Competency 1.2.3 Flashcards
Additional Information Required if a Patient is Diabetic/Hypertensive?
- Duration of disease
- Degree of control (well controlled?)
- How it is controlled (medication or diet?)
- Is condition monitored e.g. by GP, if yes then when was last check?
- In DR do they attend screening?
- Any familial links?
How is Type 2 Diabetes Diagnosed?
- Using a Glycated Haemoglobin test
- This indicates the average blood sugar levels over a period of 2 or 3 months
- Below 5.7% is viewed as normal
- Above 6.5% is indicative of diabetes
- Inbetween is termed prediabetic
Management Options for Type 2 Diabetes
- Healthier eating
- Regular exercise
- Blood sugar monitoring
- Diabetes medication
- Insulin therapy
How frequently is Blood Sugar Monitored in Diabetics?
- Frequency will vary between individuals
- Can be once daily with checks either side of periods of exercise
- Can be more often if the patients is taking insulin
How is Blood Sugar Monitored in Diabetics?
- Monitoring usually performed by a small device which monitors the amount of sugar in a drop of blood
- These readings should be recorded for the benefit of the care team
- There can also be continuous readings which are paired with e.g. a mobile phone which can alert the individual when readings are high or low.
Types of Medication for Type 2 Diabetes
- Biguanides (Metformin)
- Sulfonylureas (Gliclazide)
Mechanism of Metformin in Type 2 Diabetes
- Generally first medicine supplied
- Reduces the glucose production in the liver
- Improves bodys sensitivity to insulin which allows more effective use
Metformin Side Effects
- Nausea
- Abdominal pain
- Bloating
- Diarrhoea
- Vitamin-B deficiency (supplementation is common)
Insulin in Type 2 Diabetes
- Was previously used as a last resort but is now prescribed sooner if blood sugar levels aren’t met swiftly enough
- Most types of insulin are taken by injection
- Long acting insulin keeps levels stable through the day or overnight
- Short acting insulin is used around mealtimes
Management of Type 1 Diabetes
- Known as insulin dependent diabetes
- Managed vis insulin injections or insulin pump
- Injections and monitoring throughout duration of life
How is HBP Diagnosed?
- Diagnosed by a doctor by taking blood pressure readings
- Pressure readings of 140/90 mmHg is taken by doctor, less if taken at home
Mechanism of Gliclazide in Type 2 Diabetes
- Increases insulin production in pancreas
Gliclazide Side Effects
- Stomach ache
- Nausea/vomiting
- Diarhoea/constipation
- Visual impairment???
Management Options for HBP
- Eating a heart healthy diet
- More exercise
- Limiting alcohol
- Not smoking
- Medication
Medical Management of HBP
- Medications are used when lifestyle changes are not sufficient
- Choice of medication dependent on patient health and degree of hypertension
- On many occasions multiple drugs are prescribed
Medications used to Treat HBP
- Diuretics (Water Pills)
- Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitors
- Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers (ARBs)
- Beta Blockers
Diuretics in Management of HBP
- Remove sodium and water from the body
- Often a first line treatment
- Side effect includes increased urination which can reduce potassium levels
- Examples: chlorthalidone and hydrochlorothiazide
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitors in Management of HBP
- Relax blood vessels preventing narrowing
- Does this by blocking formation of chemical which narrows the vessels
- Examples: lisinopril, benazepril and captopril
Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers (ARBs) in Management of HBP
- Relax blood vessels preventing narrowing
- Does this by blocking action of chemical rather than preventing its formation
- Examples: candesartan and losartan
Beta Blockers in Management of HBP
- Reduce the workload on the heart and widens blood vessels
- Heart beats with less force
- Examples: atenolol and metoprolol
Importance of DM/HBP Disease Duration on the Eye
- Longer disease has been present, more likely ocular complications are to be present
- Almost all individuals with diabetes for over 30 years likely to have DR
HBP Drugs and the Eye
- Diuretics linked to progressing POAG
- ACE inhibitors preferable as don’t appear to damage eye
Importance of DM/HBP Disease Control on the Eye
- Better control results in less chance of ocular complications
- More elevated HBP is more likely to lead to retinopathy
Types of Diabetes
- Type 1 in which the body produces almost no insulin due to an attack by the immune system on the pancreatic beta cells which produce insulin. This can appear at any age.
- Type 2 the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin to keep blood glucose levels down
- Gestational diabetes is associated with pregnancy, it usually disappears after childbirth but can indicate greater susceptibility to type 2 DM at a later age
Diabetes Disease Process
- Insulin is hormone that allows glucose to be transported into body cells to be used for energy
- Diabetics don’t produce enough/any insulin, meaning that insulin stays in the blood and doesn’t reach the cells
- Diabetes can result in damage to many body structures e.g. eyes, kidneys and heart
Effects of Diabetes on the Eye
- Diabetic keratopathy
- Diabetic retinopathy
- Cataract
- Prescription shifts