Diabetes Flashcards
Are outcomes for diabetes improving?
Yes, they have never been better
What is the official definition of diabetes mellitus?
A metabolic disorder characterized by the presence of hyperglycemia due to defective insulin secretion, insulin action, or both
What is the prevalence of Diabetes?
4 million diagnosed (10% of population), but about 30% have diagnosed, undiagnosed, or prediabetes
How has the prevalence of diabetes among adults in Canada shifted over the last 50 years?
It has almost doubled from 14% in 1970 to 29% in 2021
What are some of the reasons for the shift in the number of Canadian adults with diabetes?
Demographic changes (Canadians are getting older, and more people from risk populations are becoming Canadians)
What are the costs associated with diabetes?
Estimated economic impact: $30 billion/yr
Medical costs are 2-3x higher in those with diabetes
What are some complications associated with diabetes?
CVD (the main cause of death), kidney dysfunction, blindness, neuropathy, amputation)
80% will die from heart disease and stroke
How much can diabetes reduce life expectancy?
an estimated 5-15 years
What is the role of the pancreas in blood sugar maintenance?
Euglycemia (ideal blood sugar) is maintained by the following three hormones
Alpha (produce glucagon, account for 30% of islet cells)
Beta (produce insulin, account for 60% of islet cells)
Delta (produce somatostatin, account for 10% of islet cells)
View slides 13-14 to review the interplay of insulin and glucagon
What is the effect of insulin on skeletal muscle?
Muscle is the major site of glucose uptake, and insulin stimulates glucose uptake
Glucose is stored as glycogen in muscle and it is used in energy metabolism (glycogenesis)
Insulin also stimulates the production of proteins from amino acids.
Between meals, energy stored in proteins is harvested by breaking them down back into amino acids. These amino acids can undergo gluconeogenesis, producing glucose
What happens in diabetes with respect to skeletal muscle?
Glucose is never able to be taken up by skeletal muscle cells, therefore limiting energy sources
What is the effect of insulin on the liver?
The liver produces glycogen (product of insulin-induced uptake of glucose), and insulin release following a meal will stimulate the liver to pull glucose from the blood and form glycogen
Insulin also suppresses gluconeogenesis
If the amount of glucose entering the liver is more than the storage capacity for glycogen, insulin promotes its conversion to fatty acids
Between meals, glucagon is released. This hormone promotes glycogenesis and gluconeogenesis, producing glucose
What is the effect of insulin on adipose tissue?
Insulin is effectively a fat storing hormone
Excess carbs are converted into fatty acids and stored as triglycerides in adipose tissue
In starvation or insulin deficiency, fats break down and form ketones. These ketones can be used as an energy source (lipolysis)
What is the effect of insulin on the brain?
The brain gets all of its energy from glucose, but does not depend on insulin for glucose uptake.
The brain is not directly effected by insulin, but low blood sugar due to insulin activity can cause states of confusion to unconsciousness
What are the different classifications of diabetes covered in this course?
Prediabetes:
Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT)
Impaired fasting glucose (IFG)
Diabetes:
Type 1
Type 2
Gestational Diabetes
Describe Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM)
Characterized by an absolute lack of insulin secretion
Primarily due to autoimmune beta-cell destruction
Typically, markers of immune destruction are present: islet cell antibodies and insulin antibodies.
Not uncommon to see patients with T1DM to also have other autoimmune diseases
Is Type 1 Diabetes (T1DM) a disease often seen in children?
Yes, it is most commonly has its incidence in patients under 25 (13-14 yo. peak)
But we can occasionally see cases that emerge in the sixth and seventh decade of life
In children with diabetes, most of them have Type 2 diabetes. True or False?
False, most children (95%) have Type 1 diabetes
Adults with diabetes on the other hand show Type 2 diabetes (90%) of the time
Are Type 1 Diabetes (T1DM) incidence rates falling now?
No, it appears that they have a doubling time of a few decades
What initiates Type 1 diabetes and the subsequent breakdown of beta cells?
This immunologic trigger remains elusive, perhaps due to exposure to a virus or toxin
Review slide 24 to closely see how Type 1 diabetes (T1DM) progresses in terms of beta cell function
When do symptoms in Type 1 Diabetes manifest?
