juano19 - Most type 2 diabetics are not insulin dependent because they are able to produce enough insulin themselves. Some take drugs like metformin to stimulate insulin production.
Lynn Bodoni - It's called Type II diabetes now, because a lot of kids are showing up with it.
Some Type IIs need insulin, some don't. For many years, I kept my diabetes in check with diet, exercise, and oral medication. However, I still needed to check my blood sugar at least a couple of times a day. My disease kept getting worse, and I finally had to start using insulin.
I would imagine that your aunt doesn't use insulin because she doesn't need it. You might ask her.
micksmixxx - The reason your aunt doesn't need to take insulin injections, my friend, is because the beta cells (islets of Langerhans) of her pancreas are still able to produce sufficient quantities of insulin, whether that be naturally or with assistance from oral medications.
Type 2 diabetes, as it's now called ... and has been for quite a number of years ... is a progressive illness, meaning that over time it does tend to get harder to control blood sugar (glucose) levels. One of the effects of this is that the beta cells, which are so far doing alright, lose their ability to produce insulin. If oral medications are not enough to stimulate them to produce more, or the body's cells become more resistant to the effects of that insulin, there's a good chance that she would need to go onto insulin injections at some point. Let's hope that she manages to only need her current drug regimen, accompanied by diet and exercise, to keep her going just the way she already seems to be doing.
Dependent on how good your aunt's blood glucose control is, she MAY have been advised that she need not check her blood glucose levels every day. (It's a big bone of contention over here, in the UK, as type 2 diabetics are automatically being told that they don't need to check their blood every day, and it's quite obvious, in some cases, that they do need to check ... and very often several times a day.)
buffalo - She probably takes Metformin ,diet and exercise. Type 2 diabetics produce insulin. Type 1 diabetics do not produce insulin.
As for checking glucose levels most diabetics check a couple of times a day. As for me , I check glucose levels every 3 months. My Hba1c is 5.4. My thoughts on this only check if you are going to do something about it.My numbers are good enough that I don't need to check. I can't get much more to lower levels.
To learn more about diabetes go to :http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/index.php
CarbonDated - They SHOULD check their blood daily or at the very least, every other day. Changes can occur quite rapidly and you know right away if there is a trend or if this is a on-off.
As far as insulin, many type 2 diabetics do not use insulin because their pancreas still works. They do, however, take other medications that help the situation. Prior to about 1985, all but a few diabetics used insulin. However, there was an improvement to the medication that is now called metformin. It is so effective that it is now the first line that they go with.
TheOrange Evil - People with Type 2 diabetes produce their own insulin. Sometimes it's not enough insulin, so they have to inject. Often, though, oral medications can do the job with a low-carbohydrate diet.
And just to disagree with someone above me who posted, Metformin does NOT stimulate the pancreas to make more insulin. Metformin reduces the amount of glucose the liver produces and makes the individual more insulin sensitive.
Nana Lamb - Type 2 diabetes or Adult onset is a progressive disease. In the beginning it can maybe be controlled with diet and exercise alone. But most of us need one or more Rx of oral medications to help control it. The average person with Type 2 eventually progresses to having to add insulins to the oral meds and the diet and exercise regimes.
Yes, it is necessary to keep close watch on glucose levels. The Endocrinologists recommend testing not less than 4 times a day. Fasting and Bedtime for sure then twice randomly during the day.
Your Aunt's diabetes has not progressed to the point of having to do the insulin injections, yet. I hope she is able to keep her diet, exercise and oral medications for the rest of her life, but my life is much easier to control with insulins added to the medication lists.
Maria - Yes.
ReplyDeletejuano19 - Most type 2 diabetics are not insulin dependent because they are able to produce enough insulin themselves. Some take drugs like metformin to stimulate insulin production.
ReplyDeleteLynn Bodoni - It's called Type II diabetes now, because a lot of kids are showing up with it.
