Diabetes

Question 1

Type 1 Diabetes

Answer 1

A condition where the pancreas doesn’t produce any Insulin. This is caused by an autoimmune response whereby the body attacks healthy tissue/cells (beta cells in the islets of langerhans), causing insulin to not be produced. This leaves high concentrations of sugar in the blood.

Question 2

Autoimmune Response

Answer 2

Where the body attacks healthy tissue/cells

Question 3

Type 2 Diabetes

Answer 3

A condition where the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or the body doesn’t react to it.

Question 4

Symptoms of Diabetes

Answer 4

• Thirst
• Weight loss
• Frequent urination
• Tiredness
• Thrush/itchy genitals
• Slow healing
• Blurred vision

Question 5

Gestational Diabetes

Answer 5

A condition in pregnancy which means the body can’t produce enough insulin to meet the needs of pregnancy. This condition usually disappears once baby is born.

Question 6

Treatment

Answer 6

Type 1: - Insulin injections
Type 2: - Weight loss, changes to diet, exercise, sometimes medication.
Gestational: - Weight loss, changes to diet, exercise, sometimes medication

Question 7

Physiological Changes in Pregnancy

Answer 7

• Progressive insulin resistance
• B cells produce more insulin
• Blood sugar levels are higher in pregnant diabetic women

Question 8

Sliding Scale

Answer 8

Prep: 50ml Actrapid Insulin in 500ml Sodium Chloride 0.9%. 1 unit per ml. Then infused at a rate appropriate for patients blood sugar.

Question 9

Care

Answer 9

Ante: - Teach BG monitoring, diet and exercise advise, insulin?, If >7mmol/L recheck in two hours, 75mg aspirin daily from 12-36weeks.
Intra: - Capillary blood glucose and urine for ketones upon admission, hourly monitoring (4-7mmol/L), sliding scale?.
Post: - Insulin requirements fall after delivery of placenta, metformin whilst BF is okay, follow-up GTT within 3 months.