|
Islets of Hope disorders associated with diabetes |
||||
|
Wikipedia.org (reprinted with permission and edited for content by Lahle Wolfe) Chart created by Lahle Wolfe Fast Links to Disorders Often Associated with Addison's Disease Fast Click to Problems Associated with Acanthosis Nigricans (AN) Is it allergies or asthma? Symptoms of Allergies
Symptoms of Asthma
What is an EpiPen? Adrenaline (epinephrine) is a natural hormone released in response to stress. This hormone acts as an antidote to chemicals released during severe allergic reactions including those triggered by drugs, food, or insects. Because this hormone is destroyed by enzymes in the stomach, it cannot be taken orally and needs to be injected. When injected, epinephrine rapidly reverses the effects of a severe allergic reaction by reducing throat swelling, opening the airways, and maintaining blood pressure. Anyone with a severe allergy should always carry an EpiPen with them at all times. Pictoral guide to administering an EpiPen
Sheri L. Sanderson is the mother of three children, including one with gluten sensitivities. Her cookbook is the result of personal need---wanting to offer her family gluten-free meals that look and taste just as good as those she made before the change in diet. In addition to many years of... Read more Are asthma, allergies and diabetes related?According to Dr. Greene, no. ..."Children with type 1 diabetes are less likely to get asthma, eczema, or hay fever. And the reverse is true, that those with asthma, eczema, or hay fever are less likely to get type 1 diabetes..." Did you know? ... that people with asthma are often allergic to dust mites? .... that autoimmune disorders are more common in women than in men? A child with diabetes has a reaction to injections a year into therapy...
Important Medical Disclaimer Material on this site is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be used for self- diagnosis or self-treatment. IOH recommends you seek the advice of a competent medical professional for diagnosis and treatment options, or before making any changes to your diabetes care plan. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Asthma and Allergies Mini Site Index Go to Section 1: Asthma What is an allergy? Allergies are a type I hypersensitive immune response to an "allergen" (anything that causes an allergic reaction). Some hypersensitivities cause reactions like sneezing, itching, and rashes, while others can cause damage to the body's tissues and cause autoimmune disorders like thyroid problems, Grave's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and even type 1 diabetes. There are four types of hypersensitivities but a fifth type is sometimes classified. Type I hypersensitivity, what most people think of when they hear the word "allergy," is characterized by excessive activation of mast cells by immunoglobulin E resulting in an inflammatory response. Type I allergy symptoms can range from annoying (i.e. a runny nose) to life-threatening anaphylactic shock and even death. Diabetes and Allergies Type 1 diabetes may onset when there is a genetic predisposition to diabetes and an environmental exposure to a trigger that causes a type II antibody-dependent cytotoxic hypersensitivity (see chart below) response. Diabetes is an autoimmune disorder that can result from several things including a type II hypersensitivity (see chart below). Although the rate of common type 1 allergies is not necessarily more common in persons with diabetes other autoimmune disorders which can result from hypersensitivity are more commonly seen in persons with diabetes. People who take insulin are more likely to be allergic to the older, less-frequently used animal insulins. However, there are rare cases where a person can be allergic to the new, synthetic insulins. It is more likely that a person may be allergic to a buffering agent added to intermediate or longer acting insulins that to the insulin itself. Sometimes, a person may appear to have an allergic reaction to insulin when it may in fact be an allergy to latex. Latex is found in many syringes, the rubber stoppers on most insulin vials, and even in some adhesive strips. For those that may have an allergy to buffering agents, insulin pump therapy may be advisable. Rapid acting insulin like Novolog needs to be taken every few hours and is best administered via an insulin pump. Note: IOH founder's daughter, Elizabeth, has an allergy to insulin buffering agents but is now doing fine on rapid insulin and an insulin pump. To learn more about insulin reactions and allergies, see "Insulin Reactions" and "Insulin Shock." Types of Hypersensitivity Reactions
Chart by Lahle Wolfe, for permission to reuse this information contact Editor@isletsofhope.com Chart Notes (1) Both type II and type III hypersensitivity are caused by IgG and IgM antibodies (2) Type IV hypersensitivity is often called "delayed type." An example of this delayed type of reaction is the rash that follows exposure to poison ivy. Because it takes a day or two for the T cells to mobilize following exposure to the antigen, these responses are called delayed-type hypersensitivities (DTH). Those, like poison ivy, that are caused by skin contact with the antigen are also known as contact sensitivities or contact dermatitis. Often, an initial exposure causes no visible reaction but after the second exposure a reaction occurs. Signs and SymptomsAllergy is characterised by a local or systemic inflammatory response to allergens. Local symptoms are:
Diagnosing AllergiesThere are several methods for the diagnosis and assessment of allergies. Skin TestThe typical and most simple method of diagnosis and monitoring of Type I Hypersensitivity is by skin testing, also known as prick testing, due to the series of pricks made into the patient's skin. Small amounts of suspected allergens and/or their extracts (pollen, grass, mite proteins, peanut extract, etc.) are introduced to sites on the skin marked with pen or dye (the ink/dye should be carefully selected, lest it cause an allergic response itself). The allergens are either injected intradermally or into small scratchings made into the patient's skin, often with a lancet. Common areas for testing include the inside forearm and back. If the patient is allergic to the substance, then a visible inflammatory reaction will usually occur within 30 minutes. This response will range from slight reddening of the skin to full-blown hives in extremely sensitive patients. After performing the skin test and receiving results, the doctor may apply a steroid cream to the test area to reduce discomfort (such as itching and inflammation). While the skin test is probably the most preferred means of testing because of its simplicity and economics, it is not without complications. Some people may display a delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction which can occur as far as 6 hours after application of the allergen and last up to 24 hours. This can also cause serious long-lasting tissue damage to the affected area. Fortunately, these type of serious reactions are quite rare. Also, the application of previously unencountered allergens can actually sensitize certain individuals to the allergen; that is, cause the inception of a new allergy in susceptible individuals. Skins tests also are not always able to pinpoint a patient's specific allergies if the patient has an allergy but does not react to the skin test allergen. Total IgE countAnother method used to qualify type I hypersensitivity is measuring the amount of serum IgE contained within the patient's serum (a clear, yellowish fluid obtained after separating whole blood into its solid and liquid components). TreatmentImmunotherapy - So far, the most effective preventive for IgE-mediated allergies is to inject the patient with gradually-increasing doses of the allergen itself. The goal is to shift the response of the immune system away from Th2 cells in favor of Th1 cells. Unfortunately, this therapy takes a long time and the results are too often disappointing. During this type of therapy it is important that the patient always carry an EpiPen (see side bar). Desensitization (hyposensitization) is a form of immunotherapy where the patient is gradually vaccinated against progressively larger doses of the allergen in question. This can sometimes reduce the severity of a reaction or eliminate hypersensitivity altogether. In the 1960s, Dr. Len McEwen in the United Kingdom developed a treatment for allergies known as enzyme potentiated desensitization, or EPD. This form of treatment uses much lower doses of antigens than conventional treatment, with the addition of an enzyme. EPD is available in the United Kingdom and Canada, and was available in the United States until 2001, when the Food and Drug Administration revoked its approval for an investigative study being performed. Since that time, an American counterpart to EPD, known as Low Dose Antigens (LDA), has been formulated from components approved by the FDA, and is available for treatment from a small number of doctors in the United States. Both EPD and LDA is still considered experimental by many mainstream doctors and medical insurance companies. Another form of immunotherapy involves the intravenous injection of monoclonal anti-IgE antibodies. These bind to free and B-cell IgE signaling such sources for destruction. They do not bind to IgE already bound to the Fc receptor on basophils and mast cells as this would stimulate the allergic inflammatory response. Chemotherapy - Several antagonistic drugs are used to block the action of allergic mediators, preventing activation of cells and degranulation processes. They include antihistamines, cortisone, adrenalin (epinephrine), theophylline and Cromolyn sodium. These drugs help alleviate the symptoms of allergy but play little role in chronic alleviation of the disorder. They can play an imperative role in the acute recovery of someone suffering from anaphylaxis (which is why those allergic to bee stings, peanuts, nuts, and shellfish often carry an adrenalin needle with them at all times). Alternative therapies - In alternative medicine, a number of treatment modalities are considered effective by its practitioners in the treatment of allergies, particularly traditional Chinese medicine and kinesiology. However, none of these have been backed up by good quality evidence. On the contrary, they are generally criticised by mainstream medical researchers to be supported only by anecdotes, which makes them effective only as placebos. Yet there are case studies involving animals and babies, which makes it difficult to categorise all such successful treatment as being the result of placebos. Dr. Andrew Weil, among others, believes that some allergies can be treated as though they were a psychosomatic illness. Basis of the allergic responseThere are two phases in the generation of an immune response a primary response (after first exposure) and a secondary response. Primary Response occurs when the allergen (Ag) is first encountered. This response is slow because, at first, there are only a few B cells that react with the Ag. This weak response allows the invader enough time to cause illness and a type of antibody (IgM) and memory B cells are produced. Secondary Response. The next time the antigen (any substance that causes your immune system to produce antibodies) is encountered, the response is quicker and stronger each time. Memory B cells recognize the antigen and begin to divide quickly. This results in reproduction of plasma cells which makes a different type of antibody called IgG. What is anaphylactic shock?Anaphylaxis is a severe and rapid systemic allergic reaction. Anaphylaxis occurs when a person is exposed to a trigger substance, called an allergen, to which she/he has become sensitized through a previous exposure. The most severe type of anaphylaxis—anaphylactic shock—will usually lead to death in minutes if left untreated. Even minute amounts of allergens can cause a life-threatening anaphylactic reaction. Anaphylaxis may occur after ingestion, inhalation, skin contact, or injection of an allergen. Symptoms of anaphylaxis can include the following:
The time between ingestion of the allergen and anaphylaxis symptoms varies among people, depending on the amount of allergen ingested, and level of sensitivity. Symptoms can appear immediately, or may be delayed by half an hour to several hours after ingestion. However, symptoms of anaphylaxis usually occur rapidly once they do begin. Since constriction of the airways is involved, brain damage can result due to a lack of oxygen to the brain. Treatment involves immediate injection of epinephrine (see EpiPen information, left side bar) and a call to 911 is usually advisable. Exercise Anaphylaxis - In some cases, individuals experience anaphylaxis only after combination exposure to a triggering agent (through ingestion) and increased physical activity. For some, neither the exercise nor ingestion (eating) of the triggering allergen alone causes anaphylaxis but there are some people that can experience anaphylaxis with exercise and no other triggering agent. Triggers include foods (commonly celery, wheat, soy protein, cheese, and shellfish) and medication (i.e., antibiotics, aspirin, and NSAIDs). Common allergensIn addition to foreign proteins for example, found in blood transfusions, and vaccines, common allergens include:
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| Contact Us | About IOH | Our Mission | Elizabeth's Story | About the Founder | Join IOH | How To Help | Advertise | Privacy Statement | Site Index | Page Updated 03/30/2006 |
|||
