06. KFP: Endocrinology Flashcards
What would you advise patients before commencing them on sodium-glucose co-transporters (SGLT-2) such as empagliflozin?
- Advise increased risk of genitourinary infections
- Advised to withhold medication if acute illness and not eating
- Advise if fasting for a procedure, need to withhold for three days prior
Lifestyle recommendations for type 2 diabetes?
- Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity aerobic activity per week
- Aim for two to three sessions of resistance training per week
- Recommend a low glycemic index diet (e.g. Whole grain breads, pasta, fruits, dairy products)
- Limit foods high in saturated fats
- Recommend 5 to 10% weight loss
- Advise less than 2 standard drinks per day for men and women
In the management of diabetes, who would you refer the patient to?
- Diabetes educator
- Podiatrist
- Optometrists to monitor for diabetic retinopathy
- Exercise physiologists for exercise plan
- Endocrinologist to optimise diabetes management (all patients <25yo need referral)
- Aboriginal health care worker to assist in engagement in diabetes management (if Aboriginal)
- Dietitian for education on diabetic diet
What are some complications in early onset type 2 diabetes compared with older onset type 2 diabetes?
- Complications greater with onset at a younger age
- Life expectancy reduced
- Non alcoholic fatty liver disease is twice as common
- Earlier onset of microalbuminuria and end stage renal failure
- Earlier onset and greater prevalence of diabetic retinopathy
- Earlier onset of neuropathy
- Apolipoprotein B concentration is higher despite statin therapy
- Risk of myocardial infarction is 14 times higher compared with age cohort, while older onset type 2 diabetes risk is 2 to four times higher
- Earlier onset of diastolic myocardial dysfunction
- Reduced fertility, and great pregnancy complications
- Risk of premature decline in cognitive function
- Higher rate of diabetes related psychological distress and psychological issues, especially depressione
- Limited work capacity and consequent social economic impact
- Reduced quality of life
What weight loss reduction pharmacotherapies are available in the context of poorly control diabetes and obesity?
- Liraglutide (Saxenda) [private script] OR Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) [Private script] OR Semaglutide (Ozempic) - PBS eligible as a third line agent for diabetic management for HbA1c >7% and history of contraindication to combination of metformin and sulphonylurea
- Naltrexone + Buproprion (Contrave)
- Orlistat
- NOTE: phentermine is contraindicated if history of drug misuse
In a patient with severe mental illness and diabetes, what factors may be contributing to poor glucose control?
- Antipsychotic medication
- Poor insulin technique OR inadequate site rotation OR lipohypertrophy / improper storage of insulin
- Poor compliance with diabetic medication
- Inadequate insulin dose OR inadequate insulin regime
- Excessive consumption of takeaway food OR diet high in saturated fats
- Alternative diagnosis OR latent autoimmune diabetes of adults (LADA)
- Obesity
- Smoking
- Alcohol consumption
What are some important information points for patients about insulin delivery?
- Insulin can be stored at room temperature for up to one month
- Insulin pen needles should be used only once
- The abdomen is a preferred site for injecting
- Insulin needs to be injected only into subcutaneous tissue
- Insulin injection sites need to be rotated and regularly inspected
What questions would you ask when discussing smoking cessation?
- Time to first cigarette - smoking within 30 minutes indicates nicotine dependence
- Presence of cravings OR irritability OR anxiety with abrupt cessation of smoking - withdrawal symptoms
- Previous attempts to quit OR strategies used for previous attempts to quit
- Assess readiness to quit smoking - as in indicator of whether further motivational interviewing techniques are required
- Barriers to quitting OR perceived benefits of smoking
Nicotine withdrawal symptoms?
Craving for nicotine AND
Four or more of the following symptoms within 24 hours of abrupt cessation or reduction of tobacco:
* Irritability, frustration, anger
* Anxiety
* Difficulty in concentration
* Increased appetite
* Restlessness
* Depressed mood
* Insomnia
Non pharmacological management options for smoking cessation?
- Discuss strategy to remove barriers to quitting
- Discuss craving strategies (The 4 Ds: Delay, Deep breaths, Drink water, Do something else to occupy your mind while craving passes) OR formulate a quit plan
- Agree on a quit date
- Refer to Quitline / tell social circle of intention to quit so they can support him
- Arrange regular reviews to assist in sustaining smoking cessation
Pharmacological management options for smoking cessation?