ReplyDeleteSome Type IIs need insulin, some don't. For many years, I kept my diabetes in check with diet, exercise, and oral medication. However, I still needed to check my blood sugar at least a couple of times a day. My disease kept getting worse, and I finally had to start using insulin.
I would imagine that your aunt doesn't use insulin because she doesn't need it. You might ask her.
micksmixxx - The reason your aunt doesn't need to take insulin injections, my friend, is because the beta cells (islets of Langerhans) of her pancreas are still able to produce sufficient quantities of insulin, whether that be naturally or with assistance from oral medications.
ReplyDeleteType 2 diabetes, as it's now called ... and has been for quite a number of years ... is a progressive illness, meaning that over time it does tend to get harder to control blood sugar (glucose) levels. One of the effects of this is that the beta cells, which are so far doing alright, lose their ability to produce insulin. If oral medications are not enough to stimulate them to produce more, or the body's cells become more resistant to the effects of that insulin, there's a good chance that she would need to go onto insulin injections at some point. Let's hope that she manages to only need her current drug regimen, accompanied by diet and exercise, to keep her going just the way she already seems to be doing.
Dependent on how good your aunt's blood glucose control is, she MAY have been advised that she need not check her blood glucose levels every day. (It's a big bone of contention over here, in the UK, as type 2 diabetics are automatically being told that they don't need to check their blood every day, and it's quite obvious, in some cases, that they do need to check ... and very often several times a day.)
Blessings to you both.
buffalo - She probably takes Metformin ,diet and exercise. Type 2 diabetics produce insulin. Type 1 diabetics do not produce insulin.
ReplyDeleteAs for checking glucose levels most diabetics check a couple of times a day. As for me , I check glucose levels every 3 months. My Hba1c is 5.4. My thoughts on this only check if you are going to do something about it.My numbers are good enough that I don't need to check. I can't get much more to lower levels.
To learn more about diabetes go to :http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/index.php
Take care
Buff
CarbonDated - They SHOULD check their blood daily or at the very least, every other day. Changes can occur quite rapidly and you know right away if there is a trend or if this is a on-off.
ReplyDeleteAs far as insulin, many type 2 diabetics do not use insulin because their pancreas still works. They do, however, take other medications that help the situation. Prior to about 1985, all but a few diabetics used insulin. However, there was an improvement to the medication that is now called metformin. It is so effective that it is now the first line that they go with.
TheOrange Evil - People with Type 2 diabetes produce their own insulin. Sometimes it's not enough insulin, so they have to inject. Often, though, oral medications can do the job with a low-carbohydrate diet.
ReplyDeleteAnd just to disagree with someone above me who posted, Metformin does NOT stimulate the pancreas to make more insulin. Metformin reduces the amount of glucose the liver produces and makes the individual more insulin sensitive.
Nana Lamb - Type 2 diabetes or Adult onset is a progressive disease. In the beginning it can maybe be controlled with diet and exercise alone. But most of us need one or more Rx of oral medications to help control it. The average person with Type 2 eventually progresses to having to add insulins to the oral meds and the diet and exercise regimes.
ReplyDeleteYes, it is necessary to keep close watch on glucose levels. The Endocrinologists recommend testing not less than 4 times a day. Fasting and Bedtime for sure then twice randomly during the day.
Your Aunt's diabetes has not progressed to the point of having to do the insulin injections, yet. I hope she is able to keep her diet, exercise and oral medications for the rest of her life, but my life is much easier to control with insulins added to the medication lists.
Cammie - Everyone with diabetes should test their sugars several times a day.This will give your Aunt great information on what she should eat.
ReplyDeleteMany people with type 2 diabetes will eventually need insulin.Some won't need it.
People with type 1 always need insulin .
Hollie - Ι think it's better seeing a doctor in person to answer this kind of questions
ReplyDeleteEmilyboo - some do others don't..it depends on the diabetic
ReplyDelete