Diabetic and glycaemic emergencies Flashcards
What Hormones is blood sugar controlled by?
- Insulin
- Glucagon
What is the function of insulin?
To reduce blood sugars
What is the function of glucagon?
To increase blood sugars
Where is insulin produced?
Beta cells
Where is glucagon produced?
Alpha cells
What areas do Insulin affect?
- Red blood cells
- Muscle
- Fat cells
Define “Diabetes Melitus”.
A metabolic disorder which results in chronic high blood sugar due to a lack of insulin.
What are the long term complications of prolonged high blood sugars?
- MI
- Stroke
- Renal failure
- Blindness
What are the signs and symptoms of undiagnosed diabetes?
- Hyperglycaemia
- Glucose in urine
- increased appetite
- Weight loss
- Fatigue
What causes excessive thirst in diabetic patients?
When the kidneys expel the excess glucose, they also expel water. This leads to overwhelming dehydration, and increased the need to drink fluids.
When is T1DM diagnosed?
- Normally during pregancy/ early childhood.
What causes T1DM?
An inability to produce insulin, due to an autoimmune destruction of the beta cells.
What commonly causes T2DM?
Lifestyle, when the insulin produced by the body is unable to cope with the demands of the body.
What are the risk factors for T2DM?
- obesity
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Increased age
- Poor diet
- Learnt family behaviours
What are the short term complications of uncontrolled blood sugars?
- Hypoglycaemia episodes including coma
- Diabetic ketoacidosis
- infections