- Combination nicotine replacement: patch + (gum OR lozenge OR inhaler)
- Varenicline: can be used in those with mental health issues but they should be monitored closely
- Buproprion: essential interaction with antipsychotics (lower seizure threshold)
What are some indicators of nicotine dependence?
- Smoking within 30 minutes of waking
- Smoking more than 10 cigarettes per day
- History of withdrawal symptoms in previous quit attempts
What should patients be monitored for and warned of when using varenicline?
- Unusual mood changes
- Depression
- Behaviour disturbance
- Suicidal thoughts
Which medications may bupropion interact with to lower seizure thresholds?
- Antidepressants
- Antipsychotics
- Oral hypoglycemic agents
- Antimalarials
What is hyperosmolar hyperglycemia characterised by?
- Severe hyperglycaemia
- Hyperosmolality
- Dehydration
- Change in mental state
What bedside investigations can be used to assess for hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic state vs diabetic ketoacidosis?
- Finger prick for random blood glucose
- Finger prick ketones OR urinalysis for ketones (urine ketone tests may be misleading when using SGLT2i agents)
How would you manage hyperosmotic hyperglycemic state in a general practise setting?
- Urgently discuss acute management of HHS with an endocrinologist
- Arrange urgent transfer to nearest emergency department
- Note: IV fluid replacement needs to be done under strict monitoring
What factors would you search for to determine if someone requires diabetes testing in children?
- Polyurea OR weight loss OR polydipsia
- Body mass index at or above 85th centile OR waist circumference to height ratio more than 0.5
- Maternal history of diabetes OR maternal history of gestational diabetes during child’s gestation
- First degree relative with type 2 diabetes
- Acanthosis nigricans - sign of insulin resistance
- Elevated blood pressure OR dyslipidemia OR small for gestational age OR non alcoholic fatty liver disease - conditions associated with obesity and metabolic syndrome
- Use of psychotropic medications
Differentials for sudden painless loss of vision of the right eye?
- Right retinal detachment
- Right vitreous haemorrhage
- Right central retinal artery occlusion OR right central retinal artery branch occlusion / Right central retinal vein thrombus OR right central retinal vein branch thrombus
- Right temporal arteritis
- Right optic neuritis
What medication can be added to slow diabetic retinopathy?
Fenofibrate 145mg daily PO
What patient education points would you discuss before commencing insulin for a diabetic patient?
- Advice to commence paired pre and postprandial finger prick blood glucose testing OR fasting morning finger prick blood glucose testing
- Aim for fasting blood sugar level 4-7mmol/L OR target of postprandial blood sugar level is 5-10mmol/L
- Create a sick day management plan OR more frequent blood sugar monitoring when sick
- 15g of quick acting carbohydrate if blood sugar level less than 4mmol/L (half a can of regular non-diet soft drink, half a glass of fruit juice, 3 teaspoons of sugar or honey or 6-7 jelly beans) and then wait 15 minutes before repeating a BSL check
- Notify driver licencing authority of initiation of insulin / check blood sugar levels every two hours when driving
- Notify availability of the national diabetes services scheme - access to subsidised syringes/pen needles/ glucometer strips
- Insulin reduction when altered eating patterns - e.g. fasting, dieting
How would you manage an episode of hypoglycemia?
- 15g of quick acting carbohydrate if blood sugar level less than 4mmol/L (half a can of regular non-diet soft drink, half a glass of fruit juice, 3 teaspoons of sugar or honey or 6-7 jelly beans)
- Wait 15 minutes before repeating a BSL check
- Provide some longer acting carbohydrate if the patients next meal is more than 15 minutes away
How would you start an initial basal insulin regimen for a patient with type 2 diabetes?
Long acting insulin 0.2 units/kg (up to 30 units) initially subcut, daily at the same time each day
- Long-acting basal insulin is usually given at bedtime but giving in the morning may be associated with less overnight hypoglycaemia than evening dose.
Consider a morning dose in a patient who:
- Is older and at high risk of hypoglycemia
- Has had nocturnal hypoglycemia
What specific advice do you give regarding insulin storage and injecting technique?
- Insulin should be given 30 minutes before a meal
- Injection of insulin into abdominal subcutaneous tissue
- Injection site rotation to avoid lipohypertrophy
- Insulin can be stored at room temperature for up to one month
- Safe disposal of sharps into sharps container
How would you assess for peripheral neuropathy?
- 10g monofilament pressure sensation at metatarsal joints OR distal plantar aspect of both great toes
- Ankle reflexes - absent in peripheral neuropathy
- Vibration sensation with 128Hz tuning fork
- Pinprick sensation of the lower limb
- Proprioception at both great toes
Differentials for neuropathy aside from diabetic peripheral neuropathy?
