Diabetes Mellitus Flashcards
What is Diabetes Mellitus characterised by
Hyperglycaemia
What is Type 1 diabetes
Insulin Deficiency
- pancreatic beta islet cells are destroyed cause insufficient insulin release
What type 1 diabetes overall treatment
- Insulin
What is type 2 diabetes
Insulin resistance
- reduced insulin secretion or peripheral resistance to insulin
What type 2 diabetes overall treatment
- Insulin
- Diet
- Oral Anti-diabetic drugs
Symptoms of Diabetes
- Polyphagia (hunger)
- Polydipsia (thirst)
- Polyuria (excessive urination)
- weight loss
- fatigue
- blurred vision
- poor wound healing
Diabetes Complications: Macrovascular complication
cardiovascular disease
Primary Prevention: Statin in…
- Type 1 diabetes
- Type 2 diabetes with QRISK of above 10%
(low dose aspirin is not recommended)
Diabetes Complications: Microvascular Complications
(Eyes)
Retinopathy
- treat hypertension
Diabetes Complications: Microvascular Complications
(Kidneys)
Nephropathy
- treat hypertension (ACEi / ARB)
be careful with ACEi as they act with hypoglycaemia effect especially in renal impairment
How often should Adults be reviewed
Annually
How often should children be reviewed
start screening after 12 years old or after 5 years after diagnosis
Diabetes Complications: Nerves
(Sensory Neuropathy) and treatment
Diabetic foot
For pain:
- Antidepressants (Duloxetine)
- Tricyclic Antidepressants (Amitriptyline and Nortriptyline)
- Anti-epileptic drugs (gabapentin, pregabalin and carbamazepine)
- Strong opioids
Diabetes Complications: Nerves (Autonomic Neuropathy) and treatment
Diabetic Diarrhoea
- codeine or tetracycline
Gastroparesis: delayed gastric emptying
- erythromycin
Erectile Dysfunction
- Sildenafil
Diabetes Complications: Nerves (Gustatory Neuropathy)
Sweating, Scalp, head and neck
- antimuscarinics / antiperspirant
Diabetes Complications: Nerves (Neuropathic Postural Hypotension)
- fludrocortisone
- increase salt intake
How should the dose of insulin change during pregnancy
increases during 2nd and 3rd trimester
Pre-existing diabetes
(pregnancy planning)
reduce the risk of congenital malformations
- aim for HbA1C levels <48mmol (6.5%)
- folic acid 5mg daily to prevent birth defects
What birth birth defects is diabetes most common for
neural tube defects (CNS system affecting)
What length of Insulin treatment should be used for pre-existing diabetes and pregnancy
Long acting insulin
- Insulin Isophane
(e.g Humulin I, Insulatard) - long acting Insulin analogues (Lantus, Semglee, and Toujeo)
What should women who have it difficult controlling glycemic levels even when using multiple daily injections
Continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion pump
What is at risk of happening after birth with glycemic levels
reducing a lot (hypoglycaemic)
What should happen to the dose of insulin after birth
reduce, to reduce hypoglycaemia
Pregnancy and Pre existing diabetes counselling
- risk of hypoglycaemia (especially in 1st trimester)
- always carry fast acting glucose (glucose drink/gum/sweat)
- prescribe glucagon if needed for type 1 diabetes
Pre existing type 2 diabetes and pregnancy
- stop all oral antidiabetic drugs except metformin
- use insulin instead
- either metformin alone or with insulin
pre existing type 2 diabetes an breastfeeding
- continue metformin
- or resume glibenclamide post birth
Gestational diabetes: fasting blood glucose <7mmol treatment
1st Line:
dietary and exercise
2nd Line:
Metformin or Insulin
3rd Line:
Combined
Gestational diabetes: fasting blood glucose >7mmol treatment
1st Line:
Insulin with or without insulin and dietary and exercise
Gestational diabetes: fasting blood glucose 6 to 6.9 mmol with hydramnios or macrosomia treatment
1st Line:
Insulin with or without metformin
What is Hydramnios
Hydramnios is a condition that occurs when too much amniotic fluid builds up during pregnancy.
