Diabetes

Question 1

What results of the oral glucose tolerance test would indicate impaired glucose tolerance?

Answer 1

Fasting blood glucose < 7
& 2-hr post glucose challenge or random glucose level of 7.8 - 11 mmol/L

Question 2

What results of the oral glucose tolerance test / HbA1C would indicate diabetes?

Answer 2

A fasting blood glucose of 7mmol/L or more
OR
A random glucose or 2-hr post glucose challenge level of 11.1+

OR
HbA1LC of 48 mmol/L or 6.5% or above

(Note if patient asymptomatic, then these levels need to be shown on 2x separate occasions)

Question 3

In which circumstances is HbA1LC unlikely to give a reliable results and therefore shouldn’t be used for diabetes screening / diagnosis?

Answer 3

haemoglobinopathies
haemolytic anaemia
untreated iron deficiency anaemia
suspected gestational diabetes
children
HIV
chronic kidney disease
people taking medication that may cause hyperglycaemia (for example corticosteroids)

Question 4

In patients aged > 60 with new diagnosis of diabetes and weightloss what further investigation is important to do?

Answer 4

CT Abdomen should be performed if > 60 with new-diagnosis diabetes and weightloss - this is to exclude pancreatic cancer as an underlying cause of the DM