiology of incapacitating, brittle diabetes. Diabetes Care. 1985;8:12–20. doi: 10.2337/diacare.8.1.12. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

4.Johnson-Rabbitt B., Seaquist E.R. Hypoglycemia in diabetes: the dark side of diabetes treatment. A patient-centered review. J Diabetes. 2019;11:711–718. doi: 10.1111/1753-0407.12933. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

5.Foster NC, Beck RW, Miller KM, et al: State of T1 diabetes management and outcomes from the T1D Exchange in 2016–2018. Diab Technol Therap 2019;21:66–72. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed]

6.Voulgari C., Pagoni S., Paximadas S., Vinik A.I. “Brittleness” in diabetes: easier spoken than broken. Diab Technol Therap. 2012;14:835–848. doi: 10.1089/dia.2012.0058. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

7.Amiel S.A. Studies in hypoglycaemia in children with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Horm Res. 1996;45:285–290. doi: 10.1159/000184807. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

8.Benbow S.J., Walsh A., Gill G.V. Brittle diabetes in the elderly. JR Soc Med. 2001;94:578–580. doi: 10.1177/014107680109401106. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

9.Toni G., Berioli M.G., Cerquiglini L., Ceccarini G., Grohmann U., Principi N. Eating disorders and disordered eating symptoms in adolescents with type 1 diabetes. Nutrients. 2017;9 doi: 10.3390/nu9080906. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

10.Schade D.S., Drumm D.A., Eaton R.P., Sterling W.A. Factious brittle diabetes mellitus. Am J Med. 1985;78:777–784. doi: 10.1016/0002-9343(85)90283-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

11.Pelizza L., Pupo S. Brittle diabetes: psychopathology and personality. J Diab Complications. 2016;30:1544–1547. doi: 10.1016/j.jdiacomp.2016.07.028. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

12.Tieder J.S., McLeod L., Keren R., Luan X., Localio R., Mahant S. Pediatric research in inpatient settings network: variation in resource use and readmission for diabetic ketoacidosis in children’s hospitals. Pediatrics. 2013;132:229–236. doi: 10.1542/peds.2013-0359. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

13.Rhoads G.C., Orsini L.S., Crown W., Wang S., Getahun D., Zhang Q. Contribution of hypoglycemia to medical care expenditures and short-term disability in employees with diabetes. J Occup Environ Med. 2005;47:447–452. doi: 10.1097/01.jom.0000161727.03431.3e. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

14.Willen D., Cripps R., Wilson A., Wolff K., Rothman R. Interdisciplinary team care for diabetic patients by primary care physicians, advanced practice nurses, and clinical pharmacists. Clin Diabetes. 2011;29:60–68. [Google Scholar]

15.Moran G, Fonagy P, Kurtz A, Bolton A, Brook C: A controlled study of psychoanalytic treatment of brittle diabetes. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 1991;30-926-935. [DOI] [PubMed]

16.Lustman P.J., Clouse R.E. Depression in diabetic patients: the relationship between mood and glycemic control. J Diabetes Complications. 2005;19:113–122. doi: 10.1016/j.jdiacomp.2004.01.002. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

17.Sola E., Morilles C., Garzon S. Gomez-Balaguer, Hernanez-Mijares A: Association between diabetic ketoacidosis and thyrotoxicosis. Acta Diabetol. 2002;39:235–237. doi: 10.1007/s005920200040. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

18.Westphal S.A. Concurrant diagnosis of acromegaly and diabetic ketoacidosis. Endocr Pract. 2000;6:450–452. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

19.Acharya R., Kabadi U.M. Case of diabetic ketoacidosis as an initial presentation of Cushing’s syndrome. Endocrinol Diabetes Metab Case Rep. 2017;23:16–0123. doi: 10.1530/EDM-16-0123. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

20.Anthony L.B., Sharp S.C., May M.E. Case report: diabetic ketoacidosis in a patient with glucagonoma. Am J Med Sci. 1995 Jun;309:326–327. doi: 10.1097/00000441-199506000-00006. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

21.Edelman E.R., Stuenkel C.A., Rutherford J.D., Williams G.H. Diabetic ketoacidosis associated with pheochromocytoma. Cleve Clin J Med. 1992;59:423–427. doi: 10.3949/ccjm.59.4.423. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

22.Wang X., Chen J., Zuo X. COVID-19 infection may cause ketosis and ketoacidosis. Diabetes Obesity and Metab e-pub April. 2020;20 doi: 10.1111/dom.14057. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

23.Hirsch I.B., D’Alessio D., Eng L., Davis C., Lernmark A., Chait A. Severe insulin resistance in a patient with type 1 diabetes and stiff-man syndrome treated with insulin lispro. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 1998;41:197–202. doi: 10.1016/s0168-8227(98)00072-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

24.Famulla S., Hovelmann U., Fischer A., Coester H.V., Hermanski L., Kaltheuner M. Insulin injection into lipohypertrophic tissue: blunted and more variable insulin absorption and action and impaired postprandial control. Diabetes Care. 2016;39:1486–1492. doi: 10.2337/dc16-0610. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

25.Aleppo G., Calhoun P., Foster N.C., Maahs D.M., Shah V.N., Miller K.M. T1D exchange clinic network. Reported gastroparesis in adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D) from the T1D exchange clinic registry. J Diabetes Complications. 2017;31:1669–1673. doi: 10.1016/j.jdiacomp.2017.08.014. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

EliteAyurveda. (2023). Client Success Stories. Retrieved from https://www.eliteayurveda.com/success-stories

Hullanavar, S. (2023). Personal communication.