Diabetes (Type 1, IR, PCOS and Type 2) warning symptoms

  Insulin is a hormone that acts like a key. It unlocks your cells to let in glucose (a kind of sugar) from your blood to make energy. Sometimes, this lock-and-key process doesn't work. Then glucose builds up in your blood, even when you make more insulin.

Insulin resistance is when cells in your muscles, body fat and liver start resisting or ignoring the signal that the hormone insulin is trying to send out - which is to grab glucose out of the bloodstream and put it into our cells. Glucose, also known as blood sugar, is the body’s main source of fuel. We get glucose from grains, fruit, vegetables, dairy products and drinks that bring break down into carbohydrates 

Insulin resistance has no symptoms, you could have this condition for a long time and not know it.

People who have diabetes are more at risk of getting vascular disease because their blood sugar levels have spent prolonged periods of time being poorly controlled and higher than normal. In turn, this affects the lining of the body's arterial walls, making the inside of the blood vessels more likely to fur-up causing them to narrow (atherosclerosis). 

 People with severe insulin resistance sometimes get dark patches of skin on their necks, elbows, knees, hands and armpits. People with metabolic syndrome have at least three of these traits: a large waist, high triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol, high blood pressure and blood glucose that is higher than normal. It raises your chances of suffering from diabetes, heart disease and stroke. 

Diabetes  

Is a lifelong condition that causes a person's blood sugar levels to become high. In the UK, around 90% of adults with diabetes have type 2 diabetes!

Type 1 diabetes is often referred to as early-onset, juvenile or insulin-dependent diabetes. Children and young adults are most likely to develop the condition over a short period of time (days and weeks). Type 1 diabetes occurs when the pancreas stops releasing insulin. It is treated with insulin injections and a healthy diet. 

Treatment of Type 1 Diabetes: Insulin to be taken twice daily is called long-acting or basal insulin. It gives your body the insulin it needs whether you eat or not. Basal insulin should keep your blood glucose stable overnight and between meals.

Insulin taken with food or drink is called fast-acting, meal-time or bolus

insulin. This helps reduce the rise in blood glucose caused by eating or drinking. You usually take it before any meal, snack or drink which contains carbohydrates.

Type 2 diabetes I often referred to as late-onset, maturity-onset or non-insulin-dependent diabetes). It is most likely to develop in those over the age of 40-years-old (but can occur in younger people). It is more likely to affect those who are obese or overweight. The illness and symptoms of Type 2 diabetes tend to develop gradually (over weeks or months). 

Unlike type 1 diabetes (with type 2 diabetes) the pancreas still produces insulin but it may not be as much as the body requires or the body's cells are not able to use the insulin properly. This is called insulin resistance.

Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes: Diabetes usually gets worse over time so your medicine, or dose, may need to change. Initially you will start by taking metformin and, over time, you may need a combination of medicines: Sulphonylureas, Alpha glucosidase inhibitor (Acarbose), Prandial glucose regulators, Thiazolidiones (glitazones), Icretin mimetrics, DPP-4inhibitors (gliptins) and SGLT2 inhibitors

How to prevent the risk of other complications like vascular disease?

In general, the closer your blood glucose level is to normal, the less likely you risk developing complications. 

Your risk of developing complications is also reduced if you deal with any other “risk factors” that you may have, such as:

high blood pressure, smoking, being overweight, high cholesterol levels, an unhealthy diet, lack of exercise and stress.

Lifestyle

You may wish to do the following to improve your insulin sensitivity: keep active; eat a healthy diet; control your blood sugar levels; lose weight (if you are overweight); stop smoking; keep an eye on your blood pressure; be aware of any new conditions or changes in your body; have regular medical examinations (at least once a year); take your medication as prescribed by your doctor; stop skimping on sleep.

How to prevent the risk of other complications like vascular disease?

In general, the closer your blood glucose level is to normal, the less likely you risk developing complications. 

Your risk of developing complications is also reduced if you deal with any other “risk factors” that you may have, such as: high blood pressure, smoking, being overweight, high cholesterol levels, an unhealthy diet, lack of exercise and stress.

