Q. Have served for 20 years in Air Force reserves. I have type II diabetes. It is controlled through medication daily. Will I be discharged?
A. Maybe; if your job requires you to be on flying status another factor is if it requires world-wide-duty eligibility. E-mail me and I can give you a couple of other factors that might have an impact on this.
Is type II diabetes reversable if your not massively over weight?
Q. Is type II diabetes reversable if your not massively over weight (like over weight like 5 or 10 pounds over?
I thought it was my understanding that all types of diabetes are reversable, but a friend of mine who was recently diagnosed said her type II is not because she isn't massively over weight.
I would like to know who is correct and is it reversable?
I thought it was my understanding that all types of diabetes are reversable, but a friend of mine who was recently diagnosed said her type II is not because she isn't massively over weight.
I would like to know who is correct and is it reversable?
A. According to my diabetics instructor in pharmacy school, type 2 diabetes actually is reversible in some patients. Non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs--what you get when you're overweight) promote insulin resistance, which is what actually causes the glucose intolerance that is seen in type 2 diabetics.
Diet and exercise alone can result in weight loss which will in turn decrease insulin resistance as well as possibly effect a 0.25-2.9% decrease in A1C (average plasma glucose levels over a 2-4 month time span). This instructor (who is a pharmacist) has even said in class that he has known some patients that were able to stop taking their diabetic medications (and still have normal blood glucose levels) just by diet/exercising and losing weight.
Type 1 diabetes unfortunately cannot be reversed. Islet cell transplantation is an option, unfortunately then you most likely have to deal with immunosuppressant meds, which is just as bad (if not worse) than insulin. Although there has been a report of an islet cell transplant patient not taking immunosuppressant meds and not having complications/rejection issues because of that. So, this therapy may be more popular if no immunosuppression is needed.
Diet and exercise alone can result in weight loss which will in turn decrease insulin resistance as well as possibly effect a 0.25-2.9% decrease in A1C (average plasma glucose levels over a 2-4 month time span). This instructor (who is a pharmacist) has even said in class that he has known some patients that were able to stop taking their diabetic medications (and still have normal blood glucose levels) just by diet/exercising and losing weight.
Type 1 diabetes unfortunately cannot be reversed. Islet cell transplantation is an option, unfortunately then you most likely have to deal with immunosuppressant meds, which is just as bad (if not worse) than insulin. Although there has been a report of an islet cell transplant patient not taking immunosuppressant meds and not having complications/rejection issues because of that. So, this therapy may be more popular if no immunosuppression is needed.
Can I get back into the Navy after being diagnosed with Type II diabetes?
Q. I was in the Navy for 15 years. I got out and have spent the last few years working in the civilian world. I'd liked to go back into the Navy and finish my 20 years.
My problem is that I was diagnosed with Type II diabetes about 2 years ago.
Can I still get back in or is it a deal breaker?
My problem is that I was diagnosed with Type II diabetes about 2 years ago.
Can I still get back in or is it a deal breaker?
A. I believe it's a deal breaker, unfortunately. If you were enlisted while you were diagnosed, they might have just switched you to a desk job, but still lots of people get discharged for it. It's worth asking about, but last I heard they still turn people away for both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.
Why do insulin injections treat type II diabetes?
Q. I'm studying for my cellular biology exam, and my textbook says Type II diabetes develops when cell-surface receptors stop functioning normally and thus can't receive the message being sent by insulin to import glucose from the bloodstream. So why is diabetes treated with insulin injections if the problem isn't insulin production but rather the cell's inability to recognize insulin? I feel like there shouldn't be any effect if the cell isn't recognizing insulin in the first place.
A. What you're describing is known as insulin resistance. Insulin resistance doesn't stop the cells from using insulin entirely. In fact, a person in the early stages of insulin resistance can maintain normal blood sugar because the pancreas responds by producing more insulin. Insulin resistance simply makes it more difficult for insulin--injected or natural--to work effectively. If an insulin-resistant person injects enough insulin, eventually blood sugar will go down. People with insulin resistance do typically have to inject more than an insulin-sensitive Type 1 diabetic.
Also, over time, many insulin-resistant Type 2s become insulin deficient. The beta cells in the pancreas die and do not get regenerated, so the pancreas loses some of its insulin-producing capacity. At this point, eating a low-carbohydrate diet, exercising, and taking oral medications that either improve insulin sensitivity or stimulate the pancreas to make more insulin won't work, and injected insulin is the only answer. There's some evidence that by the time a Type 2 is diagnosed, over 50% of his beta cells are lost, meaning that the problem is no longer just insulin resistance.
Also, over time, many insulin-resistant Type 2s become insulin deficient. The beta cells in the pancreas die and do not get regenerated, so the pancreas loses some of its insulin-producing capacity. At this point, eating a low-carbohydrate diet, exercising, and taking oral medications that either improve insulin sensitivity or stimulate the pancreas to make more insulin won't work, and injected insulin is the only answer. There's some evidence that by the time a Type 2 is diagnosed, over 50% of his beta cells are lost, meaning that the problem is no longer just insulin resistance.
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