Type 1 Diabetes Honeymoon Extended
Type 1 Diabetes Honeymoon Extended Health-e-Solutions comment: The following excerpts from a very good article on type 1 diabetes offers advice on how to accept the end of a honeymoon period. We think the advice is very good. However, we would disagree with the comment that it is inevitable… that it IS going to happen. Type 1 Diabetes Honeymoon Extended: We prefer to take the position that Dr. Richard Bernstein takes in his book, Dr. Bernstein’s Diabetes Solution. He says, “I’m convinced the honeymoon period can be prolonged indefinitely. The trick is to assist the pancreas, keep it as quiescent as possible. Limit your total carbohydrate intake to avoid overworking any remaining insulin-producing beta cells of your pancreas. Research has demonstrated that beta cell burnout can be slowed or halted by normalizing blood sugars.” We do agree with the article’s assertion that a longer honeymoon is better, and that lower A1cs mean less damage to the body. We want to preserve beta cells as long as possible for long term health. We want to provide tighter blood glucose control over a long time to lessen the impact that diabetes can have on the body. Since January of 2008, we have been managing our boys with type 1 diabetes entirely by a diet and lifestyle that is very low-glycemic and highly nutritious. Their blood glucose levels are within normal ranges most of the time using this natural way of managing their diabetes. We believe this is a big contributing factor as to why we have had such success. If this is still a honeymoon period for our boys, then we are grateful for it, and we hope that it continues for many more years to come. We believe every day we are able to keep the pancreas and the precious beta cells from being overworked is a day of success, whether Continue reading >>
The Honeymoon Phase
Most people with type 1 go through a 'honeymoon phase' in the period after diagnosis In a person who has type 1 diabetes, the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas are destroyed. However, during the period immediately following diagnosis most people go through a ‘honeymoon phase’ in which their existing beta cells still function, producing some insulin. A number of research projects are currently underway, which hope to preserve the function of these existing beta cells past the honeymoon phase. Continue reading >>
What Is The Honeymoon Period In Children With Type 1 Diabetes?
Diabetes mellitus (MEL-ih-tus), often referred to as diabetes, is characterized by high blood glucose (sugar) levels that result from the body’s inability to produce enough insulin and/or effectively utilize the insulin. Diabetes is a serious, life-long condition and the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. Diabetes is a disorder of metabolism (the body's way of digesting food and converting it into energy). There are three forms of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that accounts for five- to 10-percent of all diagnosed cases of diabetes. Type 2 diabetes may account for 90- to 95-percent of all diagnosed cases. The third type of diabetes occurs in pregnancy and is referred to as gestational diabetes. Left untreated, gestational diabetes can cause health issues for pregnant women and their babies. People with diabetes can take preventive steps to control this disease and decrease the risk of further complications. Continue reading >>
Losing To Diabetes And Learning From It
Milestones I’ve experienced in the past week: receiving a new glasses prescription, acquiring a queen-sized bed, and ending the “Honeymoon Phase” of Type I Diabetes. Probably. I say probably because I can’t actually verify that this is the end. I remember my doctor telling me that it would most likely be a gradual transition and that I would begin to notice that my usual doses of Humalog just weren’t cutting it. I would see some of the original symptoms of diabetes creeping back into my life caused by higher blood glucose levels that weren’t kept in check as easily. Well, friends, I’m there–right there. I know that Type I is forever (at least for now). I know that I have Type I. And I’ve known this day would come. I feel fortunate to have been in the Honeymoon Phase for as long as I have been and I’m thankful that I have a visit with my endocrinologist this Friday. All of these intellectual reflections do nothing for me, though, when I see my meter repeatedly flash numbers in the upper 200s despite my Humalog correction doses. I’m sure any endocrinologist out there–and many of you, as well–would tell me that the corrections aren’t so good for me and I need to be injecting higher doses with meals. Try telling yourself that when you have the QwikPen in hand and you’re cranking the dial. It feels like a death wish to inject more insulin than I’m used to and it’s honestly quite terrifying to think about increasing doses without any exact measurement or ratio. This period of harder-to-control blood glucose levels has lasted for just over a week. I can remember a couple months ago when I had a few days of these same symptoms and it almost took me out, emotionally speaking. I sunk into a pretty angry phase, feeling like nothing I could do woul Continue reading >>
Do People With Lada Go Through A Honeymoon Phase?
