brittle diabetes

[jude2008]

I am newly diagnosed with type 1 so I am still learning.  Can somebody please tell me about brittle diabetes.  It is a term I keep coming across, but I have no idea what it means.  Thankyou.

[Zoelula]

It is a pretty much outdated term, jude, previously used to describe people whose diabetes was out of control and whose blood sugars swung wildly. There are a lot of reasons why blood sugars are unmanaged and many of us believe that there is little that is impossible to get under control or figure out.

[jude2008]

Thanks for your reply.  As I say I am still learning and on this forum I seem to find something new every day.  I am so glad I found this place.  Thanks again. jude.

[Jodi1968]

Hey Jude,

Another term for brittle diabetes is labile diabetes which is basically the same thing.  I have "brittle" diabetes as I got it in my 30's after the pregnancy of my only child.  Despite 4-6 shots minimum per day and always monitoring my sugar they are always all over the place.  The daytime readings are usually normally but nightime and early am (fasting) is usually high.
Good luck,
Jodi

[Zoelula]

One thing to do if fasting and nighttime numbers are high is to do basal testing to make sure your basal dose is right. Also, some people have good experience in splitting their basal dose in two and taking part at night and part in the AM as for some people the long-acting doesn't actually last for the 24 hours it's supposed to.