Treated Without Insulin Secretagogues
Blood sugar normalizing medications don't affect insulin secretion directly. When your blood sugar is in the normal range, your body will naturally reduce its own insulin secretion. In this section, you will find: Why am I Having Low Blood Sugars? Possible causes include: When you have type 2 diabetes and are treated with diet, exercise and blood sugar normalizing medications, it is very unusual to develop a low blood sugar from the diabetes treatment. These medications do not affect insulin secretion directly, and when your blood sugar is in the normal range, your body will naturally reduce its own insulin secretion. Low blood sugars usually stem from situations that would cause anyone to get low blood sugars – even individuals who don’t have diabetes. Situations such as not eating enough, exercising vigorously, or drinking too much alcohol can all cause a low blood sugar. It is possible that an individual with type 2 diabetes can get a reactive hypoglycemia several hours after eating a large amount of simple sugar, but this is rare. Read below for more detailed explanations! Eating less carbohydrate than anticipated at a meal or while snacking Sometimes we don’t eat what we plan to eat OR we just don’t eat enough. When this happens, we feel hungry and can confuse the sensation of hunger with a low blood sugar. The solution: Check a fingerstick blood test if you think you are having a low blood sugar. If you just haven’t eaten enough at the last meal or snack, your blood sugar will be in the normal range. If your blood sugar is truly below the normal range, consult with your medical provider. Increased activity or exercise Exercise generally uses up sugar calories, and makes the body more sensitive to the action of insulin. Individuals who don’t have diabet Continue reading >>
Treating Type 2 Diabetes Without Insulin
When you think of diabetes medication, you probably think of insulin. In many cases, treatment for type 2 diabetes may never actually involve insulin replacement. Although type 2 diabetes is caused by a failure of the body to make or properly use its own insulin, a hormone needed for blood sugar control, there are many treatment plans for type 2 diabetes without insulin replacement. “You could say that everybody with type 2 diabetes will eventually need insulin if they lived long enough," explains Kevin M. Pantalone, DO, an endocrinologist and diabetes expert at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. "But in reality, only about 20 to 30 percent of people with type 2 diabetes ever need it. We have lots of other options we can use first." First-Line Options: Diet, Exercise, and Metformin “Diet and exercise alone were once the standard diabetes therapies for early type 2 diabetes, but that has changed over the past few years," Dr. Pantalone says. "The American Diabetes Association (ADA) now recommends starting the diabetes medication metformin early. Today, only a minority of people are prescribed diet and exercise alone for diabetes." According to a review of type 2 diabetes management plans published in the journal Clinical Diabetes in 2012, metformin should be used as initial therapy for type 2 diabetes because it can lower A1C by 1 to 2 percent. A1C is a blood test that measures your average blood sugar over the past two to three months. The goal is to have an A1C score of 7 percent or less. Doctors use this measurement to decide on treatment options from lifestyle changes and oral medications to insulin replacement. Here’s more on the first-line treatments for diabetes: A diabetes diet. A healthy diet is important for controlling blood sugar, maintaining a healthy weight Continue reading >>
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- Metabolic surgery for treating type 2 diabetes mellitus: Now supported by the world's leading diabetes organizations
Managing Type 2 Without Meds: 3 Stories
My goal is to be as healthy as I can. If something happens and one day I'm back on medication, my goal is still to be healthy. It had been about a year since Akua Jitahadi felt like herself. But she was 51 and expected menopause to kick in soon. Plus, she and her daughter had just moved to oppressively hot Arizona. So she brushed off the tired, sluggish feeling as a side effect of being a middle-aged woman adjusting to sweltering temps. And then, overnight, her vision dimmed. Something was most definitely wrong. The verdict from her doctor: type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. "Of course, I broke down in tears," Jitahadi, now 55, says. "I wasn't ready to hear this. I always associated diabetes with 'Oh no, it's really bad.' " After Jitahadi spent a few weeks on medication, her vision cleared and she began to feel better. It didn't last long. "I hated metformin . I had all the colon and digestive issues on it," she says. "I never knew if I would be OK on it or if I'd be nauseous. I'd question whether I wanted to go out with my friends." When she asked for an alternative medication, her doctor said metformin was the best drug for the job, so Jitahadi stuck it out for a year. After that, she decided to make major lifestyle changes in hopes of quitting her medications. That proved more difficult than she had imagined. She hadn't seen a diabetes educator. The only dietitian covered by her insurer was too far away. And her doctor's sole advice was for Jitahadi to watch what she ate. "I was scared in the beginning," says Jitahadi. "It was through friends and starting to read [about diabetes] that I knew I could do this. I could get through this." Jitahadi bought books on diabetes, nutrition, the glycemic index, and diabetes-friendly meals. Instead of slightly modifying he Continue reading >>
Managing Diabetes Without Insulin – Is It Possible?