Question: Hello! I have some questions about LADA. I was originally diagnosed as a type 2 when I was 16 but recently I went to see my endocrinologist and she believes I was misdiagnosed. My A1C levels kept going up and yet my c-peptide levels have been decreasing. I am currently on a pump and take Novolog but am curious about what will come. My endocrinologist said it is basically like type 1 except that it can take longer to fully set in, sometimes up to 6 years. Has anyone been diagnosed with this or know anything about it? My main question is does someone with this diagnoses go through a "honeymoon" period or am I in it now? Also, when one quits producing what is that like? I realize everyone is different but I would appreciate any personal experience stories. Answer: This acronym refers to Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults. It is a genetically linked, autoimmune form of Type 1 diabetes. It is also known as “slow onset” type 1 diabetes or type 1.5 diabetes. Often individuals are misdiagnosed with type 2 diabetes as LADA most often presents itself after age 30, however individuals usually are not overweight and do have insulin resistance. The onset of LADA is more of a steady decrease in insulin production over months or years. Confusion regarding the diagnosis and categorization exists because patients share symptoms of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. The frequency of LADA is underestimated and may range as high as 6 to 50 % among people with type 2 diabetes. The best way to accurately diagnose LADA is with a blood test that checks abnormal pancreatic antibodies. This testing can reveal the presence of islet cell antibodies (ICA), insulin autoantibodies (IAA), and tyrosine phosphates antibodies and/or glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD). In patients with both T Continue reading >>
Prolonged Honeymoon Period In Type 1 Diabetic Patient With Low Carbohydrate Intake
Abstract: Background: Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is caused by a progressive autoimmune destruction of the beta cells of the pancreas. This destruction begins years before the clinical manifestations of the disease become apparent. In newly diagnosed type 1 diabetic patients, the natural course of the disease is often characterized by transient restoration of beta cell function following initiation of insulin therapy. This period, often referred to as the “Honeymoon Period”, is characterized by a striking fall in the exogenous insulin requirements while good metabolic control is maintained. A few cases have been described where patients remain healthy without any insulin for an extended period of time. Factors favoring this period include absence of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) at initial presentation, short duration of symptoms and older age at presentation. We report a 34 year old male patient who has been in remission for four years while he is maintaining minimal carbohydrate intake and exercising five times a week. Clinical Course:A 34 year old male patient presented with a one month history of fatigue, weight loss of 20 pounds, polyuria and polydipsia. He was diagnosed with Type 1 DM based on his initial weight, age and positive glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies (GAD Ab) 0.43 nMol/L (Normal < 0.02 nMol/L). He was not in DKA. He was started on basal/bolus regimen of insulin on which his hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) trended down from 14% to 6.3% in five months and he was taken off Insulin. Two months later his fasting glucose was 107 mg/dl with C-Peptide level of 0.9ng/ml (normal 0.8-3.1ng/ml). Two hours after ingesting 200 grams of carbohydrates, his glucose rose to 215 mg/dl and his C-Peptide was 5.6ng/ml. Over the next 3 years, he continued to keep his carboh Continue reading >>
- The effect of a low-carbohydrate, ketogenic diet versus a low-glycemic index diet on glycemic control in type 2 diabetes mellitus
- Understanding the Honeymoon Phase in Type 1 Diabetes
- The interpretation and effect of a low-carbohydrate diet in the management of type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials
K9diabetes.com
The content on this site is provided for informational and educational purposes only. While we make every effort to present information that is accurate and reliable, the views expressed here are not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by a licensed veterinarian. Please consult your veterinarian for specific advice concerning the medical condition or treatment of your dog and before administering any medication or pursuing any course of treatment that you may read about on this site. Dogs with Diabetes: Honeymooning Although it’s not common, dogs recently diagnosed with diabetes can go through a “honeymoon” period during which their ability to make insulin returns for a while. Diabetes in dogs is akin to Type 1 diabetes in people. The immune system attacks cells in the pancreas that make insulin, destroying them. As time goes on, more and more cells are destroyed and the ones that are still functioning work harder to take up the slack. Eventually, the cells that are left can’t keep up and your dog starts to show the symptoms of diabetes as his blood sugar rises. With or without treatment, the auto-immune attack on the cells will continue. So eventually, even if you treat him with insulin right away, he will lose all of his beta cells and will completely lose the ability to make insulin. Honeymooning can occur when your dog’s diabetes is diagnosed very soon after it develops—early enough that some insulin-producing cells remain. Injecting insulin improves the blood sugar and takes the pressure off of the pancreas, allowing the overworked cells to “rest” and improving the body’s sensitivity to insulin. ADA News and Research:“The amount of insulin required to reduce the blood glucose levels of newly diagnosed type I diabetic patients to nor Continue reading >>