After 80-90% of beta cells have been destroyed
What is the “honeymoon phase” in Type 1 Diabetes (T1DM)?
Following initial correction of hyperglycemia with exogenous insulin, causes endogenous insulin production to recover temporarily
This usually occurs in the days to weeks following starting insulin
This “recovery” is temporary, so insulin therapy and monitoring continues
What is significant about treatment in prediabetes?
Many trials have shown diabetes can be prevented in those with prediabetes via lifestyle modifications or medications. Many patients will revert to normoglycemia
What are the details of prediabetes diagnosis in terms of relevant lab values?
Fasting plasma glucose (mmol/L): 6.1-6.9, IFG (impaired fasting glucose)
Glucose levels 2h after 75g of glucose is consumed (mmol/L): 7.8-11.0, IGT (impaired glucose tolerance)
A1C%: 6.0-6.4, Prediabetes
What is the relevance of A1C% and risk for developing diabetes?
Slight increased in A1C% = Significant changes in risk for diabetes
ex. A1C% (5.0-5.5) = (less than 5-9% risk of diabetes in the next 5 years)
A1C% (6.0-6.5) = (25-50% risk of diabetes in the next 5 years)
Describe Type 2 Diabetes (T2DM)
It accounts for 90% of DM
It is caused by impaired insulin secretion and resistance
Manifests only in those who lose the ability to produce sufficient quantities of insulin to maintain normoglycemia in the face of insulin resistance
What are some causes of Type 2 Diabetes (T2DM)?
Involves the interaction of genetic and environmental factors
Genetics: certain genes have been shown to determine risk for T2DM
Environ.: excessive caloric intake, sedentary lifestyle
Aging
What are some risk factors for T2DM?
Age over 40
First-degree relative with T2DM
Member of high risk population (African, Arab, Asian, Hispanic, Indigenous, or South Asian, low socioeconomic status)
Overweight/obesity
History of prediabetes
Low HDL, high TG, HTN, smoking
Explain how abdominal obesity is a risk for diabetes?
Insulin resistance is found in most obese people (WC (male over 102cm, and female over 88cm)
The degree of obesity correlates with degree of insulin resistance
Visceral adipose tissue is even worse, and it is especially stubborn to insulin action
Why is insulin secretion impaired in response to food in patients with T2DM?
Impaired cell function (remaining cells put into overdrive and this degrades them)
A reduced stimulus from incretin hormones
What are the consequences of defective insulin secretion?
Hyperglycemia
In early stage, elevated PPG (post-prandial glucose)
In late stage, elevated FPG (fasting plasma glucose)
How does insulin resistance work in different organs?
There is reduced sensitivity yo the actions of insulklin by the target tissues (muscle, liver, adipocytes)
Skeletal muscle (primary site of resistance): Decreased glucose uptake
Liver: inability to suppress hepatic glucose production (gluconeogenesis)
Adipose tissues: Elevated fatty acids in circulation can stimulate liver glucose production, impair skeletal muscle sensitivity, and impair insulin release
review the Ominous Octet on page 35, to examine the many causes and effects of hyperglycemia
Are the symptoms of T2DM apparent from the get go?
No, T2DM is a progressive disease. This means that that insulin secretion and resistance gradually decreases over long periods of time (years)
What is the clinical presentation of Type 1 Diabetes (T1DM)?
Usually presents as acute symptoms of short duration:
Polyuria (frequent urination)
Polyphagia (frequent eating)
Polydipsia (excessive thirst)
Weight loss
Fatigue
Blurred vision
Infections
What is the clinical presentation of Type 2 Diabetes (T2DM)?
Is commonly discovered incidentally, as patients may be asymptomatic. If symptoms exist, they are non-specific:
Fatigue
Polyuria
Polydipsia
Nocturia
Due to T2DM slow progression, at time of diagnosis, the patient may have already developed complications (ex. micro/macrovasular damage)
Review slide 40 and 41 to study clinical features in both Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes
Are people with Type 1 Diabetes usually obese?
They are usually thin, but due to general widespread obesity in the population, they may be obese (Type 1 diabetes is not making them obese)
What is the relationship between Type 2 Diabetes (T2DM) and children?
