Diabetes Flashcards
(131 cards)
2 types of T1DM
Type 1a: immune mediated (95%)
Type 1b: idiopathic (<5%)
Pathophysiology of T1DM
Autoimmune cell mediated destruction of pancreatic beta cells
Age of onset and rate of B cell destruction is quite variable. Generally rapid in infants and children, and slow in adults i.e. latent autoimmune diabetes of adulthood
Diagnosis of T1DM
Acute onset hyperglycaemia ≥11.1 mmol/L (polydipsia, polyuria, weight loss), ketosis +/- acidosis
HbA1c not used in diagnosis
Low or undetectable plasma C peptide level supports the diagnosis
Other clinical clues
- Personal or FHx of autoimmune disorders
- No FHx of T2DM
- No features of metabolic syndrome (central obesity, HTN, ^lipids)
- Failure to respond to non-insulin treatment options
Autoantibodies not routinely tested but may be positive
- GAD 65
- Insulin (AA)
- Tyrosine phosphatases (IA-2 &IA-2B)
- Zinc transporter 8 (ZnT8)
What’s latent autoimmune diabetes of adulthood (LADA)?
Subtype of T1DM
Slow progressive autoimmune destruction of beta cells
Age of onset >30
Positive titre for at least 1 T1DM antibody
May respond to oral agents initially. However starting insulin early may help preserve beta cell function.
Less likely to have metabolic syndrome
More likely to have FHx or personal history of autoimmune disease
What’s idiopathic T1DM (Type 1b)?
Accounts for <5% of T1DM
No evidence of B cell autoimmunity
Strongly inherited but not HLA associated
Africans and Asians
Permanent insulinopenia (low or undetectable plasma c peptide level) Prone to ketoacidosis
Associated conditions of autoimmune T1DM
Autoimmune thyroid disease e.g. Grave’s
- Monitor TSH, thyroid antibodies every 2 years
Addison’s disease
Coeliac disease
- Monitor coeliac ab every 2 years
Vitiligo
Autoimmune hepatitis
Myasthenia gravis
Autoimmune gastritis –> pernicious anaemia
- Monitor B12 every 2 years
What’s the typical starting dose for insulin?
0.5IU/kg/day (50% should be administered as bolus with meals)
Why should we rotate the areas of insulin administration?
To avoid lipohypertrophy and atrophy = erratic insulin absorption
Rotate between abdomen, thighs, buttock, upper arms
How does insulin analogues compared to human analogues?
Insulin analogues have less hypoglycaemia, less weight gain, achieve lower HbA1c
How does continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) compared to multiple daily injections?
Less severe hypoglycaemia
More HbA1c lowering
What’s insulin sensitivity factor?
How much BSL is lowered in 2-4 hours with 1 unit of rapid acting insulin?
What’s insulin carbohydrate index?
How many grams of carbohydrate is covered by 1 unit of insulin?
List treatment options other than insulin for T1DM
Whole pancreas transplant
Islet transplant
Both require lifelong immunosuppression to prevent graft rejection
Downsides to HbA1c
Measures average BSL over 3/12
Doesn’t tell you glycaemic variability or hypoglycaemia
Affected by RBC turnover, blood loss, Hb variants, time in hypoglycaemia
Management of hypoglycaemia
15g glucose (2-3 tsp honey or sugar/100ml soft drink/glucose tab)
Glucagon
Who is at risk of hypoglycaemia unawareness?
Increasing age Long diabetes duration Aggressive glycaemic control Frequent hypoglycaemia Autonomic neuropathy Medications e.g. beta blockers
What’s continuous glucose monitoring?
Measures interstitial glucose level every 1-5 minutes
Correlates well with plasma glucose level
Provides glucose trends over 24h period
Can be connected to mobile or pump
Reduces time in hypoglycaemia without compromising HbA1c, improves HbA1c, improves in target range
What’s continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) pump therapy?
Advantages?
Disadvantages?
Insulin is infused continuously to mimic normal basal secretion, and boluses with meals or when BSL is high
Advantages: can lower HbA1c, reduce severe hypoglycaemia rates, less injections, less variable insulin absorption
Disadvantages: $$$, infection risk, pump failure/needle dislodgement (ketoacidosis), need to wear an external pump
What to do with CSII during DKA?
Switch it off (probably pump failure)
Do normal DKA management
Criteria for DKA
Ketosis
BSL >14
Venous pH <7.3 and/or bicarb <20
Features of severe DKA
Ketones >6 pH <7.1 or bicarb <5 K <3.5 GCS <12 SpO2 <92% SBP <90 HR <60 or >100
Criteria for HHS
BSL >30
Minimal ketosis
Serum osmol >320mOsm/kg
Coma present in 1 in 3
DKA vs HHS
A lot of overlap!!
DKA usually has lower BSLs, while HHS BSLs >56!
DKA presents earlier due to ketosis symptoms (dyspnoea) and are generally younger (able to excrete glucose better)
HHS presents in older people –> poor renal function so can’t excrete the glucose
DKA is due to absolute insulin deficiency –> body reverts to lipolysis –> increased FFHA –> ketogenesis –> acidosis
Alot more fluid in HHS (8-10L) compaerd to DKA (3-6L)
HHS
Decreased insulin or resistance –> decreased glucose utilisation in skeletal muscle –> increased fat and muscle breakdown –> increase in glucagon, cortisol and catecholamines + increase in hepatic gluconeogenesis –> increased BSL –> glycosuria + osmotic diuresis (further aggravate dehydration)
Causes of ketosis
DKA
Ketotic hypoglycaemia (occurs in children after a night of fasting)
Starvation ketosis
Alcoholic ketosis