People In The Know: Diabetes Honeymoon
Q: My son was recently diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, but instead of wildly fluctuating blood sugar numbers, his levels have been fine — and his insulin use is actually minimal. We were told this is a “diabetes honeymoon.” What does this mean, and how long will it last? Some days it doesn’t even seem like he has diabetes. A: Type 1 diabetes develops when the immune system mistakenly attacks beta cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. At the time diabetes is typically diagnosed, it is believed that anywhere from 80 to 95 percent of beta cells have been destroyed. What happens to the beta cells that are left? To simplify a pretty complex process, when someone with type 1 diabetes first starts taking insulin, the work load on the remaining beta cells to produce insulin is lessened. Along with several other changes, the end result is a partial remission, better known as the “honeymoon phase” of diabetes, a nickname coined in the 1920s and 30s when insulin injections were much more onerous to give than they are today. Starting insulin therapy and getting blood sugars into a more desirable range can have an effect within a couple of weeks. But the honeymoon phase is known to have its strongest impact several months after diagnosis. Though small in total number, remaining beta cells may produce enough insulin to provide for a certain degree of blood sugar management for many months. The typical honeymoon lasts anywhere from weeks to months — until whenever these beta cells come under autoimmune attack and disappear. In teenagers and adults with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes, honeymoons can be dramatic, lasting in some cases for up to a year or longer. This temporary phase can feel like a bit of a honeymoon for parents as well — or probably more like a r Continue reading >>
'the Honeymoon Phase' In Children With Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: Frequency, Duration, And Influential Factors.
Abstract BACKGROUND: The honeymoon period (i.e., partial remission) of type 1 diabetes mellitus is characterized by reduced insulin requirements while good glycemic control is maintained. The clinical significance is the potential possibility for pharmacological intervention during this period to either slow down or arrest the ongoing destruction of the remaining beta-cells. METHODS: A group of 103 diabetic children, younger than 12 yr of age, were prospectively studied to assess the frequency, duration, and factors that may affect partial remission. At the time of admission, patients were characterized by age, gender, symptom duration, diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), and blood sugar level at admission. The honeymoon period was defined as a period with insulin requirements of less than 0.5 U/kg/day and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level of less or equal to 6%. RESULTS: Partial remission occurred in 71, being complete in three. The length of time until remission was 28.6 +/- 12.3 (mean +/- SD) days. The duration of remission was 7.2 +/- 4.8 months. Remission rates were higher in those patients older than 5 yr compared with those between 3 and 5 yr of age. DKA at presentation and long duration of symptoms were associated with lower duration of remission (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). Children in whom remission occurred had significantly lower blood glucose levels and higher pH at presentation (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Young age and severe disease at presentation are associated with decreased residual beta-cells function that is reflected by a lower incidence of partial remission. These observations are important to consider in the research regarding therapies that will have the potential goal to induce prolonged and/or complete remission at di Continue reading >>
Honeymoon Phase
