Diabetic complications Flashcards
What are the short-term complications
- Hypoglycaemia
2. Hyperglycaemia
What are the common symptoms of hypoglycaemia?
Adrenergic symptoms:
- Tremor
- Sweating
- Irritability
- Dizziness
- Pallor
What are the serious symptoms of hypoglycaemia?
Neuroglycopenic:
- Reduced consciousness
- Coma
- Death
- Paraesthesia
- Blurred vision
- Seizures
What are the causes of hypoglycaemia?
EXPLAIN • E - exogenous drugs Insulin, sulphonylurea, Alcohol, ACE-I, Beta-blockers, pentamidine, quinine sulfate, aminoglutethimide, insulin-like GF • P - pituitary insufficiency • L - liver failure • A - addison’s disease • I - islet cell tumours • N - non-pancreatic neoplasms
How would you treat hypoglycaemia?
Able to cooperate
- 30ml Lucozade or equivalent
Unable to cooperate but conscious
- Glucose gel (glucogel) - buccal
Comatose, fitting
- Glucagon – SC, IM, IV
- IV glucose 50%; try to avoid
What are the long-term effects of poorly controlled diabetes?
- Chronic exposure to hyperglycaemia causes damage to endothelial cells.
- This causes leaky malfunctioning vessels that are unable to regenerate
- Hyperglycaemia suppresses immune system and provides an ideal environment for bacteria
What are the macrovascular consequences of diabetes?
- CAD
- Peripheral ischemia
- Stroke
- HTN
What are the microvascular consequences of diabetes?
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Retinopathy
- Nephropathy
What are the infective consequences of diabetes?
- UTIs
- Pneumonia
- Skin and soft tissue infections
- Fungal infections
What is retinopathy associated with?
- Prolonged hyperglycaemia
- Other conditions linked to DM such at HTN
How does retinopathy cause loss of vision?
- Capillary leakage
- Capillary occlusion
What is a cataract?
Degenerative opacity of the lens
What is rubeosis iridis?
- New vessels in the iris
- Can cause glaucoma
What are the primary preventions for nephropathy?
Control BP and blood glucose
What does diabetes most commonly cause regarding the kidneys?
End stage renal disease
What is the pathophysiology of nephropathy?
Changes to haemodynamics of glomerulus which leads to increased glomerular capillary pressure