Diabetes Mellitus Flashcards
What is diabetes mellitus?
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic condition characterised by abnormally raised levels of blood glucose.
Why is the management of diabetes mellitus so important?
Management is crucial to reduce morbidity and mortality from complications such as diabetic ketoacidosis and to prevent macrovascular and microvascular complications.
What is Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM)?
T1DM is an autoimmune disorder where the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas are destroyed, leading to an absolute deficiency of insulin.
What is Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)?
T2DM is the most common cause of diabetes in the developed world, caused by a relative deficiency of insulin due to excess adipose tissue.
What is prediabetes?
Prediabetes refers to patients who are likely to develop T2DM but do not yet meet the criteria for a formal diagnosis.
What is gestational diabetes?
Gestational diabetes occurs when some pregnant women develop raised glucose levels during pregnancy, which can lead to adverse outcomes if untreated.
What is maturity onset diabetes of the young (MODY)?
MODY is a group of inherited genetic disorders affecting insulin production, resulting in younger patients developing symptoms similar to T2DM.
What is latent autoimmune diabetes of adults (LADA)?
LADA is a form of autoimmune diabetes that occurs later in life and is often misdiagnosed as T2DM.
What are some other types of diabetes?
Other types can result from any pathological process damaging insulin-producing cells, such as chronic pancreatitis and haemochromatosis.
What are the symptoms of Type 1 diabetes mellitus?
Symptoms include weight loss, polydipsia, polyuria, and may present with diabetic ketoacidosis.
What are the symptoms of Type 2 diabetes mellitus?
Symptoms often include polydipsia and polyuria, and may be picked up incidentally on routine blood tests.
What are the main ways to check blood glucose?
The main methods include a finger-prick glucose monitor, a one-off blood glucose test, a HbA1c test, and a glucose tolerance test.
What is the diagnostic criteria for diabetes mellitus?
For symptomatic patients: fasting glucose ≥ 7.0 mmol/l or random glucose ≥ 11.1 mmol/l. For asymptomatic patients, the criteria must be demonstrated on two separate occasions.
What is the HbA1c diagnostic criteria for diabetes?
A HbA1c of ≥ 6.5% (48 mmol/mol) is diagnostic of diabetes mellitus.
What are the principles of managing diabetes mellitus?
Management includes drug therapy to normalise blood glucose, monitoring and treating complications, and modifying risk factors for other conditions.
Summarise the diabetes management
