4. Diabetic Complications Flashcards
What is the most common complication of Diabetes?
Retinopathy: 21%
Erectile Dysfunction: 20%
Abnormal ECG: 18%
Rare: Feet, Stroke ischaemia
Why do Diabetic complications occur?
Long term exposure to Hyperglycemia:
- Vessel closure: Decreasing oxygen/nutrient supply
- Vessel permeability: Dilation of damaged vessels
What Risk Factors increase risk of complications in Diabetics?
- Smoking
- Hypertension
- Dyslipidemia
- Hyperglycemia
What are the Main Groups of Diabetic Complications?
Microvascular
Macrovascular
Other
What is classed under the Microvascular group of Diabetic complications?
Retinopathy
Nephropathy
Neuropathy (Peripheral Sensorimotor/Autonomic)
What is classed under the Macrovascular group of Diabetic complications?
Coronary Heart Disease
Cerebrovascular Disease
Peripheral Vascular Disease
What is classed under the Other group of Diabetic complications?
Skin
Rheumatological
Liver
What is Diabetic Retinopathy?
Complication of diabetes caused by Hyperglycemia damaging the back of the eye (retina)
What is the most common cause of blindness in working age people?
Diabetic Retinopathy
How can Diabetic Retinopathy be prevented?
- Good BP control
- Good Glycaemic control
- Regular eye screening
What is Non-Proliferative Retinopathy?
Retinopathy NOT involving the Macula
What three main features are there for Non-Proliferative Retinopathy?
- Microaneurysms
- Dot Haemorrhages
- Hard Exudates (Lipid deposits)
What Three subgroups of Non-proliferative Retinopathy are there?
Mild
Moderate
Severe
What can be seen in Severe Non-Proliferative Retinopathy?
Cotton Wool Spots (Soft Exudates)
What do Cotton Wool Spots indicate?
Areas of Retinal Ischaemia
What is Proliferative Retinopathy?
Ischaemic Retina leading to Growth Factor production and Neovascularisation
What do NVD and NVE mean in the context of Proliferative Retinopathy?
NVD: New Vessels on Disk
NVE: New Vessels Elsewhere
What is Diabetic Maculopathy?
Presence of any retinopathy within 1 DISC DIAMETER around macula
What different types of Maculopathy are there?
Focal/Exudative - Hard exudates around Macula leading to Macular Oedma/Vision Loss
Diffuse
Ischaemic - Retinal Vessel Closure
How can we prevent Diabetic Retinopathy?
- Diabetic patients should undergo yearly Digital Retinal Screening
- Aim for HbA1C <53 (control glycemia)
- Aim for good BP/cholesterol
- Laser Photocoagulation