It is widely believed that those with Type 2 diabetes may eventually need insulin if they have diabetes for long enough. However, only about 20-30 percent of people with Type 2 diabetes end up needing insulin injections. In this article, we will explore whether it is possible to manage your diabetes without insulin. If so, how can one do so and when they may eventually need insulin if other treatments do not work out? 1 Type 1 Diabetes disclaimer This article is not for people with Type 1 diabetes because it is imperative that people with Type 1 diabetes require insulin every day without question. A person with Type 1 diabetes produces very little, or no insulin. Without insulin, you cannot convert food into usable energy. Simply put, without insulin, a person with Type 1 diabetes cannot survive. 2 When Robert contacted TheDiabetesCouncil, he was concerned that one day he would have to take insulin shots for his Type 2 diabetes. He had heard a few of his friends with diabetes at church talking about how they had to take insulin injections. Robert was “afraid of needles,” and the thought of giving himself a shot scared him. Is Robert going to need to start taking insulin, or is there any way he can avoid it at this point? If he avoids it, what effects would this have on his health? Will he develop long term complications of diabetes if he doesn’t start giving himself shots of insulin? I suggest also reading these: At TheDiabetesCouncil, we decided to take a look at this particular question in depth, for Robert and for others with diabetes who might benefit from reading this information. Insulin isn’t the “bad guy.” Naturally, the fear of giving oneself an injection or “shot,” can increase anxiety and stress. But what if I told you that once you get past t Continue reading >>
Controlling Type 2 Diabetes Without Insulin
Controlling Type 2 Diabetes Without Insulin When Cheryl Brensinger learned she had type 2 diabetes 18 months ago, she enrolled in classes at Lehigh Valley Health Network’s Helwig Health and Diabetes Center. There she learned how to manage her condition through diet and exercise to avoid going on insulin. Today Brensinger, 58, of Slatington, has lost 30 pounds, and her hemoglobin A1C (a blood test that reflects your average blood sugar) has dropped from 13.7 percent (well above average) to 5.3 percent (below average for people with diabetes). And while she’s used an oral medication (metformin) to help control her diabetes, she doesn’t need insulin. Now she has a new outlook on life. “I’m proud of my accomplishments and new look,” Brensinger says. “It’s really changed my life.” Here are her six New Year’s resolutions for managing type 2 diabetes: 1. Read food labels religiously. “I thought I only had to watch my sugar intake, but sugar is just one type of carbohydrate. All carbs should be eaten in moderation. Once I learned how to count carbs and watch serving sizes by reading food labels, things started falling in place. I limit myself to 25 carbs per serving (usually a half-cup) and try to stay at 200 carbs or less per day.” 2. Shop the perimeter of the store. “That’s where you find fresh produce and unprocessed foods that are low in carbs and rich in nutrients. I avoid the aisles with canned and packaged foods that are high in carbs, sodium and fats. I shop at farmers markets for local and fresh foods whenever possible, and I can or freeze produce for winter.” 3. Eat several smaller meals a day. “To keep my blood sugar steady, I have five smaller meals instead of three large ones. I eat low-fat meats, including boneless white chicken, po Continue reading >>
Managing My Type 2 Diabetes Without Medications
