Diabetes can be classified into two categories: Diabetes insipidus and diabetes mellitus. Both have serious consequences, though they are entirely different from each other. Let’s take a look at both of them and understand the differences.
Diabetes Insipidus is a rare disease. It is caused when there are problems related to ADH (Anti Diuretic Hormone). Someone with diabetes insipidus suffers from excessive urination. There is no increase in the blood glucose levels, unlike diabetes mellitus. A series of tests are needed to diagnose the condition. If left untreated, the condition can cause kidney damage and chronic kidney disease.
Due to excessive urination, the person feels an increased thirst leading to excessive fluid consumption. Patients are at risk of suffering from dehydration. It is of four types:
Diabetes mellitus is the more common form of diabetes. It causes elevated sugar levels in the blood. The body breaks down food into glucose that is the fuel for the cells for carrying out regular metabolic processes. When the body cannot process this glucose efficiently, it leads to high sugar levels that have serious health complications like kidney failure, vision loss, and amputations.
Diabetes mellitus is of two types.
Read More: Difference Between Type 1 & Type 2 Diabetes
The symptoms of diabetes mellitus include increased thirst and hunger, excessive urination, frequent vaginal yeast infections, slow healing of cuts and scrapes, and tingling and numbness in the feet. The disease is treated by medications that control the sugar levels and by providing synthetic insulin in the body. A healthy diet, regular exercise, weight loss and timely administration of medication are the recommended course of treatment.
| Diabetes Insipidus | Diabetes Mellitus |
| Caused by problems in hypothalamus | Caused by problems in the pancreas |
| Caused by deficiency of ADH | Caused by a deficiency of insulin hormone |
| Glucose levels are not elevated | glucose levels are elevated |
| Urine doesn’t have glucose present | Urine has glucose present |
| Urine is much diluted. It has no odour | Urine of normal concentration |
| Excessive urination | Urination much lesser than in diabetes insipidus |
| No increase in blood cholesterol | Increase in blood cholesterol |
| Eating patterns do not change | Eating patterns change with excessive hunger |
| Negative results when tested for ketone bodies in urine | Positive results when tested for ketone bodies in urine |
Both, diabetes mellitus and diabetes insipidus need urgent medical intervention. Consult your doctor if you suffer from any of these symptoms.
Diabetes insipidus is quite rare compared to diabetes mellitus. Diabetes insipidus commonly seen post head injury , brain surgery and brain cancer.
Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD
A diabetes diet plan includes healthy food items in moderate items during regular meal times. The food items included in this diet should be naturally rich in nutrients, and low in fat and calories.
The key elements that go into making a proper diet plan for diabetes are vegetables, fruits and whole grains. In fact, people with borderline diabetes or who have a family history should follow this diet as a part of a healthy meal plan.
Poorly controlled or uncontrolled diabetes insipidus may lead to dehydration and electrolyte imbalance and this might specifically be harmful if it happens during pregnancy. Keep a caution and visit your gynecologist for any associated symptoms
Dr. Ashish Bajaj, M.B.B.S., M.D.
Diabetes may increase the chances of heart-related ailments and stroke by accelerating the development of hardened artillery or blocking them. Foods containing the following can work against your goal of having a proper, balanced diabetes meal plan:
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I still have a clear memory of her taking insulin after every meal and the way she used to keep some chocolates handy for her hypoglycemic episodes. I always knew that diabetes is a genetic problem and there are chances that I may also get this disease. Understanding the risk, I used to take special care of myself by eating right and exercise daily. But who could escape the problem that is in the blood!
I was 27 when I got diagnosed with diabetes. Before I tell you my story, let me introduce myself.
My name is Preet Karan. I am 28 years old, male, living in a small town in Chhattisgarh province. I am an MBA graduate and currently employed in a leading multinational bank.
I was working as a relationship manager hence travelling and meeting clients was my daily routine. Everything was working well until I realized that I was making frequent visits to the toilet. I didn’t pay any attention to it as it was the summer season and I thought maybe it was because of drinking too much water. But these were only the initial symptoms. My condition worsened in the following weeks. I was losing weight. I lost almost ten kgs in a week. My muscles softened to the extent that I could feel my hip bone while sitting in the office. My trips to the loo became more frequent.
I distinctly remember one incident when I was at an eatery located on the outskirts of the city. During our 1 hour stay in that restaurant, I may have gone to urinate at least 6-7 times.
My friends suspected something amiss, but I still blamed it on the hot summer.
However, the most challenging situation for me was to get dressed for the job. It was too exhausting to get out of bed and go all the way to meet clients.
This routine continued for a month until my grandmother observed ants in the toilet area. She asked me to test my urine and blood sugar, as the sugar in the urine may be attracting ants.
At that time, I also started feeling something wrong with my body, so I immediately complied. I went to the nearest medical laboratory and gave my blood sample. After work, I went to the laboratory to check my report.
And BOOM! My blood sugar reading was around 550 mg/dl. I immediately went to my family doctor, who asked me to do a retest in the morning. I still remember how painful that night was.
