Abdominal pain: Core conditions Flashcards
Diabetes
A chronic metabolic disorder characterised by chronic hyperglycaemia due to insulin resistance and/or insulin deficiency.
Types of diabetes
• Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (5 – 10%)
• Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (90%)
• Endocrinopathies – Cushing’s Syndrome, Acromegaly, Phaeochromocytoma
• Secondary Diabetes due to Pancreatic Disease
• Genetic – MODY, Mitochondrial Diabetes Mellitus
• Gestational Diabetes Mellitus
Symptoms of diabetes
Abdominal pain, change in appetite, weight loss/gain, indigestion, nausea/vomiting, change in bowel habit (diarrhoea/constipation), change in colour of stools, change in urinary habits, polyuria/polydipsia
Core symptoms for type 1 diabetes mellitus
Weight loss, change in urinary habit, polyuria/polydipsia
Diagnosis of type 1 diabetes mellitus
• Additional symptoms: constitutional (malaise, fatigue), blurred vision, infections (genitourinary)
• Time frame: recent onset > months
• Younger 20-30
• Slim, not overweight
• FHx of T1 or autoimmunity (Coeliac, Addisons, Thyroid)
Type 2 diabetes mellitus
• Insulin resistance and deficiency
• Intracellular lipid accumulation in liver and pancreas
• Hepatic insulin resistance causes more insulin to be secreted by the pancreas, more fat disposition in both, cycle of worsening insulin effect and production
Diagnosis of type 2 diabetes
• Additional symptoms: malaise, fatigue, blurred vision
• Time frame- months, years
• Older 40+
• Overweight, obese
• PMHX- hypertension, hyperlipidaemia
• FHx of T2
Pancreatic (T3c) diabetes mellitus symptoms
Weight loss, change in urinary habit, polyuria/polydipsia, nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, change in bowel habit (diarrhoea/constipation), change in colour of stools.
Making a diagnosis of Pancreatic (T3c) diabetes mellitus
• Time frame: rapid onset in pancreatic disease, slow in chronic disease
• Risk factors for pancreatitis: ETOH, gallstones (GETSMASHED)
• Upper/epigastric abdominal pains are present in acute presentation
Diabetes investigations
• Random blood glucose (capillary or venous)
• Blood or Urine Ketones
• Arterial/Venous blood gas
• Fasting plasma glucose
• Oral Glucose Tolerance Test
• Glycated Haemoglobin (HbA1c)
• Autoantibodies
Diagnosis of acute presentation of diabetes and T3c
Acute presentation e.g. A/E Random BG +/- ketones/gas (+/- tests if T1 suspected from history) – want to make sure DKA not present
T3c= Then amylase/LFTs/lipase/calcium - + imaging (US/CT/MRCP), faecal elastase
Tests for diabetes
• Fasting plasma glucose >7.0 mmol/L
• 2hr oral glucose tolerance test >11.1 mmol/L
• Random plasma glucose >11.1 mmol/L
• HbA1c >48 mmol/mol (6.5%)
Management of diabetes
• Dietary changes and weight loss
• Oral and injectable medication
• Insulin- immediately start on T1 even if unsure
• Pancreatic disease- standard management
Rapid acting insulin (human insulin)
Onset: 5-15min
Peak: 30-90min
Duration:3-5hr
Examples: Novorapid, Humalog
Rapid acting (analogue insulin)
Onset:20-40 min
Peak: 2-3hr
Duration: 5-8hr
Examples: Actrapid, Humulin S
Intermediate acting (human insulin)
Onset: 2-4hr
Peak: 8-12hr
Duration: 12-16hr
Examples: Insulatard, Humulin I
How many insulin injections are needed
T1DM are usually on 4-5 injections whilst T2 is more likely to be on 2 injection.
GKI and VRII
• Glucose potassium insulin (GKI) infusions works well and needs less intensive monitoring meaning its easier to use on wards
• Variable rate intravenous insulin infusions (VRII) are only used in acute wards
• VRII is used in the treatment of DKA and HHS
• GKI is a step down from VRII, its used as pre-op management or for patients unwell with nausea and vomiting who are type 1
• GKI is safer than VRII and is less intensive for ward nurses
How do I transfer the patient from a GKI or VRII infusion back to subcutaneous insulin
• The effects of IV insulin in a GKI or VII will only last for about 3 minutes after the infusion is switched off
• So, you must give a subcutaneous insulin injection 60 minutes before stopping the GKI to ensure the subcutaneous insulin has been absorbed.
Diabetes medication
• Biguanide – Metformin
• Sulphonylurea – Gliclazide
• DPP4 inhibitors – Sitagliptin
• SGLT2 inhibitor – Empagliflozin
• GLP-1 analogue – Liraglutide
Metformin- oral
• Enhances insulin sensitivity
• Dose: 500/850/1000mg twice- three times daily with meals
• Contraindications: CKD/ liver/ heart failure
• Gi side effects
Gliclazide
• Enhances insulin secretion by beta cells of the pancreas
• Dose 40/80/120/160mg once- twice daily with meals
• Hypoglycaemia risk, weight gain
• Other drugs in the same class- Glimepiride