Chapter 5 - Endocrine Disorders Flashcards
What is the pathophysiology of diabetes mellitus?
• A hormonal abnormality characterized by a deficiency of the hormone of fluid storage (insulin)
• Deficiency may be absolute (type 1) or relative (type 2)
• In patients with type 2 DM, relative deficiency can be due to:
o Developed insensitivity of insulin receptors (obese type 2)
o Decrease in insulin production (non-obese type 2)
What is the role of insulin?
- Catalyzes storage of all fuel types – carbs, fats, and proteins
- Fats are lipid-soluble and can pass through cell membranes without the help of insulin
- Carbs and protein are water-soluble and require insulin to transport them across cell membranes
Complete vs. Relative Insulin Deficiency
- Complete – type 1 DM – lipids/fats are the only source of intracellular fuel
- Relative – type 2 DM – may initially be a compensatory increase in insulin secretion but eventually the beta cell dysfunction and the relative insulin deficiency occurs
Diagnostic Criteria for DM
- HgbA1c (main): A1C ≥ 6.5% with repeat A1C recommended in asymptomatic adults with glucose ≤ 200; no repeat needed if glucose is > 200
- Plasma glucose: fasting glucose (no intake for ≥ 8 hours) ≥ 126 on 2 occasions or random glucose ≥ 200 with symptoms including polyphagia, polyuria, polydipsia, and unexplained weight loss or hyperglycemic crisis
- Oral glucose tolerance test: 2-h plasma glucose ≥ 200 after a 75-g glucose load
Comparing Type 1 and Type 2 DM: Pathophysiology
- Type 1: autoimmune activated by trigger → destroy beta cells
- Type 2: relative insufficiency d/t either distended/distorted peripheral receptors or beta cell dysfunction
Comparing Type 1 and Type 2 DM: Disease Trajectory
- Type 1: relatively short, weeks to months; beta cell destruction results in absolute insulin deficiency
- Type 2: years; approximately 10 years; beta cell dysfunction gradually decreases insulin production
Comparing Type 1 and Type 2 DM: Presenting s/s
- Type 1: weight loss, muscle mass loss, dehydration, paresthesias, acetone breath, ± mental status change (cells are having to use fats as energy source)
- Type 2: subtle; vascular changes d/t chronic hyperglycemia – non-healing rashes, skin insult, hair loss in extremities
Comparing Type 1 and Type 2 DM: Lab Findings
- Type 1: serum ketones, rising BUN/creatinine, hypokalemia, high anion gap (mostly seen with DKA)
- Type 2: chronic; BUN/creatinine can rise as a result of renal insult
Comparing Type 1 and Type 2 DM: Assessment
• Complete baseline assessment to include foot exam, eye exam, ECG, and diagnostic markers for both type 1 and 2
Comparing Type 1 and Type 2 DM: Treatment
- Type 1: insulin replacement mimicking physiologic insulin production and release – basal supplemented with pre-meal short- or ultra-short-acting
- Type 2: weight loss in obese patients, oral therapy to sensitize insulin receptors, insulin to help achieve initial glycemic control (help preserve function of working beta cells)
When to use insulin – type 1 treatment
- All patients need insulin
* Basal insulin with adjustments for meals via multiple injections or pump
When to use insulin – type 2 treatment
- At time of diagnosis to help achieve initial glycemic control and preserve function of working beta cells – OR –
- When ≥ 2 standard oral agents at optimized doses are inadequate to maintain glycemic control
- Acute illness – in critically ill surgical and non-surgical patients, blood glucose should be kept 140-180
Glycemic control targets
- HgbA1c: non-diabetic < 6%; diabetic < 7%
- Fasting glucose: non-diabetic: < 100; diabetic 80-130
- Obtain A1C at least 2x/year in patients with stable glycemic control; 4x/year in patients whose therapy has changed or who are not meeting glycemic goals
Pharmacologic interventions for type 2 DM: Biguanides
• Examples: Metformin (Glucophage)
• A1C reduction: 1-2%
• FIRST LINE MEDICATION UNLESS CONTRAINDICATED
• MOA: insulin sensitizer
• Hypoglycemia risk: no
• Side effects/comments:
o Renal function impairment – with conditions that alter hydration (surgery, contrast), hold for day of and 48 hours after, reinitiate once hydration status and renal function have been established
