Diabetes Flashcards
What are examples of microvascular complications of diabetes in the long term?
- neuropathy
- retinopathy
- nephropathy
What is the aetiology of microvascular complications of diabetes?
glycosylation of basement membrane proteins leads to leaky capillaries
What are examples of macrovascular complications of diabetes?
- IHD
- CVA
- Peripheral gangrene
What is the aetiology of macrovascular complications of diabetes?
dyslipidaemia, hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia
What is the onset of type 2 diabetes?
insidious
What is the onset of Type 1 diabetes?
always present acutely with ketosis
What are the symptoms of diabetes?
- tiredness, lethargy
2. polyuria, polydipsia
How does the symptoms of diabetes lead to worsening conditions?
- often drink lucozade or coke because of thirst
- glucose slowly rises further
- with other co-morbidities it become difficult to drink enough
- osmotic diuresis causes loss of water and a rise in sodium
- Eventually the glucose is VERY high, as is the sodium
How do you calculate osmolality?
cations + anions + glucose + urea
What can you simplify the equation for osmolality to?
2(cations) + glucose + urea
What cations are mostly used?
Na + K
What anions are mostly used?
Cl + bicarb
Do most people with T2 diabetes not know they have it?
yes
Why is it hard to spot T2 diabetes?
- have hyperglycaemia but no acidosis
- intermittent polyuria and polydipsia
- assumed prostate trouble or UTI
Why do T2 diabetes patients first present with complication?
- slow damage to endothelium
- micro and macrovascular damage
- of patients ignore polyuria first time present may be with complication
What does background diabetic retinopathy lead to?
- hard exudate
- blot haemorrhages
- microaneurysms
How do you treat background diabetic retinopathy?
imporve blood glucose control
Why are cotton wool spots (pre-proliferative) bad?
cotton wool spots represent ischaemia and new vessels not good and ischaemia causes new vessels to grow
How do you treat cotton wool spots?
pan-retinal photocoagulation
How does pan-retinal photocoagulation work?
- laser burns
2. kill of 1/3 of retina need less blood so no longer ischaemic so cotton wool spots will not drive new vessel growt
What is the general management of diabetic retinopathy?
- improve control of glucose
2. warn patient that warning signs present
How long does it take to benefit from good control of diabetes?
- 15years (a while) in newly diagnosed T2 diabetes
- Remained better mortality LT - legacy effect
- UKPDS
- Good control now prevents heart disease in the future