DM Flashcards
What are complications of DM?
Lower-extremity amputations Heart disease Stroke Neuropathy Diabetic eye disease (retinopathy) ESRD
7th leading cause of death!
DKA (DM1 >DM2)
What are the types of DM?
Type 1: autoimmune disease, beta cell destruction, typically younger patients
Type 2: progressive insulin secretory defect
Gestational (GDM): occurs during 3rd trimester, increases your risk of type 2 in future
Others:
Genetic defects in beta cell function, insulin action
Diseases of exocrine pancreas
Drug- or chemical-induced
Progressive Nature of Type 2 DM
Prediabetes and associated defects can go on for 10-15 years before diagnosis (often involve obesity, IFG, and impaired glucose tolerance)
By the time of diagnosis, typically about 50% of beta cells have already failed
How does DM impact a person’s glucagon and insulin dynamics post meals?
Glucose: increased and prolonged endogenous release
Insulin: very little released from defective beta cells
Glucagon: continued release of glucagon even after a meal (this is abnormal)
Who should you test for DM?
Adults who are overweight (BMI >25…or >23 in Asians) and who have 1 or more of the following:
- First-degree relative with DM
- AA, Latino, Native American, Asian, Pacific Islander (high risk races/ethnicities)
- Women who had GDM
- Hx of CVD
- HTN (<140/90 or on anti-HTN)
- HDL <35 and/or Trig >250
- Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (insulin sensitivity issues)
- Physical inactivity
- Other conditions associated with insulin resistance (sever obesity, acanthosis nigricans, metabolic syndrome)
ALL patients over the age of 45
How frequently should you test for DM?
If tests are normal, testing should be repeated at least every 3 years
If pt has prediabetes, re-test yearly
When can you diagnose DM?
- A1C >6.5% OR
- FPG >126 (no caloric intake for at least 8hrs) OR
- 2-h plasma glucose >200 during OGTT
In absence of unequivocal hyperglycemia, the above must be confirmed by repeat testing
OR
4. Patient with classic sx of hyperglycemia/hyperglycemic crisis and a random plasma glucose >200
What are microvascular complications of DM? (Ask about these in ROS)
Retinopathy
Nephropathy
Neuropathy: sensory – foot lesions 2/2 LOPS (loss of peripheral sensation); autonomic – sexual dysfunction and gastroparesis
What are macrovascular complications of DM? (Ask about these in ROS)
CHD
cerebrovascular disease
PAD
What are screening components of a comprehensive DM evaluation?
Psychosocial: depression (PHQ2), anxiety, eating disorder (24hr food diary)
Cognitive impairment: dictates tx complexity
DSMES (self management education and support with DM educator/dietitian and group sessions. At least one 30-min visit covered by Medicare for new dx, if just started insulin, or major life change/event)
Hypoglycemia
Pregnancy planning
What are physical exam components for a DM evaluation?
- Height, weight, BMI; growth and pubertal development (children and adolescents)
- BP, including orthostatic measurements when indicated
- Fundoscopic examination
- Thyroid palpation
- Skin examination (for acanthosis nigricans or infusion set insertion sites)
- Foot exam: inspection, screen for PAD (pedal pulses), and determine temperature, vibration/pinprick, and 10-g monofilament sensation
What is acanthosis nigricans?
Velvety, hyperpigmented plaques on the skin often on neck or axillae
Most often associated with obesity and DM (associated with insulin resistance)
Benign and asymptomatic, but cosmetic concerns
Treatment of underlying cause (increased blood glucose) is preferred, but can be treated with topical steroids
What is lipohypetrophy?
Rubbery spots on the skin from prolonged injection in the same site
Must rotate sites to prevent the formation of fat deposits, which decreases insulin absorption at these sites
What are risk factors for developing foot ulcers?
Previous amputation Past foot ulcer history Peripheral neuropathy Foot deformity Peripheral vascular disease Visual impairment Diabetic nephropathy (esp pts on dialysis) Poor glycemic control Cigarette smoking
What labs should you order when evaluating a patient with suspected DM?
-HgbA1c if results not available within the past 3 months (repeat every 3-6 months)
Order the following if no results within past year:
-Fasting lipid profile
-LFTs
-Urinalysis: urine albumin excretion with spot urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio
-Serum Creat and calculated GFR
-TSH in DM1, dyslipidemia, or women >50
-B12 if on metformin (when indicated) (can cause deficiency because of decreased absorption)
-Serum potassium in pts on ACE, ARB, or diuretics
What is involved in the care coordination of DM? (Referrals, etc.)