o Lactic acidosis (rare) – in those with hepatic impairment, hypovolemia, HF, advanced age
o Vitamin B12 deficiency – increased risk
Pharmacologic interventions for type 2 DM: Thiazolidinedione (TZD, glitazones)
• Examples: Pioglitazone (Actos)
• A1C reduction: 1-2%
• MOA: insulin sensitizer
• Hypoglycemia risk: none when used as solo product
• Side effects/comments:
o Edema – especially when used with insulin or SU. Do not start in HF patients
o MI – increased risk in patients taking insulin or nitrates
Pharmacologic interventions for type 2 DM: Sulfonylurea (SU)
• Examples: Glipizide (Glucotrol), Glyburide (DiaBeta)
• A1C reduction: 1-2%
• OFTEN CONSIDERED, IN ADDITION TO METFORMIN, WHEN A SECOND MEDICATION IS NEEDED
• MOA: increases insulin release
• Hypoglycemia risk: yes, especially in the elderly and those with renal impairment
• Side effects/comments:
o Hypoglycemia – elderly and those with renal impairment
Pharmacologic interventions for type 2 DM: Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DDP-4) inhibitor
• Example: Sitagliptin (Januvia) • A1C reduction: 0.6-1.4% • MOA: increases insulin release • Hypoglycemia risk: no • Side effects/comments: o Pancreatitis – FDA advisory o Unexplained joint aches
Pharmacologic interventions for type 2 DM: GLP-1 antagonist
• Example: Liraglutide (Victoza), Exenaide (Byetta)
• A1C reduction: 1-2%
• INJECTION ONLY
• MOA: increases insulin release
• Hypoglycemia risk: little
• Side effects/comments:
o Nausea/vomiting – improves with dose adjustment and continued use, contraindicated in gastroparesis
o Pancreatitis – rare, discontinue if develops
o Slows gastric emptying, often leads to appetite suppression and weight loss
Pharmacologic interventions for type 2 DM: Sodium glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitor
• Example: Canaglifozin (Invokana), dapaglifozin (Farxiga)
• A1C reduction: 0.7-1%
• MOA: lowers plasma glucose levels by increasing the amount of glucose excreted in urine
• Hypoglycemia risk: yes, risk increases when used with insulin
• Side effects/comments:
o Genital mycotic infection, UTI, increased urination
o Modest weight loss, greater with higher dose
o Renal impairment – adjust dose d/t risk of electrolyte imbalance
o DKA and urosepsis risk – FDA advisory
Insulin Types: Short-acting, rapid onset
- Examples: Lispro (Humalog), Aspart (NovoLog), regular (Humulin R)
- Onset of action: 15-30 minutes, give right around time of meals
- Peak: 1-3 hours
- Duration of action: 3-6 hours
Insulin Types: Intermediate-acting
- Example: NPH (Humulin N)
- Onset of action: 1-2 hours
- Peak: 6-14 hours
- Duration of action: 16-24 hours
Insulin Types: Long-acting – Glargine (Lantus)
- Onset of action: 1 hour
- Peak: none
- Duration of action: ≥ 24 hour
Insulin Types: Long-acting – Detemir (Levemir)
- Onset of action: 1-2 hours
- Peak: 6-8 (minimal)
- Duration of action: dose-dependent, 12 hours at 0.2 units/kg, 20 hours at 0.4 units/kg
Hyperglycemic control in the acute care setting: possible reversible causes
- Dietary changes
- Dextrose-containing IV fluids
- Glucocorticoids
- Post-op
Hyperglycemic control in the acute care setting: diagnostic studies to evaluate hyperglycemia
- FSBS (finger stick blood sugar) monitoring (AC and HS if eating; q6h if NPO)
- HgbA1C to rule out undiagnosed DM
Hyperglycemic control in the acute care setting: treatment goals
- Avoid hypoglycemia (sliding scale alone is not a good method of treatment)
- < 70 mg/dL is hypoglycemia; < 40 mg/dL is critical hypoglycemia
- Avoid extreme hyperglycemia (>180 mg/dL)
- Insulin therapy is preferred method of treatment in inpatient setting (basal, prandial, and supplemental). Orals are not recommended d/t risk of hypoglycemia, renal injury, and HF
- Non-ICU and ICU goals is 140-180 mg/dL (no less than 90-100; start drip if > 180 mg/dL)
- CV critical care goal is 110-140 mg/dL
- Perioperative goal is 80-180 mg/dL
Hyperglycemic control in the acute care setting: risk of oral medications
- Sulfonylureas – major cause of severe hypoglycemia (especially if patient is NPO)
- Metformin – contraindicated in decreased renal blood flow (i.e., acute HF, contrast dye)
- Thiazolidinediones – associated with the development of HF and edema
General Tips to insulin management in the acute care setting