Traditionally children have not been affected by T2DM
It’s predicted that 1 in 3 kids born 2000 will develop diabetes at some point, and 1/3 of diagnoses in patients under 18 will be of T2DM
What is the trend of obese children in terms of their body weight in adulthood?
They will usually remain obese. Adults are getting more obese every generation as obese children become adults
What is gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM)?
A condition that develops during pregnancy primarily due to insulin resistance
Overall prevalence 4% (indigenous women 8-18%)
Gestational diabetes mellitus increases the risk of fetal hyperinsulinemia, heavier birth weight, higher rates of C-sections, and neonatal hypoglycemia.
Increases the risk of both mother and child eventually developing T2DM
What are some risk factors for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM)?
All women should be screened for GDM between 24-28 weeks of pregancy
Previous GDM
Member of high-risk population
Previous delivery of macrosomic infant (heavy baby)
Age over 35
Obesity
Can Type 1 Diabetes (T1DM) be prevented?
No successful preventative interventions thus far
Can Type 2 Diabetes (T2DM) be prevented?
Yes, primarily targeting high risk individuals (IGT or obesity to prevent progression)
Methods:
Lifestyle modification
Metformin
Other Antihyperglycemic agents (Acarbose, Pioglitazone, Rosiglitazone, Orlistat, Liraglutide)
Is lifestyle modification effective in preventing prediabetes from advancing into T2DM?
Yes, intensive lifestyle modification can reduce the incidence of diabetes more than antihyperglycemics like Metformin.
The effects of lifestyle modification, even if return to previous habit for years, the incidence of diabetes is still lower vs. patients that were on antihyperglycemics alone
Is screening done in T1DM?
No, screening is not recommended due to low prevalence of T1DM and there is nothing we can do to prevent T1DM
Is screening important in T2DM?
Yes, it is important because a large number of people are undiagnosed. We use FPG and A1C as our initial screening tests
Review Slide 56 for details on screening guidelines for T2DM
What is a common tool used to determine risk level in diabetes?
CANRISK (Canadian Risk Assessment Questionnaire)
This risk assessment tool takes into consideration the following:
Patient age, sex, height, BMI, WC, physical activity, HTN, hyperglycaemia during illness or pregnancy, family history, ethnic group, and education
This test helps identify which patients should be referred to physicians for further work-up
What are some test results that result in a diabetes diagnosis?
FPG more than 7.0mmol/L
A1C more than 6.5%
2hPG(75mg) more than 11.1mmol/L
Random PG more than 11.1mmol/L
Is FPG more convenient vs A1C?
No, FPG requires fasting (fasting plasma glucose), while a blood sample for A1C can be administered at anytime without respect to meals
What are some advantages and disadvantages of FPG (fasting plasma glucose)?
Advantages:
Established standard of reliability
Fast and easy
Disadvantages:
Inconvenient
Less sensitive than 2hrPG(75mg)
What are some advantages and disadvantages of A1C?
Advantages:
Convenient
Better predictor of CVD
No day-to-day variability
Disadvantages:
Cost
Results invalid in some medical conditions (anemia, hemoglobinopathies)
Altered by ethnicity and aging
Do not use in children, gestational diabetes mellitus, and suspected T1DM
What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of 2hrPG(75mg)?
Advantages:
Like FPG, 2hrPG(75mg) is an established standard
Disadvantages:
Inconvenient (need to wait 2h before patient can test themselves
Taste
Cost
What are some complications of diabetes that first come to patients when they are first told they have diabetes?
Patients often think about end stage outcomes of poorly managed diabetes.
Amputation, and kidney failure/dialysis are some common worries
What are some general treatment goals for diabetes?
- Be symptom free (avoid hyper or hypoglycaemia)
- Achieve personalized target glucose levels
- Address modifiable CV risk factors
- Prevent or slow the progression of micro vascular complications
- Empowerment to self-manage condition
How can glucose control be adequately monitored?
