Digestion

Question 1

Why do patients with diabetes experience eye problems?

Answer 1

Drink a lot of water due to polyuria which causes the lens of the eye to swell

Question 2

What are the treatments for T2DM?

Answer 2

Glucose lowering medication (e.g. Metformin and Glicazide), lifestyle modification, weight loss

Question 3

What are three potential consequences of T2DM if left untreated?

Answer 3

Nephropathy
Retinopathy
Diabetic Foot

Question 4

What condition does episodic central chest pain indicate?

Answer 4

Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease

Question 5

What does an exercise tolerance test involve?

Answer 5

An incremental exercise bike/treadmill test to precipitate symptoms as a diagnostic tool.

Question 6

What are the treatment options for Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease?

Answer 6

Proton Pump Inhibitors (Lansoprazole, omeprazole) or H2 receptor blockers like Ranitidine

Question 7

Explain the symptoms of lactose intolerance in the context of the disease

Answer 7

Pain and flatulence caused by commensal bacteria feeding off undigested sugars.

Watery stools due to increased motility and osmotic potential.

Symptoms in morning - due to drinking milk with cereals but not gluten (as sandwiches don’t precipitate symptoms).

Question 8

What is obstructive sleep apnoea?

Answer 8

Episodic closure of pharyngeal airway overnight due to cervical obesity, fluid migration & decreased airway tone.

Causes frequent desaturations resulting in microarousal, preventing effective sleep & regular hypoxic dips in saturation.

Question 9

What are the side effects of obstructive sleep apnoea?

Answer 9

Steatorrhoea

Question 10

Treatments for lactose intolerance

Answer 10

Lifestyle modifications