Tweet The Honeymoon Phase (or Honeymoon Period) amongst people with type 1 diabetes refers to the period of time shortly following diabetes diagnosis when the pancreas is still able to produce a significant enough amount of insulin to reduce insulin needs and aid blood glucose control. This does not, unfortunately, indicate that the diabetes is in remission or can be cured. How is the honeymoon period caused? Type 1 diabetes develops because the body begins to kill off its own insulin producing cells – know as islet cells. When a patient starts on insulin injections, the pancreas is under less pressure to produce insulin. This period of rest, afforded by the injections, stimulate the pancreas to produce insulin from the remaining beta cells. However, after a period of months, the vast majority of these remaining beta cells will also be destroyed, and the honeymoon period ends when the pancreas stops producing sufficient insulin to aid blood glucose control any more. What happens during the honeymoon phase? During the honeymoon phase, blood sugar levels are generally easier to control as the body still has some ability to help itself. Blood glucose levels may even return to normal levels during the honeymoon phase. Insulin doses may therefore need to be re-adjusted during this period and it is essential to communicate with your healthcare professional during this time. Can I stop taking insulin during the honeymoon period? A balance needs to be found between not taking too much insulin, and risking hypoglycemia, but also ensuring your body is not at risk of high blood glucose levels and the possibility of diabetic ketoacidosis. For this reason, you’ll need to discuss closely with your doctor the insulin doses you take. How long does the honeymoon period last? There i Continue reading >>
Characteristics And Determinants Of Partial Remission In Children With Type 1 Diabetes Using The Insulin-dose-adjusted A1c Definition
Copyright © 2014 Aurore Pecheur et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Abstract To evaluate the characteristics and determinants of partial remission (PR) in Belgian children with type 1 diabetes (T1D), we analyzed records of 242 children from our center. Clinical and biological features were collected at diagnosis and during follow-up. PR was defined using the insulin-dose-adjusted A1C definition. PR occurred in 56.2% of patients and lasted 9.2 months (0.5 to 56.6). 25.6% of patients entered T1D with DKA, which correlated with lower PR incidence (17.6% versus 82.3% when no DKA). In our population, lower A1C levels at diagnosis were associated with higher PR incidence and in young children (0–4 years) initial A1C levels negatively correlated with longer PR. Early A1C levels were predictive of PR duration since 34% of patients had long PRs (>1 year) when A1C levels were ≤6% after 3 months whereas incidence of long PR decreased with higher A1Cs. C-peptide levels were higher in patients entering PR and remained higher until 3 years after diagnosis. Initial antibody titers did not influence PR except for anti-IA2 titers that correlated with A1C levels after 2 years. Presence of 2 versus 1 anti-islet antibodies correlated with shorter PR. PR duration did not influence occurrence of severe hypoglycemia or diabetes-related complications but was associated with lower A1C levels after 18 months. We show that, at diagnosis of T1D, parameters associated with -cell mass reserve (A1C, C-peptide, and DKA) correlate with the occurrence of PR, which affects post-PR A1C levels. Further research is need Continue reading >>
Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes (also known as insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus — IDDM — or juvenile diabetes) occurs when the pancreas does not make enough insulin because the cells that produce insulin have been destroyed by the immune system. Without insulin, sugar is not able to move into the cells. Sugar therefore remains in the blood, leading to hyperglycemia (high blood sugar). Type 1 is the most common type of diabetes found in children and young adults. It is now believed that diabetes develops gradually, over many months or even years. The immune system destroys more and more insulin-producing (beta) cells in the pancreas over time, until the diagnosis of type 1 diabetes is made. Who gets type 1 diabetes? Type 1 diabetes is seen most often in children and young adults, although the disease can occur at any age. People with Type 1 disease are often thin to normal weight and often lose weight prior to diagnosis. Type 1 diabetes accounts for about 5-10% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes. Risk factors for type 1 diabetes: Any combination of the following factors may put people at a higher risk for type 1 diabetes: Self-allergy (autoimmunity): The immune system usually protects us from disease, but in the case of type 1 diabetes, the immune system turns against the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin (beta cells). If you have any type of autoimmune disease, your risk of developing diabetes increases. Doctors can test for diabetes antibodies, specifically one called GAD65. Measuring this antibody early in the disease can help your medical team determine if you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Genes: People with type 1 diabetes are more likely to have inherited genes putting them at risk. Over 50% of those diagnosed with type 1 diabetes also have a close relative with Continue reading >>
Benjamin Nwosu Confirms Accuracy Of Simple Method To Detect Honeymoon Period In Children Newly Diagnosed With Type 1 Diabetes
