Definition of Brittle Diabetes

According to the American Diabetes Association, 7.8 percent of the American population is diagnosed with this disease. Depending on the severity, there are different types of diabetes, including brittle diabetes.

Difficulty

• Brittle diabetes is difficult to control because the person's blood sugar fluctuates greatly regardless of how hard he follows proper eating and exercise procedures.

Misconceptions

• This type of diabetes is often confused with someone who is not taking care of her diabetes condition. Without proper diet and exercise, blood sugar levels can fluctuate, but people with brittle diabetes can have varied numbers regardless of what they do.

Glucose

• Brittle diabetes is the result of glucose in the blood overreacting to changes in diet and exercise.

Misdiagnosis

• Brittle diabetes is sometimes misdiagnosed as Somogyi Effect. This is a disorder that causes blood sugar counts to greatly vary.

Consistency

• When tested patients do not have a consistency in blood work in relevance to brittle diabetes. There is no standard measurement for brittle diabetes because the numbers fluctuate from patient to patient.