Honeymoon

[zet]

Can someone please explain the honeymoon period to me again? Thanks.

[Ben'sMommy]

"The honeymoon period is a time when people with type 1 diabetes, shortly after their diagnosis, experience what seems to be a remission of the disease or a restoration of the production of insulin. This means these individuals need less insulin to achieve near normal glucose levels.


During this honeymoon period, the remaining beta cells in the islets of Langerhans within the pancreas are working harder to produce insulin, almost in a normal way. The person with type 1 diabetes starts having low blood glucose levels (hypoglycemia) and, therefore, needs less insulin.


The honeymoon period can last from days to months or even years. It is a confusing time because the person or his/her loved ones may believe insulin is not needed anymore. This may lead the individual to believe that insulin is no longer needed.


However, the discontinuation of insulin use is not recommended because it has been suggested that the insulin shots can help slow beta-cell destruction by the immune system.


Sooner or later those remaining beta cells will stop working and there will not be any more production of insulin.

Then the requirements of insulin will rise again, which will mark the end of the honeymoon period."

http://diabetes.about.com/od/typesofdiabetes/a/honeymoon.htm


Hope this helps!

Carol.

[allisa]

This was just disussed...I bumped up the other post for you.....