Diabetes Flashcards
What are the target blood levels preprandial and at bedtime? (2)
Preprandial: 4-6mm/L
Bedtime: 6-8mm/L
What are the core areas for diabetes management? (3)
Education- about diabetes, managing diabetes, health care issues, complication avoidance
Targets- it is higher later in the day to prevent overnight hyperglycaemia
Reduce risks from associated diseases
ETR
When is insulin required in Type 1 diabetes?
FROM DIAGNOSIS- require insulin from the outset as the presentation features of ketoacidosis are as a result of inadequate levels of insulin
When is insulin required in Type 2 diabetes?
WITH INADEQUATE CONTROL ON ORAL MEDS- type 2 will often present with complications of diabetes or hyperglycaemia and they still have adequate insulin secretion to prevent ketoacidosis- however, sometimes the control of their blood sugar is better managed with insulin than with medication
What are the insulin regimes ? (2)
basal-bolus and split-mixer
Describe a basal bolus regime?
- More injections
- better control
- offer a single long lasting insulin which provides a background for the whole day to prevent ketoacidosis and then the patient will take intakes of short acting insulin to allow for meals and exercise to be properly regulated
Describe a split mixer regime?
- Fewer injections
- poorer control
- fewer injections needed mainly to facilitate care by external agent (nurse), patient may have only two injections of insulin throughout the day before breakfast and before evening meal
- this insulin contains both rapid acting and medium acting insulin so that the blood sugar is maintained less well but adequately over the course of the day
Compare basal bolus vs split-mixer
basal bolus has more injections but better control whereas split-mixer has less injections but poorer control
How is an insulin injection given?
sub-cutaneous
Where can insulin be injected into?
Any area of the body
Why is the injection site often rotated?
Often can lead to fat atrophy (loss of fatty tissue, pitting, scarring and bumps)
What is a new method of insulin injection?
insulin pens can be used in which they patient can dial the number of units of insulin they require and then use the needle to inject under the skin
What are 4 areas of diabetes management for the patient?
-Structured education- appropriate to the patient’s needs, evidence driven, supporting written resources
-healthy living advice- personalised diabetes management plan, dietary advice, lifestyle interventions where appropriate (for example weight loss and exercise)
- Blood glucose management- explain targets and the need to maintain them
- Consider prevention to reduce risk - anti-platelet drugs, statins, antihypertensives when appropriate
What are the 3 areas which can assist with Type 1 diabetes management?
Nutrition, Exercise, Monitoring
How can you manage the nutrition in patients with T1DM? (3)
-glycaemic index of foods compared with a standard food (GIndex of food is the equivalent of the glucose load provided by that food)
-carbohydrate counting- basal-bolus regimes
-less that 10% calories from saturated fat
How can you manage T1DM through exercise?
- Planned Activity
- lower blood glucose levels
-if this happens when unplanned it could lead patient to
developing hypoglycaemia
- lower blood glucose levels
- understand individual response
-will be necessary to maintain appropriate blood sugar levels during exercise by increasing carbohydrate intake at that time
How can you manage T1DM through monitoring?
-previous insulin dose determines plasma glucose
-initially need regular checks until the patient is familiar with their personal response to food and exercise
What sugar level are patients with T1DM aiming for?
6-10 (ideally closer to 6)
What is meant by different preparations being available ?
Time to act from injection - ultra long, long and short
-mixed forms possible to reduce injections (not too common)
What is the ideal blood glucose sugar levels?
6-10% HbA1C (ideally lower end score)
What is the relationship between HbA1C and hypoglycaemia?
the lower the HbA1C is, the higher the risk of hypoglycaemia (can be catastrophic if happens at an inopportune moment)
What can a high HbA1C increase the risk of progression of? (Hint: key change that happens as a complication of diabetes)
Retinopathy
Name two new insulin monitoring options…
Continuous glucose monitoring and closed loop glucose monitoring
How does a continuous glucose monitor work? (3)
- this device attaches to the skin and has a small needle which monitors the tissue fluid levels subcutaneously
- it will then relay this to a monitor and the patient will get an alert if their blood sugar exceeds the target range
- this will educate the patient and make then aware of anything which makes their blood sugar levels rise or fall too far
How does a closed glucose monitor work?
- the monitor is attached to an insulin pump which will change the amount of insulin delivered to the body in a continuous way in response to the subcutaneous sugar level
- these will become much more widely available and should allow for much better control of diabetes for most patients
How is T2DM generally managed ? (3)
Lifestyle
Medication
Surgery
Ways in which a patients lifestyle can affect the management of T2DM?
weight loss
diet restriction