I couldn’t sleep the whole night; I was blaming myself for not taking enough care of my body.
The thought of injecting the needles scared the hell out of me. I had already seen my mother struggling with this problem and I certainly did not want to suffer the same. It was an emotional rollercoaster ride for me. I felt anger, anguish, anxiety and pity all at the same time through the night.
After the long night, I went to another laboratory. ”There was something wrong with the previous laboratory,” I thought. I gave my blood samples and waited eagerly for the report.
Each second that I waited felt like a lifetime. The report came, and to my horror, I was labelled a ‘diabetic.’
At that time, I felt like I had lost everything. The efforts that I had put in for my studies, for the job and everything else, seemed to be all wasted. I realized that it was more important to keep your body fit.
All types of thoughts were coming to my mind.
Could I still do my job?
Did I have other diabetic complications?
Would I need to take injections or medicines only?
With all these questions, I went to the endocrinologist. He comforted me and performed all kind of tests to see if I had any other diabetes-related health issues.
The reports came, and I found that I had been a diabetic for the past three months.
I was lucky as there was no organ damage.
The doctor asked me to follow a regular balanced diet and take insulin twice a day. I was following his instructions, but something was wrong. I was not able to control my blood sugar levels. I was taking ten units of insulin twice, but the blood sugar levels were always haywire. Unable to understand what is happening I decided to research online.
I read lots of diabetic research papers and came to know about the carb counting mechanism. It’s a simple mechanism that states the number of carbohydrates in every meal. I found that diabetes is a problem of carbohydrate metabolism, the more carbohydrate you put into the body, the more insulin will be needed for metabolism.
After learning this strategy, I reduced my carbohydrate intake and relied on foods that are rich in good fats. This mechanism helped me to get off from insulin injections for a year.
I found that my body is still making some amount of insulin, which is sufficient if I eat foods that are low in carbohydrates.
But as I was Type 1 diabetic, I knew that a time would come when the leftover insulin-making-cells will get destroyed, and then I will have to rely on an external source of insulin.
Also Read: What Level of Blood Sugar is Dangerous? A Complete, Research-Based Guide
After one year, that time came. My blood sugar went above 200mg/dl even if I didn’t eat anything.
I got the signal that my insulin-producing cells were destroyed, and I had to now rely on an external source of insulin for the rest of my life. Currently, I am using short-acting insulin after every meal and a dose of long-acting at night before going to bed. I still follow a carb counting mechanism, which helps in managing my diabetes better. Being selective in your diet not only helps in better blood sugar control, but it also helps you to keep your body fit and healthy.
I have also created yogicult.com, a website that shares diabetes management tips.
After a year of living with diabetes, I can now say that it is not the type of condition that is going to limit your abilities. If you are diagnosed, please don’t stop dreaming, there are politicians, actors and even sports personalities who have touched the pinnacle of success after diagnosed with diabetes
So focus on eating right, and I am sure you will do great.
About Me:
Preet Karan is the administrator of yogicult.com. The site publishes articles about effective diabetes and health management. The focus of the author is to understand the technical research and present to the readers in a simplified manner.
Disclaimer: Please note that the above information is prepared by the author and states his/her point of view and may not represent practices that are followed universally. It states facts about his/her life and maps their journey of disease-diagnosis-treatment. Because every patient is unique, you are advised to consult your doctor before trying out or acting on this information. PharmEasy has only facilitated the distribution of this information in the interest of patient journey and welfare.
Juvenile diabetes or Type 1 diabetes, like other diseases, has been on the rise. It is a type of autoimmune disease. The pancreas does not produce enough insulin to convert blood sugar into energy. Diabetes in children cannot be cured and is a lifelong predicament.
The best bet is to prevent the child from suffering from this by providing healthy food options and inculcating good lifestyle habits like regular exercise and proper sleep. Encourage your children to eat a diet low in fat, sugar, processed foods and to eat nutrient-rich food like fruits and vegetables, lean meats and protein-rich foods. Drinking an ample amount of water is also beneficial in the prevention of diabetes. There are many warning signs that trigger the possibility of diabetes in children. They are listed below.
The child experiences several bouts of extensive thirst as the blood sugar pulls are water from the cells. This also leads to frequent urination. Some children even start bedwetting.
Patients start suffering from itchy skin and dry mouths. This is because of a lack of fluids in the body that manifests as these symptoms.
If a child has diabetes and it isn’t diagnosed for a long time or they also become unwell with an infection, they may be at risk of diabetic coma which may make them lose consciousness because of brain swelling.
Dr. Ashish Bajaj – M.B.B.S, M.D.
Children suffering from diabetes experience extreme hunger, even after eating full meals. This is because the body is unable to utilize the energy released from the food consumed.
The most common signs of diabetes in toddlers and children include an increase in thirst and more frequent or increased urination. Most of the times in my practise i have seen that most children parents notice ants around the child’s urine in bathroom.
Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD
Even though the child eats his meals, he/she may suffer from unexplained weight loss. This is again because the body is unable to put to use the energy released from food.
PharmEasy Recommends: Everherb Diabetic Care Juice
Lethargic behavior, feelings of laziness and drowsiness are all warning signs of diabetes in children. The body is left without its requisite energy fuel as it cannot utilize the blood sugar to provide energy.
Want to manage your diabetes effectively? Book your free diabetes consultation from our experts!
Children suffering from diabetes exhibit behavioural changes. They may become irritable, anxious and aggressive. Some of them feel the blues and might even suffer from depression.
The eyes are one of the first organs to suffer from diabetes. Children often develop vision problems and if left untreated might even become blind.
Read More: The Relationship Between Eyes & Diabetes
One of the most obvious signs of diabetes in children is the development of sweet-smelling, fruity breath. This is because of the build-up of toxic acids in the bloodstream and the urine. These toxic acids, known as ketones, cause a fruity smell.
If left untreated, diabetes can shut down the system, organ by organ. It can cause cataract, glaucoma and sometimes complete vision loss. The cuts and bruises take a long time to heal in diabetics and are at risk of developing gangrene. The feet are at a risk, especially since they receive the least blood flow in the body.
If diabetes runs in your family or if you notice any of the above symptoms in your child, get a blood sugar test done immediately for comprehensive and timely action.
Type 1 diabetes can occur at any age, but most children are diagnosed within two age ranges – when they are between 4-7 years old and 10-14 years old.
Dr. Ashish Bajaj – M.B.B.S, M.D.
Read More: 11 Symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes in Children
Disclaimer: The information included at this site is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional. Because of unique individual needs, the reader should consult their physician to determine the appropriateness of the information for the reader’s situation.
While taking insulin might not be an option for many, ensuring you are armed with all the finer details that will prevent you from landing in unnecessary complications is a choice you make. Here are the top 5 things you must not forget if you take it regularly:
The dose varies for each patient. A combination of short or rapid-acting and intermediate or long-acting insulin typically is used as a part of treatment. Multiple daily shots of it or continuous subcutaneous infusions using a pump that closely mimics the secretion of insulin by the pancreas are also used in the management of diabetes. Talk to your doctor about what works best for you. For managing critically ill patients, insulin sliding scales wherein the doses of insulin are determined by the glucose level are used. After taking a dose of it, the patient should have the meal within 30 minutes. It is commonly administered via subcutaneous injection on the abdominal wall, thigh, buttocks, or upper arm and some insulins can be administered intravenously too. The site of injection must be rotated within the same region. The patient may need increasing doses if he/she develops resistance to it.
The main important thing is put in 4 important words are right insulin, right dose, right time, right device and right way. Too little insulin can cause your blood sugar to get too high. Similarly, too much insulin can cause your blood sugar to drop too low. If you use more than one type of insulin, always check the label on your vial or pen before injecting yourself.
Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD
Most patients are scared of taking it because of the pain inflicted by the needle. However, the new-age insulin pens are so advanced that using them is nearly a child’s play. These pens have tiny needles that are almost painless, and some types of them use injectors to push insulin through the skin without needles.
Hypoglycemia is the most frequent side effect. Occasionally, blurry vision is experienced by patients when the treatment is started. Dermatologic reactions to insulin can result in lipohypertrophy or lipoatrophy. Weight gain in the form of oedema is seen at the start of treatment; this is due to immediate restoration of glucose control which was poor previously. Hypoglycemia caused due to insulin can affect the kidneys by reducing the renal plasma flow, glomerular filtration rate, and marked the rise in urinary albumin excretion rate. Ensure you keep a sachet of sugar or some sweet candies always with you when on the move to suck on if you experience hypoglycemia.
If you have type 1 diabetes, pregnancy will affect your insulin treatment plan. During the months of pregnancy, your body’s need for insulin will go up. This is especially true during the last three months of pregnancy, frequent testing of blood glucose is recommended.
Dr. Ashish Bajaj – M.B.B.S, M.D.
Also Read: Karela Jamun Juice Benefits: A Research-Based Guide to its Health Wonders
Always store your insulin in a refrigerator to keep it cool, but never allow it to freeze. Once opened, do not keep it for more than 28 days. Like any other medicines, do not use it past the expiry date. Be aware of how your insulin should look like, i.e., colour and fluidity, and always check before injecting it.
Also Read: Insulin and Weight Gain: Tips on Managing
Always consult your physician about this scenario because the plan of action will depend on the types of insulin being administered. If you forget to take your long-acting insulin and realize it within 2 hours, then it is okay to inject your usual dose. In some cases, you may have to take short-acting insulin to lower your blood glucose levels if they are high when you notice that you have missed a dose.
Read More: Insulin Resistance: Symptoms, Causes & Diagnosis
Disclaimer: The information included at this site is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional. Because of unique individual needs, the reader should consult their physician to determine the appropriateness of the information for the reader’s situation.