If you have type 2 diabetes, you can manage it well without any drugs — without any oral medications and without insulin. If you have type 1 diabetes, you will always have to take insulin injections, but you can likely use less than you do now. To manage diabetes well means keeping your blood sugar level down in the same range as that of people who don’t have diabetes. The way we check this level is the A1C (sometimes called glycated hemoglobin, hemoglobin A1c, or HbA1c). This test tells you what your average blood sugar level was during the previous two or three months by using a drop of blood about as small as that you use on your regular fingerstick tests that tells you what your level is right then. When you manage your diabetes well, it is well controlled. It is normal. We know that the normal A1C level is 6.0 or below. See “The Normal A1C Level.” An A1C level of 6.0 or below means that your diabetes is in remission. It does not mean that you have cured it. If you relax your vigilance, your A1C level will go above 6.0 again, and you will again put yourself at risk of the terrible complications of uncontrolled diabetes. You can use drugs to bring your A1C level down to normal. That’s a good thing. But this strategy does have its costs, and those costs aren’t just money out of your pocket or your checkbook. The worst of those costs are the potential side effects of the drugs. All drugs can have side effects. The systems and the organs of our bodies are so interconnected that no drug can target just one part of it without having some effect elsewhere. Sometimes we find that the side effects are helpful, but we can also find that they are harmful. Sometimes they are subtle and affect only a few people, but sometimes they are serious. All of the drugs that w Continue reading >>
6 Ways To Control Type 2 Diabetes
Last year during a physical, Lauren Crim of Richwood, TX, got a diagnosis she wasn’t expecting: type 2 diabetes. She had no symptoms, so the news threw her for a loop. “I was devastated,” she says. “My grandmother had diabetes, and I saw her go through major health struggles because of it.” After seeking support from loved ones -- and shedding a few tears -- Crim got to work. With help from her health care team, she changed the way she ate and started exercising. Now, a year later, she’s 22 pounds lighter, and her blood sugar is normal. “My advice to anyone else facing type 2 diabetes is to stick to a plan, stay positive, and put your health first,” she says. A diabetes diagnosis might feel overwhelming, but living well with the condition doesn’t have to be. If you’re ready to take control of your blood sugar levels and get on the path to better health, here’s how to start. “It takes a village to manage diabetes,” says Linda Siminerio, RN, PhD, chair of the National Diabetes Education Program. Along with your doctor or nurse practitioner, you can get help from: Diabetes educators Dietitians or nutritionists Pharmacists Endocrinologists Podiatrists Dentists Psychologists or Therapists Their services are often covered by insurance. Having a health care team is key, but you're the most important member of it. “We want you to be informed and empowered,” Siminerio says. Take an active role in your care. Ask questions. Learn what your medications do and how to take them properly. Practice any other healthy habits your doctor recommends. And know what your A1c levels are and what they mean. “Being overweight is one of the major drivers of the epidemic of diabetes,” says Vivian Fonseca, MD, a professor of medicine and pharmacology at Tulane Uni Continue reading >>
Boy With Type 1 Diabetes Goes 24 Months Without Insulin On Paleolithic Ketogenic Diet, But Is This A Honeymoon Period?
