The Basics about Diabetes

 

Endocrinologists Specialize in Diabetes Treatment

 

Non-Insulin Medication Alternatives (Mainly for Type 2)

 

For Type 2 diabetics, healthcare workers in crisis zones sometimes rely on available oral hypoglycemic agents, though these are often in short supply: Metformin: A common, inexpensive oral medication to manage blood sugar.Glibenclamide & Gliclazide: Sulfonylureas used to stimulate insulin production. Other Agents: DPP-4 inhibitors and SGLT2 inhibitors (e.g., empagliflozin) have been mentioned in humanitarian contexts.

Note: These medications cannot replace insulin for Type 1 diabetics, who rely on it to survive. Survival Strategies and Management Techniques Due to the scarcity, patients have been forced to adopt extreme measures: Stricter Dietary Management: Reducing food intake significantly to try to keep blood sugar levels down.Rationing Insulin: Using expired doses or reducing doses, which can be dangerous. Homemade Cooling: Using clay pots with a layer of charcoal to keep available insulin at a steady temperature without electricity.

 

Nutritional and Emergency Supplies In the absence of standard diabetes management tools, humanitarian agencies have sometimes provided alternative nutritional aid to manage complications, though supply is very limited: High-Energy Biscuits & Therapeutic Foods: Used for managing malnutrition in patients, which is critical when patients cannot eat properly due to diabetes complications. Nutritional Supplements: Although intended for acute malnutrition, these have been used to help manage overall health in a situation of extreme famine.

 

Disclaimer: The options listed above are based on reports from humanitarian settings in Gaza. Management of diabetes without regular insulin, especially for Type 1 patients, is life-threatening. The primary need is for consistent, safe access to insulin and refrigeration. Eight reasons why diabetes is a humanitarian emergency 12 Nov 2020 — Along with access to insulin itself, the problem of finding and affording the bundle of tools required – like needles, syringes an...

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