Diabetes: Complications Flashcards
Chronic complications
Macrovascular
- IHD
- Stroke
Microvascular - Neuropathy -Retinopathy -Nephropathy (Strong relationship of HbA1c to risk of microvascular complications)
Cognitive dysfunction dementia
Erectile dysfunction
Psychiatric
Screening
At annual review
- Digital retinal screening
- Foot risk assessment
- ACR (albumin creatinine ratio)
Glucose Metabolism (Pathophysiology)
Normally, glucose is completely oxidised via both glycolysis and mitochondrial metabolism via TCA
Glycolysis is inefficient but high throughput
Mitochondrial metabolism is efficient but low throughput
When faced with excess glucose, glycolic flux is high but mitochondria can’t keep up
–> Alternative pathways are used
Consequences of hyperglycaemia
Inflammation
Fibrosis
Osmotic Damage
Release of reactive oxygen species
Excess glucose exposure (and impaired mitochondrial metabolism) results in increased flux of glucose via alternative pathways, many of which precipitate inflammation and increased ROS.
Diabetic Retinopathy
Disorder of the retina resulting in impairment or loss of vision
Diabetic Retinopathy Aetiology
Long-standing diabetes with poor glycemic control
Pathology
Damage to the blood-retina barrier
Damage causes occlusion or leakage in the retinal circulation
Classification of diabetic retinopathy
Background Retinopathy
Pre-proliferative Retinopathy
Proliferative Retinopathy
Advanced retinopathy
Mild, moderate and severe non-proliferative
Proliferative
Background retinopathy
(HOME)
Haemorrhage
- leakage of blood into retina
- dot, blot, flame-shaped
Oedema
- leakage of fluid (transudate)
- diabetic macular oedema can occur even in background disease
Microaneurysms
- out pouching of venous end of capillaries
- earliest sign of retinopathy, found in central macula
Exudates
- leakage of lipid
- yellowish deposits, usually in macula
Pre-proliferative Retinopathy
Cotton Wool Spot
- Blockage of fine retinal capillaries flow is slowed, producing a feathery whitish area- represents focal infarct
Vein Abnormalities
- characterize an ischaemic retina
- venous looping, beading and engorgement
Intra-retinal microvascular abnormalities(IRMA)
Areas of capillary dilatation and intraretinal new vessel formation
Arise within retinal ischaemia
Present in numbers: Pre-proliferative
Retinal detachment
As new vessel mature, connective tissue and fibrosis (gloss) occurs allow vitreous to exert traction which may cause detachment
If detachment extends across fovea - vision loss
Retinopathy treatment
Laser
- Pan retinal photo coagulation
- reduces oxygen retirement of retina. Reduces ischaemia that is driving retinopathy
Vitrectomy
- if virtual haemorrhage
Diabetic macular oedema treatment
Optical coherence tomography
- Assess oedema
Intraviteal Anti-VEGF
- mainstay of treatment
Grid laser to macula may be required
Nephropathy
Progressive kidney disease caused by damage to the capillaries in kidneys glomeruli
Diabetes commonest cause of kidney failure and dialysis in the UK
Nephropathy Characteristics
Proteinuria
Diffuse scarring of glomeruli
Nodular glomerulosclerosis
Consequences of nephropathy
Development of hypertension
Relentless decline in renal function
- reduction of GFR of 1ml/min/month if untreated
Accelerated vascular disease
Screening for nephropathy
Urinary albumin concentration and serum creatinine measure at diagnosis and at regular intervals
Urinary albumin conc
- Random urine sample
Urinary albumin: creatinine ratio
- laboratory method
Abnormal result requires to be confirmed by a further 1st pass sample without delay