Diabetes Flashcards
What is the ideal blood glucose conc?
4.4-6.1 mmol/l
Where is insulin produced?
Beta cells in the Islets of Langerhans in the pancreas
What is insulin?
An anabolic hormone
Insulin reduces blood sugar levels in what 2 ways?
1) Causes cells in body to ABSORB glucose from blood and use it as FUEL
2) Causes muscle & liver cells to ABSORB glucose from blood and STORE it as GLYCOGEN
How does a lack of insulin affect glucose levels?
Hyperglycaemia (as cells cannot take up and use glucose)
Where is glucagon produced?
Hormone produced by the alpha cells in the Islets of Langerhans in the pancreas
Is glucagon an anabolic or catabolic hormone?
Catabolic (breakdown)
What is glucagon released in response to?
a) low blood sugar levels
b) stress
Glucagon INCREASES blood sugar levels in what 2 ways?
1) glycogenolysis –> tells liver to break down stored glycogen into glucose
2) gluconeogenesis –> tells liver to convert proteins & fats into glucose
What is T1D?
An autoimmune metabolic disorder in which the immune system targets and destroys the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas.
Without insulin, the cells of the body cannot absorb glucose from the blood and use it as fuel.
Therefore, the cells think there is no glucose available. Meanwhile, the glucose level in the blood keeps rising, causing hyperglycaemia.
What is T1D characterised by?
Persistent hyperglycaemia (random plasma glucose >11mol/L) due to defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both.
Cause of T1D?
- Unclear
- There may be a genetic component, but it is not inherited in any clear pattern.
- Certain viruses, such as the Coxsackie B and enterovirus, may trigger it.
What is the classic triad of symptoms of hyperglycaemia?
1) Polyuria (excess urine)
2) Polydipsia (excess thirst)
3) Weight loss (mainly through dehydration)
In patients with undiagnosed T1D, how may they typically present?
In diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)
How can the risk of complications of T1D be reduced?
By keeping circulating glucose levels to as near to normal as possible.
Patients with T1D may present with hypoglycaemia, hyperglycaemia, or DKA.
Give some symptoms of hypoglycaemia
- Tremor
- Sweating
- Dizziness
- Pallor
- Reduced consciousness, coma and death if severe
Management of moderate hypoglycaemia?
Rapid acting glucose (e.g. lucozade) + slower acting glucose (e.g. biscuits and toast)
2 management options for severe hypoglycaemia?
1) IV dextrose
2) IM glucagon
What is ketogenesis? When does it occur?
What - production of ketones, liver takes fatty acids and converts them to ketones
When - insufficient glucose supply and glycogen stores are exhausted e.g. prolonged fasting
What are ketones?
Ketones are water-soluble fatty acids that can be used as fuel.
Can ketones cross the BBB?
Yes - and can be used by the brain
How are ketone levels measured?
Urine –> dipstick test
Blood –> ketone meter
What is characteristic breath smell of people in ketosis?
Acetone smell to breath
How do ketones affect blood pH?
How is this buffered in healthy people?
Ketones make blood more acidic.
In healthy people, the kidneys buffer ketones so the blood does not become acidotic.
What occurs in DKA?
Insulin deficiency results in release of free fatty acids from adipose tissue (lipolysis) –> hyperglycaemic ketosis.
This results in a life-threatening metabolic acidosis.
Characterised by:
1) Uncontrolled hyperglycaemia
2) Metabolic acidosis
3) Increased body ketone concentration
What are the 3 most common scenarios for DKA to occur?
1) Initial presentation of T1D
2) Existing T1 diabetic who is unwell for another reason, often infection
3) An existing T1 diabetic who is not adhering to their insulin regime
What are the 3 key features of DKA?
1) Ketoacidosis
2) Dehydration
3) Potassium imbalance
What are some precipitating factors for DKA?
- Infection
- Discontinuation of insulin (unintentional or deliberate).