Children who are newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and begin to receive treatment may experience a partial clinical remission, sometimes referred to as a “honeymoon period,” during which they are still secreting some insulin on their own and their blood glucose levels can temporarily be restored to at or near normal levels. Patients who do not undergo this honeymoon may experience worse outcomes over the long term, so it is important to determine if this partial remission is present or not. A study conducted by UMass Medical School physician-scientist Benjamin Nwosu, MD, has confirmed the accuracy of a new, simple method to determine whether children newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes are experiencing this beneficial partial clinical remission. The study, published recently in the Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism, compared two methods. Called IDAA1C, the calculation that correlates daily insulin doses with average blood glucose levels has been considered the gold standard; a measure of less than 9 percent indicates that a patient is in partial clinical remission. Investigators tested whether a total daily dose (TDD) of insulin—a measure needed to make the more complex IDAA1C calculation—of less than 0.3 units per kilogram of body weight per day, on its own indicates that remission is underway. The comparison showed no significant differences in the number of remitters, duration of remission or the time of peak remission defined by either method. “There has been no consensus on a simple and easily usable tool for the detection and monitoring of partial clinical remission. Although the components are readily accessible, calculating the IDAA1C may represent a barrier to time-strapped clinicians, preventing its widespread use,” said Dr. Nwo Continue reading >>
Diabetes Honeymoon
Ads by Google "Honeymoon" simply means the period just after the wedding when things are at their sweetest and slowly wanes in few months. Similarly, for some people with diabetes, the honeymoon period is cool with better blood glucose control and slowly wanes in few months once pancreatic beta cells are destroyed. For others, it might not be cool and fun. Instead, it is hot and boredom. In one study of 103 children under 12 years of age with type 1 diabetes, 71 had a honeymoon. Reference: Pediatric Diabetes 2006 Apr; 7(2):101-7. What is diabetes honeymoon phase? The honeymoon phase is the resurgence of the pancreas from autoimmune destruction. The honeymoon period among people with type 1 diabetes refers to the period shortly after diabetes diagnosis, when the pancreas starts producing a significant amount of insulin due to some recovery of pancreatic islet cells. It helps reduce insulin requirements and aid blood glucose control. During this honeymoon period, your blood-glucose levels may improve to normal or near-normal level. It is only temporary and does not indicate diabetes is recovering, improving, or cured. How to I know I am in honeymoon period? When you are in the honeymoon period, then your exogenous insulin requirement will drop drastically, and your blood sugar level suddenly starts maintaining within tight range say 80 to 150 mg/dl (4.4 to 8.3 mmol/l). How does honeymoon phase develop? When exogenous insulin lowers the blood sugars, your surviving beta cells wake up, and the Honeymoon Phase can begin. You know after t1d diagnosis, there is some undestroyed pancreatic islet cell. After insulin treatment, there is a decrease in glucose toxicity of islet cells. It facilitates the recovery of pancreatic islet cells and release of some insulin; this happens af Continue reading >>
Type 1 Diabetes . . . Cured?
Carrie posted this wonderfully thought-provoking comment about her diabetic son: My 13 yr old son was diagnosed over a year ago with Type 1 [diabetes]. Before his diagnosis, I was very ‘green’ — bought organic foods, bought meat from free-range, grass-fed local farms, cleaned my house with products I made myself from vinegar and natural products. But we did follow the low-fat, low-calorie, high-fiber, healthy whole grain diet. We were told “eat whatever you want” — just dose for it [with insulin] and be healthy (yep: low-fat, high-fiber, etc.) I didn’t think so: If he has a carb problem, then limit carbs! We immediately went low-carb, causing us to remove a lot of wheat products, but didn’t know about the damages of gluten then. His last two A1Cs [hemoglobin A1c’s, a 60-90 day reflection of blood sugar fluctuations] have been 5.3% [normal range]. He was taken off his basal insulin and his bolus, continuing to less and less. Today, he is OFF insulin! YES, he is a Type 1 diabetic: They double-checked for the antibodies in case he was misdiagnosed–they are there. Even without insulin, his blood sugars are better than me or his dad, or even sister (we all check now). And all this while growing over 5 inches in one year, going through puberty and the stomach flu with no problems (scary for Type 1 diabetics). His doctors are amazed. We all still did not know how he was this way, until someone shared with me Wheat Belly. We are all going completely gluten-free now and staying low-carb. Maybe my asthma will be gone and my daughter’s horrible itchy rash all over her arms will finally leave! Absolutely wonderful book, thank you! Wow. We know that consumption of modern wheat is associated with causing type 1 diabetes in children, average age of onset 4 years Continue reading >>
