
July 16, 2008
Other, Type 2
Question from India:
Will you please tell me about the pathophysiology behind getting unstable diabetes? Is it also common in type 2 diabetics?
Answer:
Unstable diabetes is not a pathophysiologic term. It is a descriptive term for people who have diabetes and poor blood sugar control. There are many reasons behind why someone has poor blood sugar control. Examples include poor adherence to therapy, secondary disorders that make blood sugar management difficult (like diabetic gastroparesis), and behavior issues that make adherence even more difficult than it is in the general population. Using this definition, yes, patients with type 2 diabetes can fall into this category. Therapy is directed at why the patients are having so much difficulty with managing their diabetes rather than trying to define or diagnose any underlying phenotype.
JTL