Diabetes Health Talk

Type 2 diabetes typically worsens over time as less and less insulin is produced by the pancreas. Usually, treatment for type 2 diabetes starts with lifestyle changes and a diabetes pill, such as metformin. Sulfonyureas and thiazolidinediones are other types of diabetes pills that can be considered, but both can cause weight gain, and sulfonyureas can cause more episodes of hypoglycemia (low blood glucose) than metformin.

Liraglutide is a new injectable diabetes medicine. It is now under development as a possible alternative to available diabetes pills. Researchers are performing studies to find out how liraglutide compares to other diabetes medicines.

Why did the researchers do this particular study?
The researchers wanted to compare the effectiveness and safety of adding liraglutide, glimepiride (a sulfonylurea), or a dummy pill to metformin treatment for people with type 2 diabetes.

Who was studied?
The study included more than 1,000 adults with type 2 diabetes who had been taking either one type of diabetes pill or more than one type of diabetes pill for more than 3 months.

How was the study done?
Participants received liraglutide injections, glimepiride pills, or dummy pills in combination with metformin for 26 weeks. Researchers measured the participants’ A1C and body weight at the start and end of the study and collected information about whether they experienced nausea or hypoglycemia while on the treatments.

What did the researchers find?
Adding liraglutide to metformin provided better diabetes control than metformin alone. The liraglutide-metformin combination controlled blood glucose as well as and caused less weight gain and hypoglycemia than a combination of glimepiride and metformin. Liraglutide caused more nausea than glimepiride, but the nausea declined over time.

What are the implications of the study?
Adding liraglutide to metformin may be a good treatment option for patients whose diabetes is not adequately controlled with metformin alone, especially when weight gain and hypoglycemia are a concern.

Salutations All!

Today I want to talk to you about the dangers of Hypoglycemia. Many of us don’t realize that having a low sugar reading is just as dangerous as having a high one.
The dangers of Diabetic Comas are just as great.

There are some sure signs of low sugar levels that you can catch before it gets that bad, however just checking it regularly can stop this from happening most of the time anyway.

When beginning or changing your medication it is important to check sugar levels at least 3-4 times a day. To see how your medication is affecting you. The use of a meeter at home is very important because different thing affect your sugar in different ways. So checking it is important, and allows you to see how your body is affected and what helps.

Danger Signs:

1. non-stop shaking: if your hands and arms start trembling and you can’t stop them check your sugar level right away!

2. light headedness

3. Not speaking: sometimes when a person’s sugar level lowers they tend not to talk as much, kind of in a daze.

4. irritable: changes in mood are visible when a diabetic becomes hunger and sugar levels are lowering.

5. Confusion: They appear not all there

If a person becomes unable to speak or shaking a lot give them some form of carbohydrates right away,if they can not speak to you call emergency (911 or variation of)
Then check for sugar levels. The level maybe lowering rapidly and taking away the time to check level can be dangerous.

Orange juice is a good way to bring the level up fast, a fluid or a sugar tablet if they can chew would benefit them then. Other forms of sugar can take a long time to reach the blood stream.

Contact you Diabetes Educator or Physician to find out more on Hypoglycemia.

Links for more information on Hypoglycemia:

The Hypoglycemia Support Foundation Inc.

This is a non-profit foundation that helps people with hypoglycemia better understand it, they have stories,surveys, quiz’s, products, etc..

www.hypoglycemia.org

Medicine Net:
This company brings physician information to you! Read their information on hypoglycemia here:

www.medicinenet.com

Until next time,
Smiles!
Lisa

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