Illness and Diabetes are related often as even the simplest cold or flu can cause turmoil for an individual with Diabetes Mellitus. The stress and fatigue associated with a minor illness can distract an individual who is normally very astute at managing his or her Diabetes. The complications of the sickness, such as inability to eat, vomiting, or diarrhea, may cause unstable blood sugar levels. Disregarding one’s caloric intake and insulin dosage makes an individual with Diabetes susceptible to Diabetic Ketoacidosis according to Dr. Sarah Jarvis of the United Kingdom.
Ketoacidosis is a serious condition that occurs when the cells in the body do not receive adequate nourishment (glucose) for energy, so the body begins to burn fat for energy, which produces ketones. Ketones are acids that build up in the blood and pass into the urine when the body lacks insulin. High levels of ketones are toxic to the body and Diabetic Ketoacidosis can lead to coma and death.Similarly, when patients become dehydrated, they can experience Hyperosmolar Nonketotic Coma in which the body removes excess sugar by excreting it through the urine.
Mental Illness and Diabetes
Mental Illness and Diabetes are two diseases that are commonly shared by patients. Doctors Maria D. Llorente, M.D. and Victoria Urrutia, M.D. conducted a clinical trialand published their results in a paper titled “Diabetes, Psychiatric Disorders, and the Metabolic Effects of Antipsychotic Medications.”They explored the correlations between mental disorders such as Schizophrenia, Bi-polar Disorder, and Dementia with Diabetes to learn if Diabetes caused the mental disorders or if the antipsychotic drugs used to treat the mental disorders were a factor in promoting the onset of Diabetes. Some side effects of the drugs prescribed for mental disorders cause weight gain and insulin resistance, which can contribute to Diabetes, but side effects of Clinical Depression, such as being inactive or binge eating can lead to weight gain, and eventually Diabetes.
The doctors found that a large number of Diabetic patients are prescribed antipsychotic drugs by medical doctors and are not monitored by psychiatric doctors. They believe that the benefits of certain drugs can outweigh the potentially negative side effects, in certain instances. Patients should have a thorough exam to screen for family and medical history to determine if he or she is already at risk for metabolic disorders and a treatment plan for both Diabetes and mental illness can then be determined.
Illness and Diabetes – How to Manage
Illness and Diabetes can quickly become a life-threatening problem. There are simple steps that a Diabetic individual can take to ensure that a simple cold or flu does not send them to the emergency room. Dr. Sarah Jarvis recommends preparing for a Diabetes illnessin advance by having a sick day supply kit. It should include fruit juice, non-diet fizzy beverages, two liters of water, cans of soup, crackers,an unopened box of blood glucose monitoring strips, and an unopened box of ketone strips (if on insulin). Individuals should drink fluids every couple of hours and should take and record his or her blood sugar every four hours.
