Now that the calendar has turned to November, it is time for Diabetes Awareness Month. With that in mind, The Madill Record, asked the question: what is diabetes?
We found answers from a local resource, Veronica Riera-Gilley PharmD, BCGP, who is the newest addition to the Corner Drug team. She said the disease has to do with the body and how it processes sugar.
“Diabetes is a disease in which the body is not able to efficiently process sugar and move it from the blood stream into the cells to fuel the body,” Riera-Gilley said.
There are three different types of Diabetes –Type 1, Type 2 and Gestational – and over 30 million Americans are affected by one of them. According to the American Diabetes Association approximately 451,888 people in Oklahoma, or 14.3% of the adult population, have diabetes.
Type 1 Diabetes is also known as Juvenile Diabetes and is generally insulin-dependent. Type 1 Diabetics do not produce their own insulin.
Type 2 Diabetes is when a person does not respond as well as they should to insulin, and eventually stop producing it as the disease progresses. Gestational is when a pregnant woman’s blood sugar level is high during pregnancy.
Type 2 Diabetes accounts for at least 95% of all cases. According to Riera-Gilley, it typically occurs in adults, but times are changing. “Type 2 Diabetes usually occurs in adults, but we are seeing an increase in children and adolescents being diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. There is a strong link between obesity and Type 2 Diabetes,” she said.
Insulin is important because it assists our bodies in moving the sugar produced from digested foods from the blood stream into the cells to be used for energy. When the body is insulin deficient, the blood sugar remains elevated and eventually causes damage to the blood vessel walls. This, in turn, can lead to heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, blindness, kidney damage, and other medical issues.
Type 2 Diabetics can manage the disease with medications and a good diet. Some of the medications are oral, while others are insulin injections. Riera-Gilley said there are four types of insulin; rapid acting, short acting, intermediate acting and long acting.
A new option
Just recently, some pharmacies are offering the short and intermediate acting insulins without a prescription. The over the counter insulin is cheaper than the prescribed version. But is it safe?
Riera-Gilley said all insulins have risks for the patient. They can include an allergic reaction, pain at the injection site, and low blood sugar. She said there are ways to avoid the medical mistakes like low blood sugar.
“The risk of having low blood sugar while using any insulin whether it is prescribed or over the counter can be minimized with education about accurate dose measurement and timing of doses in relationship to food intake,” Riera-Gilley said.
“Small dose measurement mistakes can lead to an insulin dose that is too large and causes the blood sugar to get too low,” she continued. “If insulin is injected and food is not eaten in a timely manner or not enough food for the dose of insulin, the blood sugar may also drop too low. If low blood sugar is not treated, it can be fatal. Signs of low blood sugar can include shaking, sweating, fast heart rate, irritability, confusion, loss of consciousness, and seizures.”
She said being prescribed a combination of a rapid acting plus a long acting insulin, plus a lifestyle change with food can be the most optimal for controlling Diabetes.
The over the counter insulin is not dangerous, the actual danger is allowing the disease to run rampant through the body without controlling it. As long as the patient is getting the vital information, like information on what lifestyle changes they need, the over the counter insulin can work.
Riera-Gilley said everything comes with a risk, even the prescribed insulins. “Drugs are safe enough,” Gilley said. “There is a risk even with the prescribed insulins.”
She said the most important thing about the over the counter versions of the medications is it makes it available for the people who cannot afford the prescription versions. At least, they are getting their medication. She said another asset for the non-prescribed insulin is it makes it more accessible for people who need to have insulin for their pets. It works the same for the pets.
Health events
Corner Drug has a list of events planned for Diabetes Awareness Month. From November 1 to November 9, Corner Drug will take excess candy acquired from Trick or Treating and send to the troops for a holiday treat.
On November 11 at 5:00 p.m., the business will have a Mindful Eating Presentation. This will teach attendees how food manufacturers have made foods to be addictive, and how to reset taste buds to enjoy healthier options.
Corner Drug will have a Facebook Live event on November 14. At 6:30 p.m., tune in online for the Simple Supplements talk. It will give information on all the supplements and diabetic friendly products that the business has to offer.