Last year, we reported on a study in which a nine-year-old boy with type 1 diabetes was able to come off insulin injections for 19 months by following a Paleolithic ketogenic diet. Before beginning the diet – a modified version of the ketogenic diet, which consisted only of animal meat, fat, offal and eggs with a fat:protein ratio of 2:1 – the boy had been on insulin therapy for six weeks, alongside a high-carbohydrate diet. Some members of the diabetes community attributed the success of the diet to the honeymoon period, which is when people with type 1 diabetes can still produce some insulin following their diagnosis. Are these findings attributable to a honeymoon period? Not according to Hungarian physician Dr. Csaba Tóth. “This should by no means be regarded as a honeymoon period”, Dr. Tóth, the medical leader of Paleomedicina Hungary, told Diabetes.co.uk “Besides this method, we are not aware of any clinical data from literature indicating an increase in C-peptide following [type 1] diagnosis onset while being safe and without side effects. “Typically, C-peptide tends to zero already at one year after diagnosis onset on the standard diabetes diet. The present case is not the only one in our practice. We are following others and experiencing the same.” Furthermore, Dr. Tóth believes that adopting the diet could lead to autoimmune changes within type 1 diabetes. “It seems that if one strictly adheres to the diet, the autoimmune process may halt. From ex vivo human studies four routes are known to recover pancreatic beta cells. Thus it seems possible to recover the lost function of the pancreas. Of course, this is possible in those cases without insulin receptor dysfunction only.” The boy in the study went without insulin for 24 months. The succes Continue reading >>
Could This Breakthrough Technology Treat Type 1 Diabetes Without Injecting Insulin?
The Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult (CGT) and University of Aberdeen, UK, have announced the creation of Islexa, a company developing technology to produce islets which are the organoids - lab grown organs - responsible for insulin production. Experts believe the technology could bring the option of an islet transplant to thousands more patients with type 1 diabetes. Only 30 to 50 patients with hypoglycaemic unawareness in the UK can receive an islet transplant each year due to the low availability of suitable donor organs and the difficulty involved in extracting the islets. Islexa technology works by reprogramming donated pancreatic tissue into fully functional islets which will significantly increase the number of patients who can receive the treatment. An islet transplant can give patients effective, long term glucose control without the need of insulin administration. Keith Thompson, chief executive of the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult and an Islexa director said: “This is a really exciting technology that has the potential to bring life changing benefits to these diabetic patients. “We are delighted to be forming Islexa with the partners we’ve worked with so far on this project. “The collaboration has already delivered promising results and the formation of Islexa will accelerate the development of these lab grown islets and ultimately get this potential treatment to thousands of patients.” Diabetes is a lifelong condition that causes a person's blood sugar (glucose) level to become too high. The hormone insulin – produced by the pancreas – is responsible for controlling the amount of glucose in the blood. But in type 1 diabetes, the pancreas doesn’t produce any insulin. 16 of the best superfoods Thu, August 18, 2016 Here are 16 of the best superfo Continue reading >>
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Control Or Reverse Diabetes Naturally
Can you control diabetes? Reverse it? Absolutely. We can beat diabetes. The disease process associated with diabetes (which leads to heart attacks, strokes, and other crippling illnesses) can be slowed and even partially reversed by controlling blood glucose and other cardiovascular disease risk factors. Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce and/or properly use insulin, a hormone made by the pancreas. When there are troubles with insulin, glucose builds up in the blood. A fasting glucose level below 100 is considered normal. A fasting glucose between 100 and 125 signals pre-diabetes. A fasting glucose of 126 or higher means you have diabetes. Though “silent,” at least at first, diabetes can turn into a horrible disease. It can greatly increase our risk of heart attacks, strokes, peripheral arterial disease, erectile dysfunction, blindness, diabetes neuropathy, poor wound healing, and kidney failure. There are two main types of diabetes – Type 1 and Type 2. At least 90% of diabetics in America have Type 2 diabetes. Studying the evolution and lifestyle habits of humankind, we can confidently assert that Type 2 diabetes is virtually entirely preventable. Worldwide, many populations are now suffering epidemic rates of Type 2 diabetes because many populations live in a “food toxic” environment and exercise little or not at all. All this suffering, all this early death, is preventable. It is the direct result of the way we live – by our sedentary habits and our Western-style diets, bereft of whole, fiber-rich foods and full of fast foods and other calorie-dense junk. Type 2 diabetes usually starts after the age of 40. But because of America’s childhood obesity epidemic, more and more of our youth are being diagnosed with the disease, including Continue reading >>
