IDDM diabetes stands for insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. People who have risk factors should be aware of what is iddm, or type 1 diabetes. Diabetes of this type is a systemic disease that affects individuals who are unable to produce adequate amounts of insulin, or no insulin at all. The pancreas is responsible for manufacturing insulin in order to transfer sugar from digested foods into muscles, fat, and other tissues for energy. In patients with IDDM, the immune system has been compromised due to a variety of factors and has subsequently attacked the beta cells in the pancreas, leaving them unable to secrete necessary insulin.
IDDM symptoms include increased thirst, hunger, fatigue, and need for urination in addition to blurred vision, recurrent infections, and sudden weight loss. People who are most susceptible to developing this disease are usually children and young adults, but while it is possible for older adults to be type 1 diabetic, it is unusual unless they have had the disease since adolescence. Risk factors include having been ill as an infant, having a parent with type I diabetes, or having an older mother or a mother who had gestational diabetes or preeclampsia while pregnant.
As insulin dependent diabetes mellitus is an autoimmune disorder, people who have other immune disorders such as Grave’s disease or Multiple Sclerosis are likely to develop diabetes as well. There is no cure for this condition and researchers are not certain of its pathophysiology of IDDMother than to hypothesize that is may stem from a vitamin D deficiency, a virus, or an infection.
IDDM Diagnosis
AnIDDM diagnosisfrom a doctor can come from three separate tests, all of which include taking a blood sample. The three tests are a fasting plasma glucose test (FPG), an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and a hemoglobin A1c test (A1C). When a doctor suspects a patient has diabetes, he will ask them to fast for eight hours so he can conduct and an FPG, which is a simple blood test and is usually the first choice in testing for IDDM. Normal levels will fall at or below 100 mg/dL, while pre-diabetic is between 100 and 125 mg/Dl, and diabetes is anything at or higher than 126 mg/Dl.
The physician may perform a second series of tests to confirm the results of the fasting plasma glucose test. These include the OGTT which is a follow-up to the FPG. The patient is then asked to drink a solution of glucose and remain in the office to see how their blood sugar levels respond. Two hours later, their blood glucose levels are checked to determine their range. The patient is not diabetic if his or her range is 140 mg/dL or below. If the level is 140-199 mg/dL or over 200mg/dL, they are pre-diabetic and diabetic, respectively.
Later in the day, blood is drawn and tested for levels of glycosylated hemoglobin, or hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). This portion of the test indicates the results in percentages and whereas the OGTT shows the current glucose levels, the A1c displays the levels for the past three months. A normal percentage is less than 5.7, while pre-diabetic and diabetic percentages are 5.7-6.4 and6.5 and higher, respectively. When people see their charts, they may notice the medical term IDDM ICD9, which is a diabeticterm used for medical coding and billing only.
IDDM Treatment
IDDM treatment consists of insulin therapy daily or throughout the day, depending upon which type of insulin the doctor prescribes. To enable the best possible care, people with diabetes IDDM, should strive to stabilize their blood glucose levels to the best of their abilities. One way to achieve this goal is to avoid foods and beverages that will spike their blood glucose levels. Another way is to follow a strict diabetes diet that consists of small meals throughout the day versus three large meals.
Refraining from alcohol and caffeinated beverages are wise as they are full of sugar and empty calories and do not provide sustenance. Diabetics should eat healthy pairings of proteins and complex carbohydrates to feel satiated and maintain normal levels of blood sugar. Exercise is also a vital element in treating IDDM and some form of cardiovascular activity should be done each day. A healthy diet combined with physical activity will help stop the disease from progressing, will maintain normal ranges of glucose, and will prevent further complications of this disease.