- Vitamin b12 deficiency
- Hypothyroidism
- Renal disease
- Neurotoxic drugs Including amiodarone, statins, antiretrovirals, tacrolimus, chemotherapies
- Excessive alcohol
Pharmacological options for the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy?
- Amitriptyline - first line treatment
- Pregabalin OR gabapentin OR sodium valproate - anticonvulsant
- Topical nitrate spray
What specific risks are there when prescribing glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogues?
- Nausea/vomiting (due to delayed gastric emptying) OR diarrhoea OR constipation OR abdominal pain OR dyspepsia
- Pancreatitis
- Risk of worsening diabetic retinopathy
- Injection site erythema OR injection site swelling - injection site reaction
- Cholelithiasis OR cholecystitis
Why should GLP-1 receptor agonists (Ozempic) and DDP4 inhibitors (linagliptin) not be used together?
They are both incretin mimetics, and therefore do not provide additional glycaemic benefits together
What should be considered in preconception counselling in the context of polycystic ovarian syndrome?
- Glycaemic status assessment: oral glucose tolerance test
- Lipid profile check
- Rubella Serology
- Hepatitis b surface antibodies and antigen
What preconception advice would you give a patient who has polycystic ovarian syndrome and a bmi of 36 and smokes?
- Advise commencement of folic acid 5mg daily at least one month prior to planned conception (higher dose for BMI > 30)
- Discuss how to calculate ovulation/fertility window OR optimal timing for intercourse
- Discuss genetic carrier screening options (cystic fibosis, spinal muscular atrophy, fragile X syndrome)
- Recommend smoking cessation
- Aim 5 to 10% weight loss
- Advise 150 minutes of moderate exercise over at least five days per week
- Screen for domestic partner violence
- Advise avoiding raw fish OR soft cheese OR deli meats OR other appropriate food safety advice
- Dental check up before pregnancy
- Iodine supplement ation of 150 microg daily
What are the complications of gestational diabetes?
- Prematurity
- Perinatal asphyxia
- Macrosomia / birth injury - largely due to macrosomia
- Intrauterine growth restriction - due to impaired placenta perfusion
- Respiratory distress
- Hypoglycaemia OR hypocalcaeamia - metabolic disturbances
- Hyperbilirubinaemia
- Ventricular hypertrophy OR atrial septal defect OR ventricular septal defect OR patent ductus arteriosus - congenital cardiac conditions
What are some risk factors for gestational diabetes mellitus?
- Obstetric history of GDM
- Increased maternal age
- Increased BMI
- Excessive weight gain in early pregnancy
- Polycystic ovary syndrome
- Obstetric history of high birth-weight baby
- Obstetric history of pregnancy loss
- Family history of diabetes
- Ethnic group with high prevalence of type 2 diabetes (e.g. ATSI, Hispanic, African, South or East Asian and Pacific Islander peoples)
- Being a migrant to a country
How do you diagnose gestational diabetes?
- Fasting plasma glucose >/= 5.5mmol/L OR
- Two hour plasma glucose >/= 8.0mmol/L (post OGTT)
What postpartum advice would you provide to a patient who has gestational diabetes?
- Oral glucose tolerance test 6 to 12 weeks postpartum
- Hba1c every year OR fasting blood glucose every year OR oral glucose tolerance test every two to three years
- Recommend high fibre diets OR five serves of vegetables daily OR reduced fat dairy products
- 150 minutes of moderate exercise at least five days per week
- Weight loss of 5 to 10%
What is geographic tongue/benign migratory glossitis?
It is a benign oral inflammatory condition characterised by loss of epithelium.
It is characterised by irregularly shaped, red, map like, smooth and swollen patches surrounded by white lines. It can occur suddenly.
It occurs more often in patients who have psoriasis.
It resolves over time without treatment.
What are some differential diagnosis for geographic tongue?
- Oral candidiasis
- Oral psoriasis (rare)
- Oral lichen planus
- Trauma
- Herpes simplex
- Systemic lupus erythematosis
- Oral leukoplakia
What is chronic plaque psoriasis?
- Symmetrical, well demarcated, erythematous thickened plaques with overlying silver scales
- Presents with itch, especially during flares. Pain occurs when plaques are thickened and cracked
What are some differentials for itchy, painful, thickened rash?
