Diabetes

Question 1

What is the renal threshold for glucose?
What is the blood concentration above which glucose appears in the urine?

Answer 1

9-11 mmol/L

Question 2

What is considered a normal value for HbA1c?

Answer 2

Less than 42 mmol/mole

Question 3

Compare the HbA1c of a normal person to a diabetic

Answer 3

Normal <42 mmol/mole
Diabetics may have a HbA1c 2-3 times higher

Question 4

What fasting venous plasma glucose level is diagnostic of Diabetes Mellitus?

Answer 4

7.0 mmol/L or higher

Question 5

What enzyme might be measured to investigate pancreatitis?

Answer 5

Lipase

Question 6

What is HbA1c?

Answer 6

The amount of Haemoglobin A i.e the amount of adult haemoglobin in blood which has been glycosylated i.e. has a sugar/glucose molecule attached to it

Question 7

Why is HbA1c measured?

Answer 7

Used to diagnose type 2 diabetes
Used to monitor type 1 diabetes
“long term bloods”
Used to determine how much “control” a diabetic has on their blood sugar levels over a long period of time
Used to determine how the disease is progressing

Question 8

What tests are carried out on a diabetic patient?

Answer 8

Urine glucose test
If urine glucose is high then blood glucose (non fasting) is usually taken and patient is sent, along with sample, to the hospital for further testing
In hospital the non fasting glucose is analysed and another fasting glucose test will be carried out
HbA1c may also be taken, often seen in the older populations as type 2 is way more likely than type 1

Question 10

What is the principle behind HbA1c measurement?

Answer 10

Liquid chromatography
Explain further

Question 11

What 2hr glucose measurement is diagnostic for diabetes

Answer 11

2 hr glucose > 11.1 mmol/L

Question 12

What is the fasting venous plasma glucose threshold that’s diagnostic

Answer 12

Anything greater than/= to 7.0 mmol/L