Chapter 6: Type 1 Diabetes, Insulin & Hypoglycaemia Flashcards
Characterised by persistent hyperglycaemia, what are the two ways in which diabetes can manifest?
- Deficient insulin secretion
2. Resistance to actions of insulin
What are the 4 types of diabetes?
- Type 1
- Type 2
- Gestational
- Secondary
To which 3 conditions can diabetes be secondary?
- Pancreatic damage
- Hepatitis
- Endocrine disease
Which agency must be notified if someone has diabetes and is being treated with insulin?
DVLA
Which adverse event should drivers be particularly careful of?
Hypoglycaemia
What must diabetics always carry to ensure they are informed about their plasma glucose?
- Glucose meter
2. Test strips
Diabetics using insulin should check their plasma glucose how long before driving?
Two hours
While driving how often should diabetics using insulin test their plasma glucose?
Every two hours - more frequent if recent activity that may increase risk of hypo
While driving, plasma glucose of diabetic drivers should always be above what threshold?
5mmol/L
If plasma glucose falls slightly below 5mmol/L, what should diabetic drivers using insulin do?
Have a fast-acting carbohydrated
What are the 3 steps that diabetic drivers using insulin should take if their plasma glucose falls below 4mmol/L
- Stop driving
- Switch off the engine, remove keys and move from driver’s seat
- Consume source of sugar
How long should diabetic drivers using insulin wait before driving after stopping due to it falling below 4mmol/L?
45 minutes after it has returned to normal
Under which circumstances should diabetic drivers using insulin not drive?
If hypoglycaemia awareness has been lost
As well as insulin, which other diabetic medicines may it be necessary to inform the DVLA about? (3)
- Sulphonylureas
- Nateglinide
- Repaglinide
Which lifestyle activity can mask the signs of hypoglycaemia?
Alcohol
Is it advised for all diabetics to avoid drinking alcohol?
No, they must drink in moderation and with food
Which test is mainly used to diagnose impaired glucose control? It is useful for when patients do not have severe symptoms but glucose tolerance is impaired
Oral Glucose Tolerance Test
If symptoms are already present, should the OGTT be used to diagnose diabetes?
No
In which type of diabetes is OGTT especially useful in diagnosing?
Gestational diabetes
How is the OGTT conducted?
Plasma glucose is measured after fasting.
Patient drinks glucose drink.
Plasma glucose is measured 2 hours after
Which test is a good indicator for glycaemic control?
HbA1c
What does HbA1c measure?
The amount of glycated haemoglobin
HbA1c shows average glucose control over how long?
The last 2-3 months
Should a patient fast before their HbA1c test?
No
HbA1c is used in Type 1 and Type 2 monitoring and diagnosis of Type 2, in which situations should it not be used? (10)
- Type 1 diagnosis
- Children
- Pregnancy
- Up to 2 months post-partum
- Symptoms of diabetes less than 2 months
- High risk diabetes or critically ill
- Treatment with medication that causes hyperglyacemia
- Acute pancreatic damage
- End stage CKD
- HIV
In Type 1 Diabetes, how often should HbA1c be measured?
every 2-3months
In Type 2 Diabetes, how often should HbA1c be measured?
every 2-3months
In which patients is HbA1c monitoring invalid?
- Disturbed erythrocyte turnover
2. Lack of/abnormal haemoglobin
In patients which HbA1c monitoring is invalid, what can be used instead?
- Quality controlled blood glucose profiles
- Total glycated haemoglobin estimation
- Fructosamine estimation
What does fructosamine estimation measure?
Glycated concentration of ALL plasma proteins over 14-21 days
Can type 1 diabetes produce endogenous insulin?
No (little to none)
Why is there no insulin secretion in type 1 diabetes?
Destruction of insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells
What causes the destruction of pancreatic beta cells in type 1 diabetes?
Auto-immune basis
At what age does type 1 diabetes most commonly occur?
Before adulthood
What are the microvascular complications of diabetes? (3)
- Nephropathy
- Neuropathy
- Retinopathy
What are the macrovascular complications of diabetes? (3)
- Stroke
- Cardiovascular disease (MI)
- Peripheral arterial disease
What blood glucose reading would you expect an adult presenting with Type 1 Diabetes to have?
Over 11mmol/L
What BMI would you expect an adult presenting with Type 1 Diabetes to have?
Less than 25kg/m2
How old would you expect an adult presenting with Type 1 Diabetes to be?
Less than 50
As well as hyperglycaemia, low BMI, and younger than 50, what other characteristics do adults presenting with T1DM have? (3)
- Rapid weight loss
- Ketosis
- (Family) history of autoimmune disease
Increasingly used in T2DM, what is the mainstay of treatment for T1DM?
Insulin
Using insulin regimens, what are the 3 aims of treating T1DM?
- Achieve blood glucose control
- Reduce frequency of hypoglycaemic episodes
- Minimise the risk of microvascular and macrovascular complications
What is the target HbA1c for T1DM?
Less than 48mmol/mol
How often must T1DM patients monitor their blood glucose daily?
at least 4 times daily - before each meal and before bed
What is the target fasting blood glucose for T1DM patients?
5-7mmol/L