Diabetes Mellitus Flashcards
1
Q
how common is diabetes in children?
what is the most common physiological basis for diabetes?
A
- 1 in 500
- failure of beta islet cells in pancreas due to either autoimmune, viral or environmental causes
2
Q
what is the cause of polyuria and polydipsia?
what will be seen in the urine in diabetics?
A
- hyperglycaemia puts you in a hyperosmolar state
- high glucose levels in the blood means high glucose levels in the urine
- ketones
3
Q
how is it treated?
what other autoimmune diseases are these kids predisposed to? (2)
A
- regular insulin injections
- coeliac
- hypothyroidism
4
Q
what vitamin might be depleted in DKA treatment?
A
- potassium
- insulin drives it into the cells
5
Q
what should be involved in the education of the child and parents?
A
- insulin administration
- BM monitoring
- testing urine for ketones
- nutritional understanding and dietary plan
- understanding insulin, exercise and infection
- identify and manage hypos
- importance of good control
6
Q
how is insulin given?
A
- subcutaneously by syringe or insulin pens
7
Q
why might a child get DKA?
what is the particular worry with kids in DKA? (2)
A
- infection (insulin requirements go up)
- physical activity
- stress (release of cortisol/ adrenaline)
- hypokalaemia
- cerebral oedema
8
Q
what are particular signs of DKA in a child?
A
- pallor
- hunger
- sweating, trembling
- drowsiness, mental confusion
9
Q
if a diabetic child has a fall off in growth what might you suspect?
A
- assessment of thyroid function and coeliac disease
10
Q
who should they be managed by?
A
- MDT, multispecialty team
