There was a study published in 2005 that looked at glucose fluctuations and the affect of oxidative stress on the endothelial level because of highs and lows.
They're equally as damaging, but the lows in someone who's had diabetes for an extended period of time can be more concerning because of the ability to recognize the symptoms. The longer you have diabetes, the less awareness you have to the symptoms of hypoglycemia.
It appears that the swings from high blood sugars (hyperglycemia) to low blood sugars (hypoglycemia) create a lot of free radicals that place stress on the endothelium of the cell which is there the resulting damage to organs occurs.
This is all a big fancy description for, "we don't really know" but both are damaging in the long run.
There's a huge study on-going called ACCORD and has several different components looking at multiple ways to treat diabetes and delay/offset complications.
As a pump user, there is another product available (to be used with insulin) called Symlin that helps to smooth out those highs/lows by replacing the hormone amylin that the body produces with insulin. It's the only product of its kind on the market and is only to be used by people who take insulin. It can have profound affects when successfully integrated into an insulin regimen.
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There was a study published in 2005 that looked at glucose fluctuations and the affect of oxidative stress on the endothelial level because of highs and lows.
They're equally as damaging, but the lows in someone who's had diabetes for an extended period of time can be more concerning because of the ability to recognize the symptoms. The longer you have diabetes, the less awareness you have to the symptoms of hypoglycemia.
It appears that the swings from high blood sugars (hyperglycemia) to low blood sugars (hypoglycemia) create a lot of free radicals that place stress on the endothelium of the cell which is there the resulting damage to organs occurs.
This is all a big fancy description for, "we don't really know" but both are damaging in the long run.
There's a huge study on-going called ACCORD and has several different components looking at multiple ways to treat diabetes and delay/offset complications.
As a pump user, there is another product available (to be used with insulin) called Symlin that helps to smooth out those highs/lows by replacing the hormone amylin that the body produces with insulin. It's the only product of its kind on the market and is only to be used by people who take insulin. It can have profound affects when successfully integrated into an insulin regimen.
I hope this information is helpful!
July 28, 2010 - 6:02amThis Comment
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