Daily Archives: July 18, 2015

Type 1 Diabetes vs Type 2 Diabetes

 in Diabetes / Podcasts  tagged Diabetes / insulin / medicine / Type 1 / Type 2 by

An image of a hand underling the word "DIABETES" in red marker

Diabetes Facts

All of the cells in your body depend on different forms of sugars to make energy (mostly glucose though).

Insulin works like a key to unlock the doors of the cells and let the sugar in to be used.

Adults get newly diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes too, it’s not just a childhood disease like a lot of marking will make you think.

Diabetes: Type 1 vs Type 2

Type 1 Diabetes: The pancreas (insulin factory) quits working or becomes dysfunctional.

Type 2 Diabetes: The key holes and the doors are broken or jammed and the insulin “key” won’t fit in them as well or at all.  This is known as insulin resistance.

In Type 1, you have to import insulin (aka injections), because you can’t make your own insulin anymore, ever.

Insulin pumps (outside pancreas) give a continuous flow of insulin and can sense sugar levels. It tries to operate as much like a natural pancreas would.

In Type 2, the medications are being developed to encourage your body to use your natural insulin as best and as long as possible.

There are lots of ways to get in a door if they key won’t work, thus there are lots of different medications to help in Type 2.

Holla!

Shout out to Rachel Mayo (@rachelcmayo) for her inspiration for this topic and for her strength and courage to not be scared of #T1D.

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Too Much Acetaminophen?

 in Podcasts  tagged Acetaminophen / Aspirin / overdose / recommendations / show notes by

An image of multiple red and while capsules that resemble acetaminophen pills.

Why is this important

Studies have been done regarding deaths caused by Acetaminophen (APAP) overdose, and they are finding that kids and adults are dying from having too much medicine with just a little bit extra over the recommended dose. [This American Life did a whole episode on Tylenol overdose stories]

Acetaminophen Basics

APAP is processed by enzymes in your liver. They are like little boats that carry drugs from one place to the other and cause them to make changes so it can do it’s job when it gets to the other side. So, APAP rides in it’s own little boat, and the body then uses it to reduce pain or fever.

The problem is, if there’s more APAP than boats, other things start happening to it, and it becomes very toxic. It not only damages liver, it can damage the DNA of your body. The only way to get it back in order and bind it back up, is for you to receive other pharmaceuticals in a hospital.

Most likely, if someone has had too much APAP, it takes about 4 days for them to experience any symptoms, and therefore, it’s probably too late for them to receive help.

Excedrin Migraine = Acetaminophen (APAP), Aspirin (ASA), Caffeine

Take Aways

Please don’t take more APAP than recommended.

They changed the maximum dose allowed from 4000mg per day to 3000 mg per day.

Extra strength APAP: 500 mg/ tab (1-2 tabs q 6 h) —> 500 x 2 = 1000 mg —> 3 doses in a day (6 tablets)

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) include Aspirin, Ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin), Naproxen (Aleve)

The Side effects of NSAIDs are much more instantaneous, so if you take too much, you will know right away and can back off.

Many prescription pain medications contain APAP too.

Maximum Doses
APAP: 3000mg in 24 h
Aspirin: 6500 mg in 24h
Ibuprofen: 3200mg in 24h
Naproxen: 1250 mg in 24 h

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Shoo the Poo

 in Podcasts  tagged constipation / laxative / poo by

An image of a frog on the toilet figurine beside a pair of toilet paper rolls. Constipation can cause long and uncomfortable visits to the bathroom.

OTC Medications for Constipation

Stool softener (Colace = Docuasate) – it’s job is to go into your digestive tract and attract water to soften things up.

Laxative (Dulcolax = Bisocodyl) – increases peristalsis (natural, rhythmic wave-like movement of your intestinal muscles).

Constipation Basics

Constipation can be caused by either that rhythm slowing down or stuff being so hard that the natural rhythm can’t move it fast enough.

Stool softeners make things softer so the natural motion can move it out, laxatives make the natural wave motion wave faster.

The downside to a stool softener is that it might not work fast enough for some people.

The downside to laxatives is that they might cause cramping and pain, and actually lead to diarrhea.

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