Ep4 Delving Deeper: Gestational, Type 3c and Cystic-Fibrosis related Diabetes
Exploring Cystic-Fibrosis related Diabetes, Gestational and Type 3c Diabetes
🙋♀️ What is Cystic-Fibrosis?
A chronic disease caused by genes, where there is a consistent build up of mucus in the body. It damages the sufferer’s lungs and digestive tract. In people with CF, the cells which make mucus, digestive juice and sweat have a changed gene which causes secretions to produce sticky and thick liquids – hence making it harder for the lungs and pancreas to work. Cystic-Fibrosis related diabetes is a form of diabetes which (as the name suggests) only affects those with CF – this develops due to the damage the pancreas faces because of the thick mucus – hence impairing the production of insulin.
✍️ How can this be treated?
Of course treatments vary on the intensity of the disease but here are a few of the possible treatments.
- Insulin therapy – because the problem is insulin deficiency, not resistance, tablets are not as effective. Therefore, basal and bolus insulin could be taken. Basal insulin can control glucose levels over longer periods of time (eg: overnight and after meals) whereas Bolus insulin can be rapid by acting straight after meals.
- Just by monitoring blood glucose levels, this can help adjust the insulin given ad prevent any high/low glucose levels.
- CF team is required involving endocrinologists, diabetes nurses, physiotherapists, dietitians and pulmonary specialists to make sure that the diabetes isn’t affecting other areas including the lungs.
🤰 Gestational Diabetes:
This occurs when there are high blood glucose levels occur in the blood whilst pregnant or after birth in women. It is more common in the second and third trimester than the first and there are certain risks: if the pregnant woman is over 40, they have had gestational diabetes prior to this birth, the BMI is over 30, people of south Asian, Black, African-Caribbean or Middle Eastern origins. Similarly, we can use the 4Ts to diagnose this type of diabetes.
✍️ How can this be treated?
- People should try to maintain their blood glucose levels and should adjust to a healthy eating plan, they should also regularly exercise.
- Metformin (medication), insulin and rapid-acting insulin may be important treatments to consider.
- Generally gestational diabetes goes shortly after giving birth to the baby.
3️⃣ Type 3c Diabetes:
This is a form of diabetes which happens due to damage or disease of the pancreas, conditions which much be related to type 3c include pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer and haemochromatosis. There is not as much of an awareness surrounding Type 3c as there is with other forms of diabetes, so it is important that we educate ourselves on this illness.
✍️ How can it be treated?
- Oral medication (insulin) + (metformin)
- Pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy – this is a treatment which replaces the enzymes which are normally produced by the pancreas to aid digestion. This can be used when the pancreas does not produce enough enzymes. This involves taking a PERT (capsule containing pancreatic enzymes) alongside your meal.