Diabetes Mellitus Flashcards
Explain how the body responds to low blood glucose (hypoglycaemia)
-low blood glucose stimulates alpha cells to secrete glucagon
-glucagon acts on the liver cells to convert glycogen into glucose and to form glucose from lactic acid and certain amino acids
-glucose is released by liver cells, raising blood glucose level to normal
Explain how the body responds to high blood glucose (hyperglycaemia)
-high blood glucose stimulates beta cells to secrete insulin
-insulin acts on various body cells to: accelerate facilitated diffusion of glucose into cells/ speed conversion of glucose into glycogen/ increase uptake of amino acids and increase protein synthesis/ speed synthesis of fatty acids
-blood glucose levels fall back to normal level
What is insulin?
Where is it produced?
What does it do?
-A hormone that lowers blood sugar
-produced in the pancreas by beta cells in the islets of langerhans
-it promotes the uptake of glucose by cells and helps liver/ muscle cells to store as glycogen (glycogen synthesis)
What is glucagon?
Where is it produced?
What does it do?
-a hormone used to increase blood glucose levels
-secreted in the pancreas by alpha cells in the islets of langerhans
-acts on the liver to convert glycogen into glucose (glycogenolysis), and triggers the conversion of fats and amino acids into glucose (gluconeogenesis)
What is diabetes mellitus?
-When someone has an elevated blood sugar
-there are many different types
What are the 2 types of causes for diabetes mellitus?
(type) 1. circulating insulin antagonists
-raised levels of counter regulatory hormones e.g glucagon
-anti-insulin antibodies
-anti-insulin receptor antibodies
(type) 2. target tissue defects
-insulin receptor defects e.g decreased affinity or number
-post-receptor defects e.g defective response mechanism
Why is insulin given?
the primary physiological function is to lower the blood sugar by:
-initiating rapid transport into cells by altering cell membrane permeability
-facilitating intracellular utilisation
-promoting glycogen storage
All of which results in euglycaemia (normal blood sugar level)
What are the 4 main goals for managing diabetes through giving insulin?
- to preserve the life of patients and control symptoms
- maintain a normal life
- re-establish good metabolic control
- avoid complications
What is type 1 diabetes?
-develops if body is unable to produce any insulin
-usually appears before age 40
-least common type
What are the short and long term complications of type 1 diabetes?
short term:
-hypoglycaemia
-diabetic ketoacidosis
long term:
-skin
-breasts
-musculoskeletal condition
What is type 2 diabetes?
-body still makes some insulin, but it is not sufficient enough, or the insulin that is produced doesn’t work properly
-usually appears over age 40
-linked with being overweight
-most common type
How is type 2 diabetes treated?
-treated with lifestyle changes e.g healthier diet, weightless, increased physical activity
-however tablets or insulin may also be required to achieve normal blood glucose levels
What is diabetes ketoacidosis (DKA)?
-a medical emergency with a risk of morbidity and mortality
-usually affects people with type 1 diabetes
Includes:
-hyperglycaemia
-acidaemia
-ketonaemia
-when fatty acids are used to form energy, they produce ketones which are released into the blood stream. increased amounts of ketones, results in ketosis and as acidosis develops, these develop ketoacidosis
What is hypoglycaemia?
What are the symptoms?
How is it caused/treated?
-when levels of glucose present in the blood falls below a set point (below 4 mmol/L)
-sweating
-fatigue
-dizziness
-feeling weak
-feeling hungry
-tachycardia
-blurred vision
-confusion
-loss of consciousness
-too high a dose of insulin
-delayed meals
-exercise
-alcohol drugs
-sugary drinks, sweets
-IM glucose if unconscious
