Diabetes and Hypoglycaemia Flashcards
What is Glucose and how is the blood glucose level maintained ?
Glucose is a major energy substrate
Blood glucose levels are maintained through :
- Dietary Carbohydrate
- Glycogenolysis - liver breaks down glycogen -> glucose
- Gluconeogenesis - non-carbohydrate sources produce glucose
What is the role of the liver ?
Following Meals - Stores glucose as glycogen
During Fasting -Makes Glucose available through glycogenolysis (break down of glycogen ) and gluconeogenesis (production of glucose from non-glucose sources )
Why is it important to regulate blood glucose level ?
Brain and erythrocytes require continuous glucose supply therefore must avoid glucose deficiency
High glucose can cause pathological changes to tissues:
e.g. micro/macro vascular diseases, neuropathy
At high blood glucose, blood passes pancreas. pancreatic beta cells release insulin, which stimulates glucose uptake from blood into liver, muscles, adipose tissue = reduces blood glucose. Insulin: glucose ➔ glycogen for storage.
At low blood glucose, blood passes pancreas. pancreatic alpha cells secrete glucagon, which stimulates breakdown of glycogen to glucose to increase blood glucose
What is the function of insulin in the liver, striated muscle and adipose tissue?
Insulin release is induced by high blood glucose to reduce blood glucose level
Liver :
Decreases gluconeogenesis
Increases glycogen synthesis
Increases lipogenesis (lipid synthesis)
Striated Muscle:
Increases glucose uptake into muscle
Increases glycogen synthesis
Increases protein synthesis
Adipose tissue :
Increases glucose uptake into adipose tissue
Increases lipogenesis
Decreases lipolysis
What are the counter-regulatory hormones to insulin and what are their functions ?
- Glucagon -Mobilises fuels, maintains blood glucose in fasting
- Activates gluconeogenesis /glycogenolysis and activates fatty acid release - Epiniphrine -Mobilises fuels in acute stress
- Stimulate glycogenolysis and stimulate fatty acid release - Cortisol -Changing long term
- Amino acid mobilisation and gluconeogenesis
4.Growth Hormone
see slide 7
Define Diabetes Mellitus
This is a metabolic disorder characterised by chronic hyperglycaemia, glycosuria and associated abnormalities of lipid and protein metabolism
Hyperglycaemia due to ⬆ hepatic glucose production + ⬇ cellular glucose uptake
Glycosuria (glucose in urine) as blood glucose exceeds renal threshold
What is classified as glycosuria?
Glycosuria = excess sugar in the urine
Blood glucose>10mmol/L = exceeds renal threshold
What are the different classifications of Diabetes ?
Type 1: Deficiency in Insulin secretion due to autoimmune destruction of beta-cells of the pancreas by T-cells
Type 2: Insulin secretion is retained but target organ resists its actions
Secondary: Due to Chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic surgery, secretion of insulin antagonists.
pancreas removed = lack of insulin production
Gestational - Pregnancy
Describe Type 1 DM
Predominantly in children + young adults
Sudden onset (days/weeks)
Appearance of symptoms may be preceded by prediabetic period of several months.
Cause - Autoimmune destruction of B-cells of pancreas by T-cells:
- Due to Interaction b/w genetic/environmental factors
- Strong link with HLA genes within the MHC region on chromosome 6, ⬆susceptibility/protect against disease
In susceptible individuals, environmental factors may trigger immune-mediated destruction of pancreatic B-cells
Pathogenesis of Type 1 DM
1.Destruction of B-cells starts with autoantigen formation
2.Autoantigens are presented to T-lymphocytes to initiate autoimmune response (secrete toxins to destroy pancreatic B-cells)
(Autoantigens are ingested by APCs which activate T-helper1+2 lymphocytes. Activated T-helper1 lymphocyte secretes IL2 + interferon. But IL2 then activates autoantigen which is specific to T-cytotoxic lymphocytes which then secrete toxins to destroy islet cells. + Activated TH2 lymphocyte produces IL4 = stimulates B-lymphocytes to proliferate + produce islet cell autoantibodies)
- = Circulating autoantibodies to various cell antigens against:
- Glutamic acid decarboxylase
- Tyrosine-phosphatase like molecule
- Islet auto-antigen
Most commonly detected antibody of T1DM = islet cell antibody
see notebook for clear process
How do both genetic predisposition and environmental factors link when it comes to pathogenesis of Type 1 DM ?
In a susceptible individual a environmental factor such as an infection by Epstein-Barr virus / CMV this will cause autoantigens to form on insulin-producing beta cells and circulate in the blood stream and lymphatics.
This will then be processed and presented as autoantigen by antigen presenting cells.
Activation of T helper 1 lymphocytes which will secrete interferon gamma and interleukin 2.
Interferon gamma will activate macrophages by releasing interleukin 1 and tumour necrosis factor alpha.
Interleukin 2 will activate autoantigen specific T cytotoxic cells.
Activation of T helper cell 2 will secrete IL-4 which will lead to activation of B lymphocytes which produces islet cell autoantibodies and antiGAD antibodies.
This will destroy beta cells with decreased insulin secretion
What is the most common antibodies found in Type 1 DM ?
Islet cell auto antibody
anti-glutamic acid dicarboxylic antibody.
Type 1 diabetes causes ……….glycaemia - How?
T1DM causes hyperglycaemia (⬇ insulin, ⬇ amylin)
Amylin = glucoregulatory peptide hormone, cosecreted w insulin. ⬇ blood glucose by slowing gastric emptying = suppresses glucagon secretion by pancreatic a-cells
What is amylin?
This is a glucoregulatory peptide hormone which is co-secreted with insulin.
It lowers blood glucose by slowing gastric emptying and supressing glucagon output from pancreatic cells
What are the metabolic complications of Type 1 DM?
Slide 14 + notebook
polyuria (osmotic diuresis)
What is the presentation of Type 2 DM ?
- Slow onset (months/yrs)
- Patients middle aged/elderly. Prevalence ⬆ with age
- Strong familiar incidence
- Pathogenesis is uncertain - insulin resistance, pancreatic Beta-cell dysfunction (insufficient insulin secretion)
Due to lifestyle factors, obesity ,lack of exercise
Pathophysiology of Type 2 DM ?
Insulin resistance
Genetic predisposition (family member has T2DM) + lifestyle factors = target organs insulin resistance. = Compensatory Beta-cell hyperplasia as they try to produce sufficient insulin to ⬇ blood glucose. Eventually , there is beta-cell failure (early) and impaired glucose tolerance. Further beta-cell failure (late) which leads to diabetes.
In cases where there is primary beta-cell failure, there will be diabetes straight away