- Eye care: needs annual dilated eye exam
- Family planning for women of reproductive age
- Registered dietitian for MNT (medical nutrition therapy)
- Diabetes self-management education/support (DSMES)
- Dentist for comprehensive periodontal exam
- Mental health professional (if needed)
What are the immunization recommendations for patients with DM?
- Same as for general population according to age
- PPSV23 for anyone 2-64; PCV13 for <2; PCV and an additional PPSV23 for >65
- 3-dose series of HBV to unvaccinated between 19-59; and consider 3-dose HBV to unvaccinated >60
How do you assess the effectiveness of management on glycemic control?
- Patient self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG)
- Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) (covered by Medicare in older adults)
- A1c
SMBG may help guide treatment decisions and/or self-management for pts using less frequent insulin injections
Patients need glucometer, strips, lancets, alcohol swabs and should monitor BG when concerning sx
When should patients on multiple-dose insulin (MDI) or insulin pump therapy be performing SMBG?
- Prior to meals and snacks
- Occasionally postprandial (good figure to look at if the preprandial BGs look good, but the A1C is bad)
- At bedtime
- Prior to exercise (if <80, eat a snack before; if >200, do not participate because of ketosis risk)
- When they suspect low blood glucose
- After treating blood glucose until they are normoglycemic
- Prior to critical tasks, such as driving (for high risk patients)
What is important about good glycemic control?
It delays the progression of morbidity and mortality:
Decreased rates of microvascular and neuropathic complications
Reduced risk of CVD
What are the ABCs of DM?
Target goals
A1C
BP
Cholesterol
What are the recommendations for monitoring A1C?
- At least 2x/year in patients meeting treatment goals with stable glycemic control
- 4x/year in patients whose therapy has changed or for those not meeting goals
- Point of care testing for A1C provides opportunity for more timely treatment changes
What are A1C goals in adults?
Non-pregnant adult: <7%
For selected pts (short duration of DM, type 2 treated w/ lifestyle or metformin only, long life expectancy, or no significant CV disease): <6.5%
Pts with history of sever hypoglycemia, limited life expectancy, advanced complications, extensive comorbidities, longstanding DM w/ difficulty achieving goal: <8%
What are the glycemic recommendations for nonpregnant adults with DM?
A1C: <7.0%
Preprandial: 80-130
Peak postprandial (2hrs post): <180
What are the ADA recommendations regarding hypoglycemia?
- Ask about sx at each encounter for pts at increased risk
- For conscious pts with BG <70, treat with 15-20g glucose
- Glucagon Rx for pts at increased risk of clinically significant hypoglycemia (<54) so that it is available if needed and caregiver knows how to use it
- Re-evaluate pt in instances of hypoglycemia unawareness or episodes of severe hypoglycemia
What are s/sx associated with progressive hypoglycemia?
Shakiness Irritability Confusion Restlessness Weakness Tachycardia Hunger Sleepiness Paleness Blurry vision
Blood glucose levels and sx:
80 - decreased insulin secretion
70 - increased glucagon, epinephrine, adrenocorticotropic hormone, cortisol, and growth hormone
50 - palpitations, sweating
40 - decreased cognition, aberrant behavior, seizures, coma
10-20 - neuronal cell death
How do you teach patients to treat their hypoglycemia?
Use fast acting carbohydrate (CHO) and try to avoid protein because that decreased gastric absorption
Good options: 4 oz fruit juice, 3-4 15g glucose tablets, 1 tube glucose gel, 4-6 small hard candies, 1-2 tbsp honey, 6oz regular soda (1/2 a can), 3 tsp table sugar, 1/2 tub of cake mate
Use the Rule of 15
After BS back in normal range, eat a meal
If meal is delayed, follow with a snack
If person is unable to swallow, administer 1 mg (1 unit) of glucagon with 1 mL of diluting solution
What is the Rule of 15 for treating hypoglycemia?
Eat 15 grams of CHO
Re-check BG in 15 minutes
Repeat this 3x, and if still low, seek help
What is glucagon?
Increases blood glucose concentration and is used in the treatment of hypoglycemia
Acts only on liver glycogen and converts it to glucose
What are the indications for the use of glucagon?
-Treatment of severe hypoglycemia
Consider that in patients with type 1 they may have less of an increase in blood glucose levels, so supplement with CHO as soon as possible