Diabetes Flashcards
What different tests do we have for DM? [6]
- Random Glc test
- Fasting Glc test
- HbA1c test
- Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT)
- Blood & Urine Ketones
- Urine glucose
All DM tests are indicative of DM, which tests are considered diagnostic and what values would indicate diabetes? [4]
Fasting Venous Plasma Glc > 7mmol/l
Random Venous plasma Glc > 11.1mmol/l
OGTT >11.1mmol/l after 2 hours
HbA1C > 48mmol/mol
Explain the OGTT [3]
What result is abnormal? [1]
1) Take a fasting glucose
2) Give them oral glucose load
3) Test again after 2 hours
If its still raised then its +ve for diabetes (should normally return to normal within 1 hour of ingesting glucose)
What do we need to diagnose Diabetes Mellitus? [2]
2 +ve diagnostic tests (fasting or random glucose, OGTT or HbA1c)
OR
1 +ve diagnostic test + Symptoms
What is HbA1c? [3]
Glycated Haemoglobin [1]
Sugar in the blood binds to haemoglobin, the amount that does is directly proportional to the total amount of Glucose. [1]
So HbA1c levels reflect the level of glucose in the blood over the last 8-12w [1]
When can we not use an HbA1c test? [7]
- Children or young people
- Pregnant women
- The acutely ill
- Meds that affect glucose e.g. CCS or antipsychotics
- Acute pancreatic damage
- Renal Failure
- HIV infection
Basically anything that would alter recent glucose levels renders HbA1c useless
How would you diagnose DKA? [2]
Clinical diagnosis and blood/urine ketone testing.
Describe the biochem results of a patient with DKA? [4]
1) High glucose
2) Low Bicarbonate (kessmauls resp)
3) Low Na+ (diluted by movement of water)
4) High urea, potassium & Creatinine (dehydration reduces excretion)
When would you want to test C-peptide? [2]
If a patient was having recurrent hypoglycemia. Test their insulin levels to see if thats the source and its raised.
When insulin is self-injected, laboratory studies will show high plasma insulin levels in combination with low plasma C-peptide levels during the hypoglycemic episode. With sulfonylurea consumption, the clinical picture may mimic an insulinoma with high plasma levels of both C-peptide and insulin; a positive drug screen can render the diagnosis.
What would you want to monitor to keep an eye out for long-term complications? [3]
Urine Albumin/creatinine Ratio (for nephropathy)
Lipids & BP for CV disease
Investigations DKA
- Initial [5]
- After the patient is stable what additional investigations would you order? [3]
Inititial Investigations:
- ABCs
- Vital Signs
- IV access
- Clinical Assessment
- Glucose fingerprick test
First Investigations:
- Lab Blood Glucose to confirm
- ABGs (Low CO2 from hyperventilation & acidosis)
- Urinalysis and blood ketones
- U&E + FBC
Prediabetes definition
Also known as…
impaired glucose levels which are above the normal range but not high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus
How do we define prediabetes through investigations? [3]
- patients identified at high risk should have a blood sample taken
- a fasting plasma glucose of 6.1-6.9 mmol/l or
- an HbA1c level of 42-47 mmol/mol (6.0-6.4%)
So normal is <6 mmol/l and 41 HbA1c on fasting glucose
DM is >7 mol/l and 48 HbA1c is DM on fasting plasma
How do you identify high risk people in the first instance before investigating for prediabetes?
all adults aged 40 and over, people of South Asian and Chinese descent aged 25-39
Management of prediabetic patients [3]
NICE guidelines 2012
- lifestyle modification: weight loss, increased exercise, change in diet
- at least yearly follow-up with blood tests is recommended
- metformin for adults at high risk ‘whose blood glucose measure (fasting plasma glucose or HbA1c) shows they are still progressing towards type 2 diabetes, despite their participation in an intensive lifestyle-change programme’
Impaired fasting glucose vs Impaired glucose tolerance
impaired fasting glucose (IFG) - due to hepatic insulin resistance
impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) - due to muscle insulin resistance
*patients with IGT are more likely to develop T2DM and cardiovascular disease than patients with IFG
Impaired fasting glucose definition
Impaired glucose tolerance definition
- a fasting glucose greater than or equal to 6.1 but less than 7.0 mmol/l implies impaired fasting glucose (IFG)
- impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) is defined as:
1. fasting plasma glucose less than 7.0 mmol/l AND
2. OGTT 2-hour value greater than or equal to 7.8 mmol/l but less than 11.1 mmol/l
What is the mainstay and first line options of Type 1 treatment? [2]
Lifestyle changes and Insulin!
How is insulin delivered? [2]
Why is it delivered any other route
By SC or IV
Because its a polypeptide inactivated by the GI tract so it doesnt work orally
What are the types of insulin? [5]
- Rapid acting
- Short Acting
- Intermediate Acting
- Long acting
- Continuous SC insulin infusion (CSII)
What changes the time insulin takes to take effect? [2]
Soluble insulin associates into hexamers in SC fat.
- It needs to dissociate into monomers in order to diffuse into capillaries.
- Altering the structure/solubility of insulin affects how long it takes to dissociate
Describe a twice daily insulin regime [1]
Timings [2]
Mix of rapid and intermediate acting insulin Before breakfest (BB) & before tea (BT)
Describe a thrice daily insulin regime? [1]
Timings [2]
Mix of rapid and intermediate BB
Rapid BT
Intermediate Bbed
Describe a 4x daily insulin regime? [2]
Mix of: Short acting insulin BB, BL & BT
Then Intermediate Bbed or long acting insulin at a fixed time once per day
How is Type 2 Diabetes treated?
Name drugs from 1st to 3rd line
Lifestyle modifications
1st line - Metformin (OHG)
2nd line - A Sulphonyurea (E.g. glimepiride)
3rd line - A thiazolidinedione (e.g. pioglitazone) (aka Glitazones)
Further 3rd line meds include:
DPP-IV inhibitors - SGLT-2 inhibitors - GLP-1 agonist - Insulin
What does metformin do? [1]
It increases insulin sensitivity
What aspects of hypoglycemia is it important to educate patients on? [4]
- How to test their blood sugar
- How to recognise the signs of a hypo
- How to treat it
- How to avoid it
Treatment of hypoglycaemia
Give 3 options for non-hospital and hospital settings
Follow up [1]
Rapid acting carb e.g. 200ml of fruit juice
OR 1mg IM glucagon
OR if in hospital then 80ml 20% glucose
Follow up with a long acting carbohydrate
How do patients avoid based on causes of hypoglycemia? [4]
- Blood glucose monitoring
- Rotate & check injection sites
- Review diet (carb counting)
- Maybe change the insulin regime
What are the rules for driving and Hypos?
What are the contraindications for driving that the DVLA impose on diabetics [2]
Diabetics have to check their glucose within 2 hours of driving [1] and repeat on long journeys [1]
They should carry short acting carbs in the car
If they can’t recognise a hypo [1] or have >1 severe hypo a year they can’t drive [1]