Unstable and Brittle Diabetes (Advances in Diabetes)

Description

Both sub-groups of diabetes mellitus - types 1 and 2 - are, for different reasons, difficult or impossible to adequately control. Diabetes health professionals regularly have to copromise ideal glycaemic aims against what can reasonably be achieved with the imperfiect tools of our trade, and the ever-present battle for patient-compliance. There are, however, extremes of control difficulty. In type 1 diabetes, such patients are frequently termed "brittle". They defy any semblance of metabolic control and are recurrently hospitalized with hyperglycaemia or hypoglycaemic crises. The very term "brittle" is shrouded in mystery as to its origin and in controversy as to its usefulness.This is the first book for nearly 20 years to deal with the problem of severely unstable diabetes. As well as brittle type 1 syndromes, the scope of instability has been extended to the notoriously problematic issue of obese and highly insulin-resistant type 2 diabetes, as well as instability in special groups such as the very young and the elderly. A multi-disciplinary and highly experienced group of writers have contributed, and there is even a final chapter by a patient. Issues of psychology, psychiatry and education are included, as well as more "medical" forms of management, such as insulin pump therapy and pancreas transplantation. Unstable and Brittle Diabetes provides a balanced view of this most difficult area of diabetes care. Editor Geoff Gill brings together the latest research on the management of brittle diabetes (or 'erratic glucose control'), which is a controversial area in terms of definition and management and one that creates much debate among diabetologists. This monograph aims to help the diabetologist understand this troublesome condition.

Description

Provides a comprehensive overview that helps the reader understand this complex and troublesome condition. Topics include history of our knowledge of the disease, an overview of the disease, secondary causes, hypoglycaemic diabetic instability, insulin resistance and over-insulinisation, diabetic instability in children and the elderly, psychological factors and intervention, educating patients about the disease, causes, outcomes, treatment, how to live with the disease, and more.

First Sentence

When insulin was first used in 1922-3, anyone with a knowledge of human nature would have predicted that a treatment which was, at least in theory, under the patient's control, would lead to trouble in some cases.

Subjects

Other Editions

• Unstable and Brittle DiabetesElectronic resourceTaylor & Francis Group Plc2004-01-01
• Unstable and Brittle Diabetes (Advances in Diabetes)HardcoverInforma Healthcare2004-04-20
• Unstable and brittle diabetesTaylor & Francis2003-01-01
• UNSTABLE AND BRITTLE DIABETES; ED. BY GEOFF GILL.TAYLOR & FRANCIS