Lifestyle

You may wish to do the following to improve your insulin sensitivity: keep active; eat a healthy diet; control your blood sugar levels; lose weight (if you are overweight); stop smoking; keep an eye on your blood pressure; be aware of any new conditions or changes in your body; have regular medical examinations (at least once a year); take your medication as prescribed by your doctor; stop skimping on sleep.

How to prevent diabetic foot ulcers?

Taking good care of your feet is crucial in preventing diabetic foot ulcers. 

It is recommended that people with diabetes should have their feet checked, at least once a year, by a doctor or healthcare professional. 

Always check your shoes for foreign objects to avoid damage to your feet.

Check the sole of your shoes are in a good state of repair.

Do not place house keys closed to your shoe rack to avoid any incidents

Do not wear flip-flops!

Treatment

Type 1 Diabetes: Insulin to be taken twice daily is called long-acting or basal insulin. It gives your body the insulin it needs whether you eat or not. Basal insulin should keep your blood glucose stable overnight and between meals.

Insulin taken with food or drink is called fast-acting, meal-time or bolus

insulin. This helps reduce the rise in blood glucose caused by eating or drinking. You usually take it before any meal, snack or drink which contains carbohydrates.

Type 2 Diabetes: Diabetes usually gets worse over time so your medicine, or dose, may need to change.          

Initially you will start by taking metformin and, over time, you may need a combination of medicines: Sulphonylureas, Alpha glucosidase inhibitor (Acarbose), Prandial glucose regulators, Thiazolidiones (glitazones), Icretin mimetrics, DPP-4inhibitors (gliptins) and SGLT2 inhibitors

Long-term (irreversible) complications can develop across the whole circulation system. For example: nephropathy, retinopathy, gastropathy, neuropathy, sexual dysfunction, periodontitis, leg ulcers and so on.

 What is a diabetic foot ulcer?

Diabetic foot ulcers affect many people with diabetes. It's believed that 1 in 10 people with diabetes will have a foot ulcer at some point. 

The ulcers are patches of broken skin, usually on the lower part of the leg or on the feet, that become infected. 

For those with diabetes, wounds on the legs and feet are less likely to heal. This is partly because of damage to the nerves caused by fluctuating blood sugar levels.

 Why are people with diabetes more likely to get foot ulcers? 

People with diabetes may have a reduced nerve functioning due to peripheral diabetic neuropathy. 

This is when the nerves that carry pain or sensation to and from the feet do not function well. This means that stepping on something sharp, wearing tight shoes or sustaining a cut can go unnoticed leading to diabetic foot ulcers. 

Narrowed arteries (atherosclerosis) can also reduce blood flow to the feet.

Effects of serious foot ulcers

In the worst cases, some people with diabetes may have to have an amputation as the result of an ulcer. 

Less serious foot ulcers can take a long time to heal and cause a great deal of discomfort. 

Require frequent district nurses visits for wound management

Become house (or bed or chair) bound due to excruciating pain

Increased social isolation due to bad odour and weeping wounds. 

Affects family dynamics.

Stops families getting away on holiday.

Might increase the risk developing deep vein thrombosis.
If the individual is unable to look after themselves they might have to sell their property and move into a care home.

Carbon dioxide is colour and odourless gas that is heavier than air. When bathing (to chest height) in a “dry carbon dioxide” the gas is absorbed through the hair follicles and skin into the capillaries and connective tissues. This (vasodilation) expands the blood vessel’s diameter which improves blood flow and the removal of waste products as well as increasing the transport of oxygen, nutrients and glucose to the tissues.

Effects:

Within the first couple of minutes a client experiences pleasant heat and perspiration.

Blood pressure is decreased typically by 15-20mmHg Systolic and 10-15mmHg Diastolic.

Benefits last up to six months:

· Helps to alleviate Diabetes related Neuropathic pain

· Better blood flow increases energy levels alleviates fatigue and improves mood

· Cognition may improve

· Eyesight may improve

· Alleviates wheezing

· Helps to improve independence and improves quality of life

· Helps improve lymphatic fluid drainage (gravitational oedema) - meaning shoes fit properly

Gradually walking distance will improve