- Chronic plaque psoriasis
- Seborrheic dermatitis
- Discoid eczema
- Lichen simplex
- Tinea capitis
- Tinea corporis
- Pityriasis rosea
- Pityriasis rubra pilaris
- Cutaneous lymphoma
- Secondary syphilis
What are available treatments for palmoplantar psoriasis?
Mild psoriasis:
- Emollients: thick, greasy barrier creams
- Keratolytics: urea or salicyclic acid to thin down the thick scaling skin (calcipotriol ointment topically)
- Coal tar: to improve the scale and inflammation
- Topical steroids: ultrapotent ointment applied initially daily for 2-4 weeks, if necessary under occlusion (Betamethasone diproprionate 0.05% ointment topically)
More severe palmoplantar psoriasis:
- Phototherapy
- Acitretin
- Methotrexate
Differentials for syncope?
- Vasovagal syncrope
- Bradyarrhythmia or tachyarrhythmia or long QT syndrome
- Seizure
- Psychogenic non epileptic seizure
Causes of syncope?
Neurally mediated reflex syncopal syndromes
* Vasovagal faint
* Carotid sinus syncope
* Situational faints
Cardiac arrhythmias
* Sinus node dysfunction including bradycardia or tachy cardia
* Atrioventricular conduction system disease
* Paroxysmal superventricular an ventricular tachycardias
* Inherited syndromes: Brugada syndrome, Wolff-Parkinson-White
* Implanted device malfunction
* Drug-induced proarrhythmias
Orthostatic
* Autonomic failure
* Volume depletion
Structural cardiac or cardiopulmonary disease
* Cardiac valvular disease
* Acute myocardial infarction
* Obstructive cardiomyopathy
* Acute aortic dissection
* Pericardial disease
* Pulmonary embolus
Disorders with impairment or loss of consciousness
* Metabolic disorders including hypoglycemia, hypoxia, hyperventilation with hypercapnia
* Epilepsy
* Intoxications
* Vertebro basilar transient ischemic attack
What are some initial investigations for syncope?
- FBC
- EUC
- Glucose
- Venous Blood Gas
- D-dimer: if suspecting PE
- Blood alcohol: if clinically indicated
- ECG
- Consider CT brain
Differentials for a wrist swelling/lump?
- Ganglion cyst
- Lipoma - soft, painless slow growing mobile nodule
- Epidermoid cyst - pearl like cysts or nodules, often with a central punctum, that is freely mobile on palpation
- Tenosynovial giant cell tumour - does not transilluminate, is fixed
- Tendinous xanthoma - yellow papules may be the first evidence of hyperlipidemia
- Tophus (if history of gout) - uric acid deposits can produce firm subcutaneous nodules
- Rheumatoid nodule - firm, nontender, flesh coloured, subcutaneous lesions
Firstline management options for ganglion cysts?
- Reassure no treatment needed as a benign in nature
- Aspiration of ganglion cyst
- Ibuprofen 400mg TDS PO PRN
Relevant history questions for months of increasing breathlessness an worsening exercise tolerance, dry cough that is most bothersome at work?
- Use of personal protective equipment at work
- Similar symptoms in work colleagues
- Fever
- Associated rash - systemic lupus erythematosis/systemic sclerosis
- Other sore joints OR morning stiffness - rheumatoid arthritis
- Weight loss OR night sweats OR hemoptysis - malignancy
- Lower limb oedema - cardiac disease
Differentials for months of increasing breathlessness an worsening exercise tolerance, dry cough that is most bothersome at work (stone mason)?
- Silicosis / interstitial lung disease due to occupational exposure
- Work associated / occupational asthma
- Hypersensitivity pneumonitis
- Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
- Sarcoidosis
- Systemic lupus erythematosus / rheumatoid arthritis / systemic sclerosis
- Lung malignancy
- Emphysema
What diseases can silica dust cause?
- Acute silicosis
- Chronic bronchitis
- Emphysema
- Lung cancer
- Scleroderma
How will you manage occupational related silicosis?
- Encourage to notify Safework of the practises which exposed patient to silica dust
- Cease exposure to silica dust OR consider changing his type of work
- Encourage OR support smoking cessation
- Recommend pneumococcal vaccine / recommend influenza vaccine
- Refer to a respiratory physician for further management
Listen mandatory pieces of information on a WorkSafe certificate
- Workers demographic details - name, address, DOB
- Date of injury
- Date of doctor’s examination
- Diagnosis
- Capacity assessment - including physical, mental and functional capacity
- Suitability for employment - including dates of incapacity
- Doctors proposed treatment plan
- If the worker has participated in voluntary work OR employment other than with the pre-injury employer as part of return to work
What is pelvic inflammatory disease?