What is fetal macrosomia
A baby who is diagnosed as having fetal macrosomia weighs more than 8 pounds
Gestational diabetes: intolerance to metformin and do not want insulin treatment
Glibenclamide
Which type of diabetes is Diabetic ketoacidosis DKA more common
Type 1
What is Diabetic ketoacidosis DKA
- when the body lacks insulin
- which means it can’t use sugar for energy and instead breaks down fat for energy
-releasing chemicals called ketones.
- Too many ketones build up in the blood, making it acidic, a process known as acidosis.
What can DKA cause
- bad breath
- high blood ketones
- diabetic coma
- mental confusion
- convulsions
What is the DKA Treatment
- Soluble insulin
- Fluids to rehydrate your body
- potassium (do not give if kidneys cant produce urine)
DKA treatment points
- continue on long acting insulin
- add glucose to infusion when below 14 mmol
- continue until patients can eat and drink and blood pH is above 7.3
When should you notify the DVLA
about Diabetes and Driving
- if using insulin
- if have a group 2 drivers license (larger vehicles)
- visual, renal or limb complications
- 2 episodes of severe hypoglycaemia in past 12 months (1 if group 2 license)
When should one check blood glucose levels before driving
- no more than 2 hours before
- then every 2 hours during the journey
How many times a day should those on insulin and group 2 license record their insulin
2 times
if glucose level is 5mmol/L before driving
take a carbohydrate before driving
if glucose is <4mmol/L before driving
do not drive
What must drivers on insulin always carry
fast acting glucose (tablet)
How long should one wait after taking a fast acting glucose tablet to continue driving
45 mins after glucose levels return to normal
What is Insulin
polypetide hormone responsible for metabolism of carbs, fat and protein
What is Bolus Insulin
- quick acting
- taken just before meals
What is Basal Insulin
- longer acting
- usually for all day steady levels and night
Examples of Short acting soluble insulin
- human soluble (actrapid, humulin s)
- animal soluble
(hypurin)
Examples of Rapid Acting analogues
- Lispro (Humalog)
- Aspart (Novorapid)
- Glulisine (Apridra)
Examples of Intermediate acting insulin
- Isophane (Humulin I)
Examples of Long acting analogue
- Glargine (Lantus)
- Detemir OD/BD (Levemir)
- Degludec (Tresiba)
When to take short acting soluble insulin
- take within 15 to 30 mins before a meal
- consume meal within 30 mins to avoid hypoglycaemia
When to take rapid acting analogue insulin
- take immediately before or after meal
When to take intermediate acting insulin
- take BD with soluble insulin
When to take Long acting analogue insulin
- take OD at the same time each day to cover 24 hour period
Which circumstances and how is short acting soluble insulin used
- diabetic emergencies and surgeries
- via S/C, I/M, I/V
Which Bolus insulin has a lower risk of hypoglycaemia before lunch?
Rapid acting insulin analogues
Which insulin is an alternative to soluble insulin in emergencies
rapid acting insulin analogues
What happens if you give IV basal insulin (long acting analogue and intermediate)
can cause thrombosis
What happens if you mix long acting insulin analogues with soluble insulin
it can bind in the syringe
What can increase the amount of insulin needed
- infections / intercurrent illness
- stress
- acidental / surgical trauma
- puberty
- pregnancy (2nd and 3rd trimester)
What can decrease the amount of insulin needed
- endocrine disorders (Addison’s disease, hypopituitarism)
- coeliac disease (gluten intolerance)
How to administer insulin
S/C injection to…
- buttock
- upper arm
- upper abdomen
- upper thigh
When would you use I/V insulin
for urgent treatment
- DKA
- surgery
- serious illness
What are the insulin injection regimens
- Multiple injection Regimen
- Biphasic Mixtures Regimen
- Long/ Intermediate acting regimen
- continuous subcutaneous infusion
What is the Multiple injection insulin Regimen
short/rapid acting insulin before meals
+
Intermediate/long acting insulin ONCE/TWICE daily
What is the Biphasic Mixtures insulin Regimen
- Short/Rapid acting insulin pre-mixed with long/intermediate insulin
- OD / BD before meal
(not for acutely ill patients as doses can change)
(it is for patients who have difficulty with the multiple injection regimen)
What is the Long/ Intermediate acting insulin regimen
- OD/BD with or without short insulin before meals
- long acting not for type 2 unless in certain criteria
What is the Continuous subcutaneous infusion insulin regimen
- type 1 diabetes in certain criteria
Type 1 diabetes 1st Line treatment
- start treatment with multiple injection regimens