Taking Care Of Diabetes
Since our pancreas does not make insulin, we have to take insulin as medicine so that glucose can get from our blood and into our cells to give us energy to do things. Your doctor will tell you how much insulin you need. It can be a little scary at first and there is a lot to understand, that’s why I am here, to help you know what you need to learn. Testing Blood Glucose Because diabetes affects the glucose in your blood, it is important to measure this with a blood glucose meter. You will get used to having your blood glucose meter with you all of the time because checking your glucose level is the only way to know if your diabetes is under control. You always need some glucose in your blood, but not too much. If your blood glucose gets too high or too low it can make you feel sick so you will always want to avoid that. Your doctor will tell you what your glucose levels should be. Low Blood Glucose Low blood glucose happens when you take more insulin than your body needs. It means that too much glucose moved from your blood into your cells, not leaving enough glucose back in the blood (called hypoglycemia). This can be very dangerous. If your blood glucose is low you may feel shaky, start sweating, get a headache, feel dizzy, or your heart may start pounding. These are called symptoms, and they warn you that you need to eat or drink some sugar right away. High Blood Glucose High blood glucose happens when you don’t take enough insulin – when there is too much glucose in your blood (called hyperglycemia). High blood glucose levels can be harder to notice at first, another reason why it is important to test your blood glucose often. Most of the time, you can take insulin so that your high glucose goes down. But if you don’t take insulin and your blood glucose sta Continue reading >>
Can I Treat Diabetes Without Drugs?
If you have type 1 diabetes, you must take daily insulin injections to keep your blood glucose in a normal range. Your body produces little or no insulin. Insulin is a vital hormone that helps your body convert food into energy. Without insulin, you would die. If you have type 2 diabetes, the answer to this question is much less clear. Many people can keep their blood glucose in a healthy range without medications (either oral diabetes medications or insulin injections) if they lose weight and keep their weight down, are regularly physically active, and follow a meal plan that helps them keep portion sizes under control and helps them spread the amount of carbohydrate they eat at each meal throughout the day. Eventually, however, many people with type 2 diabetes find that despite their best efforts, weight control, exercise and diet aren't enough to keep their blood glucose in a healthy range. This is not unusual. One theory is that some people's insulin-producing cells just get tired out from having to produce more and more insulin because their cells are resistant to the effects of insulin. If your healthcare team tells you that you need to take oral diabetes medications or insulin injections to manage your blood glucose, it's important that you follow their instructions. Keeping your blood glucose in a healthy range is key to preventing long-term complications, such as eye disease, kidney disease, heart attacks, and other problems that poorly controlled blood glucose can cause over a period of years. Continue reading >>
Ask The Diabetes Team
Question: From Whitworth, United Kingdom: How long can someone live without insulin? Answer: The fact that you are asking the question has me suspiciously worried! I hope you are not trying to hurt yourself or planning to see how long you can go without insulin. The answer, perhaps, mostly lies in how long the person has had type 1 diabetes. For someone like yourself, who indicated that you have had diabetes for more than 10 years, you MIGHT be able to live for 7 to 10 or so days without insulin. But, the death would be awful and difficult and not peaceful. You would begin to have much urination and be extremely thirsty; but, you would also develop abdominal pain and get nauseated and vomit so you might drink but not be able to keep anything down with all the vomiting. You would start to get achy and sore and could have a terrible headache as your brain began to swell! You would