- Inadequate insulin
- Cardiovascular disease - eg, stroke or myocardial infarction
- Drug treatments e.g. steroids, thiazides, SGLT2 inhibitors
- Psychological stress e.g. pregnancy, trauma or surgery
What is ketoacidosis?
1)Without insulin, the body’s cells cannot recognise glucose, even when there is plenty in the blood, so the liver starts producing ketones to use as fuel.
2) Over time, there are higher and higher glucose and ketones levels.
3) Initially, the kidneys produce bicarbonate to counteract the ketone acids in the blood and maintain a normal pH.
4) Over time, the ketone acids use up the bicarbonate, and the blood becomes acidic. This is called ketoacidosis.
How does DKA lead to dehydration?
- high blood glucose levels (hyperglycaemia) overwhelm the kidneys
- glucose leaks into the urine
- the glucose in the urine draws water out by osmotic diuresis
- This causes increased urine production (polyuria) and results in severe dehydration
- Dehydration results in excessive thirst (polydipsia).
How does insulin normally affect potassium?
Drives potassium INTO cells (i.e. lowers serum potassium)
How does diabetes/DKA affect potassium levels?
Without insulin, potassium is not added to and stored in cells.
The serum potassium can be high (or normal as the kidneys balance blood potassium with the potassium excreted in the urine).
However, total body potassium is LOW because no potassium is stored in the cells.
When treatment with insulin starts, patients can develop severe hypokalaemia (low serum potassium) very quickly, leading to fatal arrhythmias.
How does diabetes/DKA affect total body potassium?
LOW total body potassium - as no potassium is stored in the cells
How can starting treatment for diabetes/DKA affect potassium levels?
When treatment with insulin starts, patients can develop severe hypokalaemia (low serum potassium) very quickly as potassium is taken up into cells, leading to fatal arrhythmias.
Symptoms of DKA?
- Polyuria, polydipsia –> dehydration
- N&V
- Acetone-smelling breath (‘pear drops’ smell)
- Weight loss
- Hypotension
- Altered consciousness
- Abdominal pain
- Kussmaul respiration (deep hyperventilation)
- Symptoms of underlying trigger (i.e. sepsis)
Features of DKA:
- Hyperglycaemia
- Dehydration
- Ketosis
- Metabolic acidosis (with a low bicarbonate)
- Potassium imbalance
A diagnosis of DKA requires what 3 criteria?
1) hyperglycaemia e.g. blood glucose level >11 mmol/L
2) ketosis e.g. blood ketones >3 mmol/L
3) acidosis e.g. pH <7.3
What are the main principles of management of DKA?
ABCDE assessment & escalate early –> life-threatening
Most dangerous aspects are 1) dehydration, 2) potassium imbalance, and 3) acidosis.
Priority –> fluid resuscitation to correct these.
FIG-PICK:
- Fluid resuscitation –> IV fluid resuscitation with normal saline (e.g., 1 litre in the first hour, followed by 1 litre every 2 hours)
- Insulin –> fixed rate insulin infusion (e.g., Actrapid at 0.1 units/kg/hour)
- Glucose –> closely monitor blood glucose and add a glucose infusion when it is less than 14 mmol/L
- Potassium –> add potassium to IV fluids and monitor closely (e.g., every hour initially)
- Infection –> treat underlying triggers such as infection
- Chart fluid balance
- Ketones –> monitor blood ketones, pH and bicarbonate
Example of fluid resuscitation in DKA management:
1st hour –> 1 litre 0.9% sodium chloride (saline)
For the remaining time –> 0.9% sodium chloride 1L with potassium chloride
What is your priority management in DKA?
Fluid resus
Give some signs of gross deydration
- Dry mucous membranes.
- Decreased skin turgor/skin wrinkling.
- Sunken eyes.
- Slow capillary refill.
- Tachycardia with weak pulse.
- Hypotension.