This is an essential component of diabetes management
Blood glucose lab evaluations
Hemoglobin A1C
Capillary blood glucose (cBG)
Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM):
Intermittently scanned CGGM (isCGM), ex. Libre
Real-time CGM (rtCGM), ex. Dexcom G6
Ketone testing (urine or blood)
What is the significance of glycosylated hemoglobin?
The percentage of glycosylated hemoglobin A is represented by A1C. This glycosylation reaction is irreversible, so glycosylated hemoglobin remains in the blood supply until they breakdown in 3 month
How often should a A1C testing be preformed on a patient?
Should be checked at least every 3 months. You may feel like you are okay, but could be silently at high risk of developing diabetes
Normal A1C levels are 4-6%
What are some general conditions that could affect A1C levels?
Any condition that can effect RBC, will change their A1C values.
ASA and Vitamin C and E can decrease A1C
Review slide 68 for more details on how different conditions can effect A1C
What are some A1C targets?
Selected adults with T2DM who have the potential to return to normoglycemia (under 6.0%)
Adults with T2DM to reduce CKD and retinopathy if at low risk for hypoglycaemia( 6.0-6.5%)
Most adults with T1DM or T2DM (6.5-7.0%)
Functionally dependent people (7.1-8.0%)
Recurrent severe hypoglycaemia, limited life expectancy, and frail elderly and/or with dementia (7.1-8.5%)
Avoid any A1C target above 8.5%
What is the A1C target for most diabetes patients?
7.0%
What are the FPG and 2hrPG(75mg) targets to achieve an A1C score below 7.0?
FPG: 4.0-7.0mmol/L (4.0-6.0 is more aggressive)
2hrPG(75mg): 5.0-10.0mmol/L (5.0-8.0 is aggressive)
Why do HCPs like to bring A1C below 7.0?
Great decreases in retinopathy (-63%), neuropathy (-60%), and microalbuminuria (-39%).
Is intensive treatment that results in A1C being depressed below an A1C of 7.0% worth it?
Yes, although this increases risk of hypoglycaemia, overall reductions in other diseases associated with diabetes are well worth it
Do the effects of intensive A1C depression persist?
Although A1C may return to a level above 7.0 in a shorter period of time (1 year), risk reductions persist for over a decade
If reducing A1C to below 7.0% presents great benefits, why is the A1C target not set lower?
In a trial where the A1C target was set to 6.0%, there were more deaths than usual. This trial was stopped early due to the number of deaths
Increase in mortality is likely due to increased severe hypoglycaemia or other less understood reasons
What are some limitations with A1C?
A1C is an average value, we cannot detect lows and highs in blood glucose levels
A1C cannot tell us changes in the day-to-day, because it is an average value of 3 months of glycosylation
What are capillary blood glucose monitors?
These are the standard glucose monitors
They determine the glucose level in a capillary blood via a finger stick
This monitor can tell a patient their blood glucose level at a particular point in time (immediate feedback)
What do patients need to know about CBGs (capillary blood glucose monitors)?
How to perform a CBG
How often and when to perform a CBG (before or after meals)
The meaning of various blood glucose levels:
FPG - reflects glucose derived from hepatic production (gluconeogenesis)
PPG - how meals effect glucose
How behaviour and actions affect CBG results (interpretation of trends in blood glucose)
How many times should diabetes patients check their blood sugar?
At least as many. Times as insulin is injected.
Test before injecting insulin to determine required insulin quanity.
Optional: Test 2 hours after meal to see the efficacy of insulin (lower blood sugar)
DO diabetes patients need to test themselves regularly if they are not on insulin or have stable blood sugar levels?
No, there is no point plus it is expensive to test everyday for no reason
This is why the Sask Drug Plan only covers for 200 strips in diabetic patients in this category
How do intermittently scanned CGM monitors work?
They measure glucose levels in the subcutaneous interstitial fluid via a sensor that is inserted into the skin. These monitors can help identify when a patient goes into either hyper or hypoglycaemia
Ex. Libre
What is glucose lag?
Intermittently scanning CGMs measure blood sugar in subcutaneous tissue. Changes in actual blood sugar can take up to 5-15 minutes to be reflected in subcutaneous tissue.