- Don’t omit doses for good control or mild hypoglycemia
- Review glucose results daily and adjust insulin
- Review chart for unusual circumstances when glucose is not controlled
Total daily dose of insulin (TDD) – weight-based insulin
- Malnourished, elderly, CKD (on dialysis), severe liver disease = 0.3 units/kg
- Normal-weight patients, including type 1 DM = 0.4 units/kg
- Overweight based on BMOI – 0.5 units/kg
- Obese, high-dose steroids, or insulin resistance = 0.6 units/kg
General insulin dosing based on TDD
- Basal insulin = 50% of TDD (analogs preferred over NPH)
- Prandial insulin (nutritional) = 50% of TDD (divided in 3 daily doses a meal)
- Supplemental (correctional) = (current BG – target BG)/CF; CF = 1700/TDD
Adjusting insulin therapy
- If > 2 glucose levels are < 80 mg/dL in 24 hours, decrease TDD by 20%
- If > 2 glucose levels are > 180 and none are < 80 in 24 hours, increase TDD by 20%
General principles of converting IV to SubQ insulin
- Continue IV insulin until the patient is able to eat solid food
- Continue IV insulin for 2-4 hours after the first SC dose is given
- Do not switch to only oral agents from IV insulin in type 2 DM
Dosing subQ insulin from IV insulin drip
- Establish the 24-hour insulin requirement (TDD of IV insulin)
- Determine the SC TDD – 80% of IV TDD
- Determine basal SC TDD – 50% of SC TDD
- Determine prandial SC TDD - 50% of SC TDD divided into 3 doses with each meal
- Determine supplemental dose – (current BG – target BG)/CF; CF = 1700/SC TDD
Diabetic Crisis States: DKA – common causes
- Insulin deficiency
- Iatrogenesis (i.e., glucocorticoid use)
- Infection
- Inflammation
- Ischemia/infarction
- Intoxication
- *for exam purposes, DKA is only seen in Type 1 DM
Diabetic Crisis States: DKA – pathophysiology
• Hyperglycemia secondary to increased glucogenesis and decreased cellular glucose uptake → mobilization and oxidation of fatty acids leading to ketoacidosis
Diabetic Crisis States: DKA – symptoms
- Polyuria, polydipsia
- Dehydration
- Nausea/vomiting
- Abdominal pain, ileus
- Kussmaul’s respirations
- Changes in mental status
Diabetic Crisis States: DKA – treatment
- Isotonic fluid replacement (10-14 ml/kg/hr) after 1 L bolus
- Regular insulin 10 units followed by IV insulin drip (0.1 unit/kg/hr) until anion gap is normal (3-10)
- If anion gap is still open and glucose is ≤ 250, add dextrose to fluids
- Treat precipitating event
Hyperosmolar non-ketotic state (HNS) – common causes
- Same as DKA – insulin deficiency, iatrogenesis (i.e., glucocorticoid use), infection, inflammation, ischemia/infarction, intoxication
- Dehydration
- Renal failure
- *for exam purposes, HNS is only seen in type 2 DM
Hyperosmolar non-ketotic state (HNS) – pathophysiology
• Extreme hyperglycemia without ketoacidosis → OSMOTIC DIURESIS and volume depletion with electrolyte disturbances
Hyperosmolar non-ketotic state (HNS) – symptoms
- Dehydration
- Glucose > 600 mg/dL
- ↑ serum osmolality (thick serum, normal serum osmo 270-290)
Hyperosmolar non-ketotic state (HNS) – treatment
- Isotonic fluid replacement with NS initially followed by 0.45% NS (estimate at 8-10L deficit)
- As you correct the dehydration, the patient tends to correct their own electrolyte imbalances
- However, replace K only while fluid resuscitating because K will continue to drop as you continue giving insulin. Okay to correct if < 4.0. After resuscitation, can correct other electrolytes if needed
- Regular insulin 10 units followed by IV insulin drip (0.05-0.1 units/kg/hr
- Treat precipitating event
Hypothyroidism – general signs and symptoms
- Thick, dry skin
- Hyporeflexia
- Slowed mentation
- Small weight gain (5-10 lbs.), mainly fluid
- Constipation (↓ GI motility)
- Menorrhagia (or longer menstrual cycles)
- Easily cold (↓ metabolic rate)
Primary vs. Central Hypothyroidism
- Primary – problem with the thyroid gland itself
- Central – problem with the pituitary gland of hypothalamus (hypothalamus not releasing TRH or pituitary not releasing TSH
Common etiologies of hypothyroidism
- Primary hypothyroidism
- Autoimmune destruction of thyroid, occurs after a period of hyperthyroidism (i.e., thyroiditis, iodine deficiency, lithium use, amiodarone use)
- ↓ T4, ↑ TSH