brittle diabetes mellitus

Introduction

diabetes mellitus type 1 vulnerable to frequent episodes of hyperglycemia & hypoglycemia

Pathology

• supersensitivity to insulin ?

Clinical manifestations

• attempts to treat hyperglycemia carry a high risk of hypoglycemia

Complications

• hypoglycemia is worse than hyperglycemia

Management

• personalized experience managing the patient is helpful in determining baseline insulin requirement & judiciously treating episodes of hyperglycemia
• be prepared for hypoglycemia when treating hyperglycemia
• tolerate lowest level of serum glucose that mimimizes risk of hypoglycemia

More general terms

• diabetes mellitus type 1 (insulin-dependent, juvenile)