This is a minor issue, focus on the overall trend
What is the difference between intermittently scanning CGMs (isCGM) and real-time continuous glucose CGMs (rtCGM)?
rtCGMs like isCGMs detect glucose levels in the subcutaneous tissues, instead of blood glucose directly
The main difference is the continuous data visibility 24/7 offered by rtCGMs. rtCGMs punch out data every 5 minutes vs. every 15 min in isCGMs
rtCGMs can be applied on back of arms, abdomen, buttocks while isCGMs can only be applied on the back of arm.
Ex. Dexcom G6
What is Time in Range (TIR)?
Newer CGMs continuously check glucose levels, diabetes patients can monitor the time they spend within their target blood glucose range
Most diabetes patients should aim to be within TIR for 70% of the time (17h/24h)
There is a shift away from FPG and PPG and towards using TIR
What is the exact relationship between TIR and A1C?
Every 10% (2.4h/24h) increase in TIR = 0.5% decrease in A1C
What is the relevance of ketones in diabetes?
Ketones are formed as a byproduct of fat breakdown. Fats are broken down because the body is unable to pull glucose from the blood. Increased ketones can indicate cell starvation and poorly managed diabetes
What are the two main approaches to achieving glucose targets?
Non-pharmacological
Pharmacological
What is the non-pharmacological treatment for Diabetes?
Diet modification is the cornerstone of diabetes care. It can be 1st line + exercise for T2DM
How does nutritional education play out in T1DM and T2DM treatment?
T1DM: Nutritional education is vital to understand the relationship between carbohydrates, insulin, and blood glucose
T1DM and T2DM: Nutritional education should focus on understanding the relationship between food and its effects on body weight, blood glucose, BP, and lipids (CV risk)
Is there a standardized diabetic diet?
No, there is nor such thing as a diabetic diet
Each patient should meet with a dietitian if possible to individualize diet based on patient goals and preferences(be mindful of the cultural importance of food)
What are some diets that are popular in diabetes control?
Mediterranean
Vegan/ vegetarian
Low CHO (50-130g/d)
DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension)
Intermittent Fasting
Is all weight loss beneficial in terms of health?
5-10% weight loss has shown to provide health benefits, but weight should only be reduced if it poses a health benefit (do not be underweight)
What is the place of carbohydrates in the diet of a diabetes patient?
Generally people should consume 45-60% of their diet from carbohydrates
In patients that use insulin, know the relationship between carbohydrates, insulin, and blood glucose is paramount. Ensure diabetes patients who are on insulin, are counting carbohydrates to accurately adjust insulin doses
What is glycemic index, and is a smaller number better?
Glycemic Index is a measure of how quickly a given piece food will elevate blood glucose levels. More simple sugars=higher glycemic index
A smaller Glycemic Index value suggests that the piece of food in question delivers glucose over a longer period of time (shorter peak). This is reduces the risk of being hyperglycemic while on insulin (if not adjusting dose)
Do whole fruits have a higher glycemic index vs. Fruit juice?
No, fruit juice has a higher glycemic index vs. whole fruits
Fruit juice will increase blood glucose much more faster and will have a higher peak glucose blood glucose concentration
What groups of food have little or no carbohydrate?
Meat & Alternative (except for some beans)
Vegetables (except squash, parsnips, and peas)
Fats
What is the utility of fibre in diabetic patients?
Soluble fibre slows gastric emptying and delays sugar absorption in small intestine (it is a type of carbohydrate that cannot be digested, so subtract from total carbohydrates)
For patients 19-50, 25g/d(women), and 38g/d (men)
For patients over 50, 21g/d(women), and 30g/d(men)
Review Slides 118-120 to look at some diets followed by diabetes patients
What are some definitions for servings for different groups of food?
Grains & Starches, Fruits: 1 serving = size of patient’s fist
Meat & Alternatives: Size of the patient’s palm
Vegetable: As much as the patient can hold in their two hands
Fats: Limit fat to a amount the size of your thumb
Can practicing Muslim diabetes patients follow Ramadan safely?
Depends on their individual risk factors
Guidelines encourage consultation with dieticians/diabetes educators two months before Ramadan
Advise T1DM patients across the board to not fast (it is their choice ultimately)
T2DM patients with the following are advised to fast during Ramadan with medical advise:
Well controlled diabetes
Treated with lifestyle modifications alone, or with antihyperglycemics, or basal insulin (not bolus insulin) in otherwise healthy individuals
What are some nutritional tips that can help control blood sugar?