have blurred vision and would begin to become delirious before you probably would go into a coma and become brain dead. The death would be awful to watch and impossible to bear by those that love you. And even if you did not progress that far to death, if there were too much delay before you could get taken to an emergency room, the damage may already have been done and it might be too late to reverse matters back to normal. DO NOT OMIT YOUR INSULIN DOSES. Additional comments from Dr. Tessa Lebinger: Some children and teenagers are so dependent on insulin, they could develop life threatening ketoacidosis in less than one day if they skip their insulin, especially if they are sick with another illness. Most people who make no insulin are very uncomfortable within 12 hours of missing a dose. People who are still making a lot of insulin and are still in the remission phase, may be able to stop insu Continue reading >>
Treating Type 1 Diabetes…without Insulin
For type 1 diabetes, insulin has long been the essential treatment method. Blood glucose monitoring, frequent insulin injections, even insulin pumps are used to help diabetics control their glucose levels and avoid dangerous spikes and dips in their blood sugar. But for some, being captive to the use of insulin may soon be a thing of the past. One patient, Erika Totten, who was part of a key phase III clinical trial at Penn's Institute for Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, received transplanted pancreatic islet cells and is no longer insulin-dependent. In fact, now seven years removed from her transplant, Erika doesn't need insulin at all. "The procedure gave me back my pre-diabetes life," said Totten in a recent Philadelphia Inquirer article. Investigators on the trial, including Ali Naji, MD, PhD, a professor of Surgery, and Michael R. Rickels, MD, MS, an associate professor of Medicine, both of the Type 1 Diabetes Unit at Penn, found that transplanting purified human pancreatic islet cells into type 1 diabetics can lead to nearly normal glycemic control and no longer being reliant on insulin. “This phase III clinical trial examined the longer term effects of islet cell transplantation, aiming to secure [U.S. Food and Drug Administration] approval of islet cells as a biological product for treating type 1 diabetes," Rickels said. Researchers from the multi-institutional study found that transplanted islets provide better glycemic control, improved hypoglycemia awareness, and durable protection against severe hypoglycemic events in type 1 diabetics who have otherwise experienced significant glucose instability with other types of insulin delivery methods. Patients with this severe type 1 diabetes can experience such dangerous highs and lows that they can become disor Continue reading >>
- Betalin Aims To End Insulin Injections By Treating Type 1 Diabetes With Cell Transplants
- Effects of Insulin Plus Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists (GLP-1RAs) in Treating Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
- Why A Natural Approach To Treating Type 2 Diabetes Beats Medicine
Ask D'mine: Our Lifespan Sans Insulin?
Got questions about navigating life with diabetes? Ask D'Mine! Our weekly advice column, that is — hosted by veteran type 1,diabetes author and educator Wil Dubois. This week, Wil offers some thoughts on that universal question: "How long can I really go without insulin?" Please take a read; his findings might surprise you and even bust a myth or two. But as a precautionary reminder: this topic would fall into the category of "Don't try this at home"! {Got your own questions? Email us at [email protected]} Jake, type 1 from Minneapolis, writes: I've had diabetes for 18 years and I had someone ask me a question the other day that I didn't really have an answer to. The question was how long I would be able to survive without any insulin. I told them 3-4 days, but I don't know if this is true. Any info from a cinnamon whiskey swizzling T1? [email protected] D'Mine answers: If Tom Hanks' character in Castaway had been one of us, he would've never lived long enough to go half-crazy and end up talking to a volleyball named Wilson. OK, so that's a mixed blessing. But I guess the lesson there is: don't get washed up on a deserted island if you can avoid it. To be honest, like you, I had always pegged my zero-insulin survival time in the "couple of days" zone; but once I got to thinking about your question I realized that I didn't know how I knew that, where I learned it, or if it was even correct at all. So I set out to do some fact-checking. Now, as background for you sugar-normals, type 2s, and type 3s—in type 1s like Jake and me, if we run out of insulin hyperglycemia sets in. That leads to diabetic ketoacidosis (known as DKA by its friends), which then (untreated) leads to death. This is old news. But how fast is the process, really? Well, there are a number of variables, Continue reading >>
