How Does Diabetes Disrupt Homeostasis?

Diabetes is a chronic illness caused due to the breakdown of the metabolic system of the body. As a result, it is a complicated condition to handle, giving rise to several diseases and adverse health effects. In this article, our subject of study is how can diabetes disturb the normal state of balance or equilibrium in the body of a patient. So, come and join in for the article “How Does Diabetes Disrupt Homeostasis?”
What is Homeostasis?
Homeostasis is a condition in the body which means the body is in a state of constant equilibrium or balance. Homeo means “similar” and stasis means “stable”. As the name suggests, homeostasis is the ability of the body to remain stable. For example, when you feel hot, your body perspires. The perspiration is a mechanism by which the body is a maintains its stability through different bodily mechanisms.
How Does the Body of a Healthy Individual Work?
In a healthy individual who is not affected by diabetes, the body keeps the blood glucose within the range through a number of mechanisms. If the body experiences low levels of glucose, the pancreas reacts to the situation by lowering down the total secretion of the hormone insulin. In some other cases, where the level of blood glucose is too low, the pancreas secretes the hormone glucagon in order to enable the liver cells to secrete more of glucose which is then let out in the blood of the body.
Apart from that, when blood glucose becomes low, the adrenal in gland also tends to secrete another hormone which is known as epinephrine. The hormone helps in stabilizing the situation i Continue reading

Rate this article

Total 1 ratings

Type 2 Diabetes Information

Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes, accounting for about 95 percent of all diabetes diagnoses. Find out more about type 2 diabetes as well as how to manage it.
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes, accounting for about 95 percent of all diabetes diagnoses. Find out more about type 2 diabetes as well as how to manage it.
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes, accounting for about 95 percent of all diabetes diagnoses. Find out more about type 2 diabetes as well as how to manage it.
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes, accounting for about 95 percent of all diabetes diagnoses. Find out more about type 2 diabetes as well as how to manage it. Continue reading

6 Signs Your Type 2 Diabetes Might Really Be Type 1

Reviewed by endocrinologist Stanley S. Schwartz, MD, emeritus Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and George Grunberger, MD, FACP, FACE, Chairman of the Grunberger Diabetes Institute, Clinical Professor of Internal Medicine and Molecular Medicine & Genetics at Wayne State University School of Medicine and President of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists.
Up to 10%1 of people with type 2 diabetes may actually have a form of diabetes known as latent autoimmune diabetes in adults, or LADA, where the immune system slowly destroys insulin-producing beta cells. That’s the conclusion of a string of studies that have looked at this mysterious high blood sugar problem since it was first recognized by Scottish endocrinologists in the late 1970s.2 Yet 39 years later, most of the estimated 3 million or more Americans with LADA think they’ve got type 2 diabetes. That misdiagnosis can cause frustration, misunderstandings and even health problems, says endocrinologist Stanley S. Schwartz, MD, an emeritus Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.
“If your doctor is not thinking about the possibility of LADA, he or she may not prescribe the diabetes drugs early on that could help extend the life of your insulin-producing beta cells,” Dr. Schwartz says. “With LADA, you lose the ability to produce insulin much more quickly than the typical type 2. But a doctor who believes you’re a type 2 may hesitate to prescribe insulin when your blood sugar levels rise, thinking that a healthier lifestyle and higher doses Continue reading

Preventing and treating leg cramps with diabetes

For many diabetics, muscle pain is just a normal part of life.
Prolonged exposure to high blood sugar levels can cause what's called diabetic neuropathy, which may result in pain, tingling, cramps or spasms in the arms, feet, legs or fingers.
Treating leg cramps tends to involve treating the neuropathy while also addressing other factors that may be causing the cramps.
Causes
While there are several different types of neuropathies, peripheral neuropathy is what often causes leg cramps in diabetics.
Potassium imbalance, which can be caused by fluctuating insulin levels and frequent urination in diabetes, can also contribute to leg cramping.
Diabetics who are taking diuretics may also experience more leg cramps, as these types of drugs have been associated with muscle spasms and pain.
Prevention
The best way to prevent diabetic neuropathy is to manage your diabetes well and keep your blood sugar stable.
If the cramps are caused by potassium imbalances, you should talk to your doctor about changing your diet to address this issue.
Exercise is also important, especially stretching, while adequate hydration after long periods of physical activity will ensure your water and electrolyte balances stay stable.
Treatment
Treatment for diabetic leg cramps will usually involve bringing your blood glucose levels into a normal range to prevent further nerve damage. Your doctor may recommend certain medicines or insulin therapies to help control your blood sugar.
Treating the pain that comes with diabetic neuropathy could involve oral medication.
Regular massage might also help relax the Continue reading

Diabetes and Muscle Cramps: Cause, Prevention, Relief

Muscle cramps, or spasms, are involuntary contractions (shortening) of our skeletal muscles.
Cramps can occur at any time but often wake people during the night. They can affect any muscle but usually show up in the calves, thighs, feet and arms.
Since having either high or low blood sugar contributes to spasms, many people with diabetes report having from mild to severely painful muscle cramping.
Causes of Cramping
Glucose and Electrolytes
The proper contraction and relaxation of our muscles requires a fuel source such as glucose, and a balanced exchange of electrolytes (e.g., sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium) flowing through the cell membranes.
When blood sugar is low, the muscles can become starved for fuel. When blood sugar runs high our body excretes excess glucose via urine, causing dehydration, and a depletion of electrolytes.
These types of imbalances cause cramping in athletes engaged in extended strenuous exercise, those who are active without proper conditioning or hydration, and in active or sedentary people with fluctuating blood glucose.
Nerves and Circulation
Complications from diabetes can trigger muscle cramps as well. Since poor circulation and nerve damage may instigate spasms, people with peripheral vascular disease or peripheral neuropathy may be prone to cramps. In rare cases, muscle cramps are a symptom of kidney problems.
Medications
Medications and substances that contribute to the incidence of muscle cramps include insulin, lipid (cholesterol) lowering drugs, antihypertensives, beta-agonists, antipsychotics, oral contraceptives, and alcohol.
O Continue reading