Consistent spacing of meals
Snacking between meals could help with hyperglycemia
Sugar is acceptable up to 10% of daily energy intake
Coffee is fine in moderation
What is the effect of alcohol on diabetes patients?
With people with T1DM, or with T2DM on insulin or sulfonylureas; alcohol can delay hypoglycaemia
Hypoglycaemia can persist for up to 24h after the last drink
It is important that diabetes patients test regularly when they are drinking alcohol
What is the effect of physical activity on diabetes patients?
Physical activity increases cardio/respiratory fitness and can decrease insulin resistance
Physical activity has been proven to improve A1C in T2DM and T1DM in kids, but evidence is less clear for T1DM in adults
Exercise still reduces risk of CVD and stroke even if it does not directly reduce diabetes markers
What are the recommendations for exercise in diabetes patients?
More than 150 min of moderate to vigorous intensity aerobic exercise/week
Spread over more than 3 days/week
No more than 2 consecutive days of no activity
Resistance training more than 2 times/week
Should diabetes start the recommended level of exercise immediately after diagnosis?
No, MD has to assess for conditions that can predispose to injury (neuropathy, retinopathy, CAD)
Ensure patient can tolerate exercise from a cardiovascular aspect (perform ECG)
What is the effect of exercise on blood glucose?
Low-moderate intensity:
Decreases blood glucose during and after due to increased insulin sensitivity (decreased insulin resistance lasts for up to 48h)
Very intense exercise:
Increases blood glucose during and after due to increased glucose demand
What are some tips for exercising in patients with T1DM?
The goal is to maintain safety (minimize risk of hypoglycemia)
Strategies:
INject insulin at a non-exercise site
Consume extra carbohydrates before/during/after exercise
Decrease bolus insulin that is closest to time of actvity
OR
Decrease basal insulin overnight by 20%
Perform resistance training before aerobic exercise
What should T2DM patients do when they have high blood glucose and are about to start exercising?
It is okay for T2DM patients to exercise on high blood glucose as long as there are no signs of dehydration and patient feels fine
What should a T1DM patient do if they wanted to exercise, but their blood glucose is high?
If blood sugar is above 16.7mmol/L + feel unwell:
Check ketones and postpone vigorous exercise until insulin is given and ketones are resolves
If sugar is high, but feel fine and no ketones, go ahead and exercise
What is insulin?
It is a hormone secreted from pancreatic beta-cells to help regulate blood glucose
In the body, proinsulin is cleaved into insulin and C-peptide
Commercially available products only contain insulin
What is the difference between basal and bolus release of insulin?
Basal release:
Beta cells secrete small amounts of insulin throughout the day (maintain baseload)
Bolus release:
At mealtime, insulin is rapidly released in response to food (increases secretion at times of increased glucose)
What do the onset, peak, and duration of rapid acting insulin analogues (RAIA) look like?
RAIA onset:
10-15 min
RAIA peak:
1-2 hours
RAIA duration:
3-4 hours
What do the onset, peak, and duration of short-acting insulin analogues look like?
Short acting onset:
30min
Short acting peak:
2-3 hours
Short acting duration:
6.5 hours
What does the onset, peak, and duration of Insulin regular U-500 look like?
U-500 onset:
15 min
U-500 peak:
4-8 hours
U-500 duration:
17-24 hours
What makes rapid acting insulin analogues (RAIA) have a short onset, high peak, and short duration of effect?
They have modifications to the basic Humulin Insulin. These modifications allow them to have more rapid absorption vs. Short acting insulins. RAIAs also more closely mimic endogenous insulin release
What are some advantages of RAIA over short acting insulin?
More rapid absorption
Quicker peak
Shorter duration of action
More convienent:
Can be taken 0-15 min before a mean or within 15 minutes of eating, short acting is 30-45 min (more flexibility on what patient want’s to eat, can adjust insulin dose appropriately)
How is Insulin regular U-500 administered?