Describe the breathing in DKA
- Can be tachypnoea
- Can be Kussmaul respiration (very deep, slowly rhythmic breathing)
How should insulin be given in DKA?
Fixed rate insulin infusion (e.g., Actrapid at 0.1 units/kg/hour)
When should a glucose infusion be given in DKA?
when blood glucose is less than 14 mmol/L
Before stopping the insulin and fluid infusions in DKA, what should you ensure?
1) Ketosis and acidosis should have resolved
2) They should be eating and drinking
3) They should have started their regular subcutaneous insulin
What are key potential complications during DKA treatment?
1) Hypoglycaemia
2) Hypokalaemia
3) Cerebral oedema, particularly in children
4) Pulmonary oedema 2ary to fluid overload or acute respiratory distress syndrome
Who is cerebral oedema during DKA management more common in ?
Children
Under normal circumstances, what should the rate of potassium infusion not exceed?
Why?
10 mmol/hour - as there is a risk of inducing an arrhythmia or cardiac arrest
In DKA, what should the rate of potassium infusion not exceed?
Rates up to 20 mmol/hour may be used
There must be expert supervision with cardiac monitoring and through a central line (rather than a peripheral cannula).
When there is doubt about whether a patient has type 1 or type 2 diabetes, what 2 investigations can be done?
Checking for autoantibodies and serum C-peptide
What are the 3 types of autoantibodies in T1D?
1) Anti-islet cell antibodies
2) Anti-GAD antibodies
3) Anti-insulin antibodies
What is serum c-peptide a measure of?
A measure of insulin production:
- It is low with low insulin production
- It is high with high insulin production
What 4 factors are involved in long-term T1D management?
1) SC insulin
2) Monitoring dietary carbohydrate intake
3) Monitoring blood sugar levels upon waking, at each meal and before bed
4) Monitoring for and managing complications, both short and long term
What are 2 potential insulin regimes in T1D management?
1) Basal-bolus regime
2) Insulin pumps
What does a basal-bolus regime of insulin involve a combination of?
1) Background, long-acting insulin
2) Short-acting insulin
When is short-acting insulin injected in T1D management?
injected 30 minutes before consuming carbohydrates (e.g., at meals)
When is background, long-acting insulin injected in T1D?
injected once a day
Why should T1D patients cycle their insulin injection sites?
Injecting into the same spot can cause lipodystrophy (where the subcutaneous fat hardens).
Areas of lipodystrophy do not absorb insulin properly from further injections.
What should you check if a patient is not responding to insulin as expected?
Ask where they inject and check for lipodystrophy.
What are insulin pumps?
What –> Insulin pumps are small devices that CONTINUOUSLY infuse insulin at different rates to control blood sugar levels.
How they work –> The pump pushes insulin through a small plastic tube (cannula) inserted under the skin.
The cannula is replaced every 2 – 3 days, and the insertion sites are rotated to prevent lipodystrophy and absorption issues.
Advantages of insulin pumps?
- Better blood sugar control
- More flexibility with eating
- Less injections
Disadvantages of insulin pumps?
- Difficulties learning to use the pump
- Having it attached at all times
- Blockages in the infusion set
- A small risk of infection
What are the 2 types of insulin pumps?
1) Tethered pump
2) Patch pump
What is a tethered pump?
Devices with replaceable infusion sets and insulin. They are usually attached to the patient’s belt or around the waist with a tube connecting the pump to the insertion site. The controls for the infusion are on the pump itself.
What is a patch pump?
Patch pumps sit directly on the skin without any visible tubes. When they run out of insulin, the entire patch pump is disposed of, and a new pump is attached. A separate remote usually controls patch pumps.
A pancreas transplant is one potential management option in T1D.
However, the procedure carries significant risks, and life-long immunosuppression is required to prevent rejection.
Who is it reserved for?
1) patients with severe hypoglycaemic episodes
2) patients also having kidney transplants
What does a pancreas implant involve?
A pancreas transplant involves implanting a donor pancreas to produce insulin.
