Diabetes Flashcards
What is the threshold for diabetes diagnosis on a fasting plasma glucose?
> /= 7mmol/L
What is the threshold for diabetes diagnosis, 2 hours following a glucose load?
> /= 11.1mmol/L
What is the HbA1c threshold which suggests a patient is diabetic?
> /= 48mmol/mol
How is the fasting glucose threshold needed to diagnose changed for gestational diabetes (i.e. in pregnant mothers)?
It is a lower threshold of >/= 5.6mmol/L.
This is due to the associated risk to the neonate being the point of reference (outwith pregnancy this is aimed at preventing the onset of retinopathy).
Which type of cells secrete insulin?
Pancreatic beta cells
What type of cells secrete glucagon?
Pancreatic alpha cells
What can C-peptide level measure, and why?
Endogenous insulin production
It is a component of an insulin precursor which is cleaved when insulin becomes active. Crucially, synthetic insulin does not leave the molecule when injected.
What are the two mechanisms by which insulin can become ineffective?
Issues with production
Development of resistance
What occurs in T1DM?
Autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells, leading to an insufficiency (cannot produce insulin).
What age group is affected by T1DM?
Any age - often thought of as a disease of the young, but not always. It has an unknown trigger in those with a genetic predisposition.
What occurs in T2DM?
Predominately insulin resistance - can have a secretory issue too.
Is diabetes symptomatic?
No - symptoms appear in episodes of hypoglycaemia/hyperglycaemia.
What are the two types of emergency in diabetes
Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)
Hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic state (HHS)
What is HbA1c?
A blood test used to measure the amount of glycated haemoglobin within the circulation.
What are the three microvascular complications that may result in T1DM?
Retinopathy
Nephropathy
Neuropathy
In which individuals may HbA1c be less effective as a diagnostic tool?
Those with a high RBC turnover (e.g. haemolytic anaemia).
In those with T2DM, what should be the aim for HbA1c?
Keep below 53mmol/mol.
This reduces the risk of complications.
Is T2DM reversible?
Yes, if weight loss and diet alterations are made at the point of diagnosis, the patient may enter remission.
Are beta cells completely dysfunctional in T2DM?
No, they are just reduced in function - this may result in end-stage T2DM. At this point, insulin therapy may be required.
What sugar level is defined is hypoglycaemia?
A capillary glucose level of < 4mmol/L.
What is a normal blood ketone level?
0.0 - 0.6 mmol/L.
If any level above this suggests potential DKA.
What glucose and ketone levels would raise suspicion of DKA?
Ketones >/= 3.0mmol/L
Blood glucose >/= 14.ommol/L
What type of cells can be found in the Islets of Langerhans?
Alpha cells
Beta cells
Delta cells
PP cells
What is secreted by delta cells in the pancreas?
Somatostatin
What is secreted by PP cells in the pancreas?
Pancreatic polypeptide
What are the roles of somatostatin and pancreatic polypeptide?
To control the function of alpha and beta cells.
How does glucose enter the pancreatic beta cells?
GLUT2 transporters (come from areas of higher concentration to lower concentration).
Which enzymes phosphorylate glucose into G6P?
Glucokinase
Which form of T2DM medication stimulates insulin secretion, through mimicking ATP (preventing K+ channels opening in the beta cell membrane)?
Sulphonylureas
Examples include gliclazide, glipizide and glimepiride.
Are suplonylureas glucose-dependent?
No, as a result there is a risk of hypoglycaemia.
Are incretins glucose-dependent?
Yes
How is T1DM treated?
Exogenous insulin (as their body can no longer produce this themselves).
Alongside T1DM and T2DM, what other forms of diabetes exist?
Gestational diabetes
Maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY)
Neonatal diabetes
Latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA)
Why do women develop gestational diabetes?
They already have declining beta cell function - hence they are likely to develop T2DM in the future.
How is gestational diabetes treated?
Largely lifestyle alterations will address the issue - some may need metformin treatment.
If sugars above 7mmol/mol on fasting then give insulin.
What is MODY?
A monogenic disease producing beta cell dysfunction. Will develop at an early age, with family history common.
What is neonatal diabetes?
A rare monogenic form of diabetes caused by issues in the glucose-sensing mechanism.
How does MODY differ from T1DM?
MODY patients still have a degree of beta cell function, thus can be treated with sulphonylureas.