It is a very concentrated form of insulin (extreme caution is required to avoid inadvertent overdose)
Given 2-3 times per week
What does the onset, peak, and duration of intermediate-acting insulin look like?
Intermediate Onset: 1-3h
Intermediate Peak 5-8h
Intermediate duration: up to 18h
What does the onset, peak, and duration of long-acting insulins look like?
long-acting onset: 90 min
Long-acting peak: no real peak, very flat curve
Long-acting duration: (24-42h)
Describe intermediate-acting insulins
Administered once or twice daily to provide a basal amount of insulin
Appear cloudy (need to resuspend by hand-rolling or inverting 10x)
Describe long-acting insulin?
3 main versions (glargine, detemir, and degludec). All have amino acid modifications to help them achieve long durations of effect
Glargine: forms micropreciptates which slowly dissolve, 24-30h duration of effect
Detemir: Prolonged duration of effect due to hexamer stability
Degludec: longest duration of effect (42h)
What are the advantages of long acting insulin analogues (LAIAs) vs. intermediate acting insulin?
They are “peak less” (long duration of effect)
More consistent blood glucose
Less hypoglycaemia due to consistent reduction in blood glucose (less variable)
When switching between long acting insulin analogues (LAIAs), what are some dosing considerations?
Maintain the same dose unless patient is moving from the following:
Reduce new insulin dose by 20% when moving from the following:
Insulin glargine 300u/mL (Toujeo)
Insulin detemir (Levemir) BID
Insulin NPH BID
*Insulin glargine 100u/mL (Lantas), but only when switching to Degludec (Tresiba)
What are the main types of insulin delivery devices commonly used by patients?
Syringes and vials (least popular, but rational choice)
Insulin pens
Insulin pumps
What are some advantages of syringes as an insulin delivery device?
Traditional method of insulin delivery, but some prefer it due to the following reasons:
Least expensive
Used to it (familiarity)
Prefer less injections and want to combine some insulin sin same syringes
What does the gauge number mean for needles?
Higher gauge=thinner needle
What are some advantages of insulin pens?
Insulin pens have largely supplanted vials/syringes for the following reasons:
Portable/convenient/easier to use
Advantageous if dexterity/visually impaired
Allows for precision dosing (easier to administer an accurate dose)
What are insulin pumps?
Also known as a continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII)
It is a small computerized devices that delivers insulin continuously 24h a day, but can also increase release rate when a bolus release is needed
The pump is worn on the outside of the body and only delivers RAIAs via a tube which is attached to a cannula placed under the skin (changed every 3 days)
What are the advantages of insulin pumps?
Patient/guardians should be motivated and able to understand what is entailed before deciding on using a insulin pump
Consider insulin pumps for the following patients:
Poorly controlled with optimized injections
Significant glucose variability
Frequent severe hypoglycaemia
Pregnancy
What is the SK Insulin Pump Program?
For T1DM patients, 1 pump is covered every 5 years (up to $6300)
Pump supplies are covered for initial trial period (3 months)
Pump supplies are only further covered if patient is under Sask Income Support or SAIL program
What is a closed loop system in terms of glucose management?
This is an integrated insulin pump and CGM system that automatically adjusts insulin in response to elevation in blood sugar.
A closed loop system can mimic the pancreas (artificial pancreas)
What are some adverse effects of insulin?
Hypoglycaemia (Most common AE)
Weight gain:
Promoted glucose uptake by target cells = increased nutrition
Insulin is also a anabolic hormones that promotes energy storage via glycogen, protein, and lipid synthesis (localized fat hypertrophy)
What are some factors that affect insulin absorption?
Exercise of injected area = increased
Massage = increased
HIgher temperature = increased
Depth of insulin IV>IM>SC
Lipohypertrophy = decreased
Reduced renal function = decreased
What is the recommended injection technique for insulin?
Wash your hands
Alcohol swab cartridge/vial (don’t need to wipe injection area)
Rotate injections systematically within the same anatomical region (impact on absorption rate and lipohypertrophy)
Avoid moles, scars, and other blemishes
Use a quick, smooth movement
What are the preferred injection sites?
Around the belly button
Side of upper thigh
Love handle region (above buttocks)
Under arm region