A syndrome comprising a spectrum of inflammatory disorders of the upper genital tract, including any combination of endometritis, salpingitis, tubo-ovarian abscess and pelvic peritonitis
What are some possible causes of pelvic inflammatory disease?
- Polymicrobial
- STIs: Neisseria gonorrhoea, Chlamydia trachomatis, mycoplasma genitalium
- Intrauterine device insertion
What are some pharmacological options for smoking cessation?
- Nicotine 2mg lozenge prn OR nicotine 2mg gum prn OR nicotine 1mg spray prn OR nicotine 15mg inhalator PRN
- Varenicline daily PO - 12 week course
- Bupropion daily PO - 9 week course
Differentials for mild deranged liver function tests/chronic liver disease?
- Hepatic steatosis
- Chronic hepatitis b infection OR chronic hepatitis c infection
- Autoimmune hepatitis
- Hemochromatosis - LFTs less likely to be deranged when pre-menopausal
- Celiac disease
- Hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism
- Wilson’s disease - rare cause of LFT derangement
- Alpha1 anti trypsin deficiency - rare cause of LFT derangement
- Liver cancer OR hepatoma - very unlikely in an otherwise well young patient
- Epstein-Barr virus OR cytomegalovirus infection - can cause mild transaminitis, but unlikely in this case given no other infectious symptoms
What is the diagnostic criteria for metabolic syndrome?
Based on meeting 3 of 5 criteria:
* Elevated Triglycerides: >/= 1.7mmol/L
* Reduced HDL: < 1.3mmol/L
* Elevated waist circumference (population specific): Waist circumference >/= 88cm
* Elevated blood pressure
* Elevated fasting glucose
What are some potential consequences of metabolic associated fatty liver disease?
- Liver fibrosis
- Liver cirrhosis
- Liver failure
- Liver cancer
- Cardiovascular disease
- Type 2 diabetes
- Cancers
What are the options to check for liver fibrosis?
- Liver elastography (fibroscan) - gold standard
- Calculate fibrosis stage with Fibrosis-4 score OR NAFLD Fibrosis Score
List non-pharmacological management strategies for metabolic associated fatty liver disease.
- Advise that not drinking any alcohol is the safest option
- Aimed to achieve at least 7 to 10% weight loss - improves histological features of steatosis
- Recommend hypocaloric diet / refer to dietitian for dietary plan for weight loss
- Aim 30 to 60 minutes of moderate intensity exercise five days a week / refer to exercise physiologist for a personalised exercise plan - physical activity independent of weight loss has a modest impact on hepatic steatosis
- Discuss hepatitis a or hepatitis b immunisation - Avoid additional preventable liver disease
How often is screening for hepatocellular carcinoma required for Metabolic associated fatty liver disease and cirrhosis? What tests are used?
Time interval: Q6 monthly
Tests: liver ultrasound and serum alpha-fetoprotein
What are some differentials for thrombocytopenia?
- Immune thrombocytopenia purpura
- Doxycicline induced thrombocytopenia OR drug induced thrombocytopenia
- Vitamin b12 deficiency
- Chronic liver disease
- HIV OR viral induced thrombocytopenia
- Myelodysplastic syndrome OR haematological malignancy
- Artefactual thrombocytopenia
- Autoimmune disease e.g. SLE
- Gestational thrombocytopenia (if pregnant)
- Congenital thrombocytopenia (if no previous normal result)
What examination findings would you search for in severe thrombocytopenia?
- Petechiae OR purpura OR ecchymoses - signs of bleeding
- Mucosal bleeding or haematuria
- Splenomegaly OR hepatomegaly - infective, malignant or hepatic disease
- Local or general lymphadenopathy - infective or malignant process
- Spider naevi OR palmer erythema OR gynaecomastia OR asterixis OR jaundice - signs of chronic liver disease
List specific advice / precautions you’d give to a patient with severe Immune thrombocytopenia purpura?
- Avoid activities that can potentially result in significant head injury
- Do not take aspirin or other non steroidal anti inflammatories for pain
- Restrict alcohol intake to no more than 10 standard drinks a week or two standard drinks a day
- Present for urgent medical attention if experiencing significant bleeding from the bowels or mucous membranes or accidental injuries / present to emergency if experiencing severe headache or focal weakness or sensory changes or visual changes