Diabetes Medical Emergency Flashcards
Diabetes Mellitus
-Changes pt’s mental status/LOC from alterations in the blood glucose(Blood sugar) levels
Diabetes can lead to complications like_________
- Vascular disease
- Stroke
- MI
- Nerve dysfunction
- Kidney Failure
- Blindness
Glucose starts as?
Carbohydrates(complex sugars) broken down into simple sugars
How many percent % of simple sugar is glucose?
80%
Three types of simple sugars
- Glucose
- Galactose
- Fructose
Glucose
- The major source of fuel for the cells
- The brain can only use glucose, without it cells will shut off and die
Other cells (not including brain cells) can use what other source of energy other than glucose?
-Fats and proteins but they produce harmful by-products that eventually affect the cell function adversely.
Insulin
-A hormone secreted from the pancreas when BS level rise and help carry glucose in the cells
-Promotes movement of Glucose out of the blood and into the cells
-causes liver to take Glucose and convert it into glycogen (stored form of glucose)
-Decreases blood glucose level by those
actions
What is the “key” to unlock the cel and get glucose into the cell?
Insulin
Without insulin
- Glucose get into cells at a rate 10x slower
- The brain does not need insulin to uptake glucose
Glucagon
-Secreted from the pancreas when BS levels are low
Functions of Glucagon
- Converts glycogen stores in the liver back into glucose and release it into the blood
- Converts other, noncarbs substances into glucose in the liver
- Increases and maintains the BS levels by converting glycogen & other substances into glucose
Normal metabolism
- Eat a meal
- BS levels rises 120-140 mg/dL
- insulin secreted
- Cells receive glucose, liver creates glycogen
- BS levels drop less than or equal to 70 mg/dL
What happens to a Normal metabolism when you haven’t had a meal yet?
- Glucagon secreted
- Glycogen produces glucose, non-carbs produce glucose
- BS Increased/maintained
- then you eat
How to check BS levels
- Done with a glucometer
- Finger stick/IV catheter
BS levels for hypoglycemia
- BS less than or equal to 60mg/dL with Sx
- BS less than 50mg/dL without Sx
Hyperglycemia BS level
-BS greater than 120mg/dL
The 3 P’s
- Polydipsia-frequent thirst
- Polyuria-frequent ruination
- Polyphagia-frequent hunger
DM type 1
- AKA juvenile onset
- Insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM)
- Mostly children with DM are IDDM
DM type 2
- AKA adult onset
- Non-Insulin dependent Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM)
- Pancreas produces a reduced amount of insulin
Hypoglycemia
- know as insulin shock
- Low BS
- more common in type 1 IDDM
- Most common cause of coma in DM Pt
- Sx brain cell dysfunction
- Pt takes insulin and does not eat
- Pt takes insulin, eats, but increases activity level
- Pt takes too much insulin
Hypoglycemia can also cause what to be released?
- Decreases BS level causes epinephrine to be released, to stop insulin release and stimulate glucagon release
- Hypoglycemic Pts will have Sx of epi release
Sx of Epi release
- Tremors/weakness
- Hunger/Tachycardia
- Dizziness
- Pale,cool,clammy skin
- sweating
- warm sensation
Sx of brain cell dysfunction
- Confusion ALOC
- Drowsiness
- Disorientation/Combative
- Unresponsive
- Seizure
- Stroke like Sx