The original pancreas is left in place to continue producing digestive enzymes.
Why is the original pancreas left in place in a pancreas transplant?
to continue producing digestive enzymes.
What are 2 surgical options in severe T1D?
1) pancreas transplant
2) islet transplantation
What is an islet transplantation?
Islet transplantation involves inserting donor islet cells into the patient’s liver.
These islet cells produce insulin and help in managing diabetes.
However, patients often still need insulin therapy after islet transplantation.
What monitoring is needed in T1D?
1) HbA1c (every 3-6 months)
2) Capillary blood glucose (daily)
How often is HbA1c measured in T1D?
It is measured every 3 to 6 months to track the average sugar levels.
What is HbA1c?
HbA1c measures glycated haemoglobin (which is how much glucose is attached to the haemoglobin molecule).
It reflects the average glucose level over the previous 2-3 months.
What is glycated haemoglobin?
how much glucose is attached to the haemoglobin molecule
How is HbA1c measured?
Lab blood test
How is capillary blood glucose measured?
Finger prick test - can be measured using a blood glucose monitor, giving an immediate result
Give 3 options for glucose monitoring in T1D
1) Capillary blood glucose (finger-prick test)
2) Flash glucose monitors (e.g., FreeStyle Libre 2)
3) Continuous glucose monitors (CGM)
What are flash glucose monitors?
They use a SENSOR on the skin that measures the glucose level of the interstitial fluid in the subcutaneous tissue.
The sensor records the glucose readings at short intervals, so you get an excellent impression of what the glucose levels are doing over time.
The user needs to use their mobile phone to swipe over the sensor and collect the reading.
How often do need to change flash glucose monitors (e.g., FreeStyle Libre 2)?
Sensors need replacing every 2 weeks for the FreeStyle Libre system.
If hypoglycaemia is suspected, why is a flash glucose monitor not appropriate?
There is a 5-minute lag behind blood glucose.
The 5-minute delay means it is necessary to do capillary blood glucose testing if hypoglycaemia is suspected.
How do continuous glucose monitors (CGM) work?
Similar the flash glucose monitors in that a sensor on the skin monitors the sugar level in the interstitial fluid.
However, continuous glucose monitors send the readings over bluetooth and do not require the patient to scan the sensor.
What is a closed loop system in T1D management? What is it a combination of?
Also called an artificial pancreas.
Combination of:
1) continuous glucose monitor
2) an insulin pump
The devices communicate to automatically adjust the insulin based on the glucose readings.
Patients still need to input their carbohydrate intake and adjust the system to account for strenuous exercise.
What are the 2 major short term risks in T1D?
1) Hypoglycaemia
2) Hyperglycaemia (and DKA)
What can cause hypoglycaemia in T1D patients?
- Too much insulin
- Not consuming enough carbohydrates
- Not processing carbs correctly e.g. malabsorption, diarrhoea or vomiting
What may hyperglycaemia without DKA in patients with T1D indicate?
May indicate that insulin dose needs to be increased
Management of hyperglycaemia?
- Essential to exclude DKA
-Short episodes of hyperglycaemia do not necessarily require treatment. Insulin injections can take several hours to take effect and repeated doses could lead to hypoglycaemia.
Long term complications of T1D can be separated into microvascular, macrovascular and infection-related.
What are the macrovascular complications?
- Coronary artery disease –> a significant cause of death in diabetics
- Peripheral ischaemia –> causes poor skin healing and diabetic foot ulcers
- Stroke
- Hypertension
What predisposes to diabetic foot ulcers in T1D?
Peripheral ischaemia
What are the microvascular complications in T1D?
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Retinopathy
- Kidney disease, particularly glomerulosclerosis
Main kidney disease seen in T1D?
Glomerulosclerosis
Infection-related complications of T1D?
- UTIs
- Pneumonia
- SSTIs, particuarly in the feet
- Fungal infections, particularly oral and vaginal candidiasis