Endocrine Flashcards
Define Diabetes Mellitus
A group of chronic disorders characterised by the body’s impaired ability to produce/respond to insulin resulting in abnormal glucose metabolism
Types of diabetes
- Type 1
- Type 2
- Gestational (oft improves after birth )
- Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young (autosomal dominant)
- Neonatal
- Steroid induced
- Wolfram’s syndrome and Alstrom syndrome
- Type 3 (including cystic fibrosis)
- Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults
RFx for T1DM
- Northern European
- Family Hx/Personal Hx of Diabetes/other AI conditions
- Genetic predisposition: HLA-DR3/DR4 or DQ8
- Environmental factors
Pathophys T1DM
- GLUT4 is insulin dependant
- Is unable to bind to cell membrane if low insulin
- Glucose unable to enter cells leading to starvation state and gluconeogenesis
- hyperglycaemia as glucose builds up in blood
Typical presentation T1DM
- Polyuria (osmotic diuresis as kidneys are unable to reabsorb excess glucose)
- Polydipsia (thirst centre in hypothalamus stimulated)
- Weight loss (from excessive lipolysis, proteolysis and fluid depletion)
T1DM diagnosis
If symptomatic:
- only 1 raised plasma glucose reading is needed
- Fasting >= 7mmol/L
- Random glucose >= 11.1 mmol/L
If asymp:
- 2 positive readings needed
Can also do oral glucose test and measure fasting and 2 hours post-prandial glucose levels
Normal blood sugar range
- Fasting: 4.0 - 5.4 mmol/L
- 2 hours post-prandial: up to 7.8
Definition of diabetic ketoacidosis
Medical emergency characterised by:
- Hyperglycaemia (>11.1)
- Ketosis i.e ketones > 3 mmol/L (norm < 0.6)
- Acidosis i.e pH < 7.3 (norm 7.35-7.45)
RFx for DKA
- untreated T1DM
- Infection/Illness
- Myocardial Infarction (also more likely to happen if ketotic)
Presentation of DKA
Diabetes:
- Polydipsia/polyuria/nocturia -> Dehydration -> hypotension
Ketosis:
- Fruity breath
Acidosis:
- N+V
- Abdo pain
- Kussmaul breathing
Drowsy/Confused
DKA pathophys
- 0 insulin -> decreased uptake into cells + uncontrolled hepatic gluconeogenesis
- hyperglycaemia -> osmotic diuresis -> DEHYDRATION
- Peripheral lipolysis -> raised free fatty acids -> converted to KETONES in mitochondria -> METABOLIC ACIDOSIS
- Low intracellular potassium (insulin drives potassium into cells)
Investigations for DKA
Clinical diagnosis +
- Blood glucose
- ABG
- U+E (raised due to dehydration)
- Urine dipstick (glycosuria + ketonuria)
DKA Tx
- ABCDE if unconscious
- Slow FLUID REPLACEMENT (IV 0.9% NaCl)
- Insulin + Glucose
- Monitor Potassium
- Treat any underlying infections/triggers
Complication of DKA Tx
Cerebral oedema
- from OSMOTIC SHIFT due to sudden decreased osmolality
RFx for T2DM
Non-modifiable:
- Older age
- Black, Chinese, south Asian ethnicity
- FHx
- MALE
Modifiable:
- Obesity
- Sedentary lifestyles
- High carb diet
- HYPERTENSION
- Smoking
T2DM Sx
- Polyuria
- Polydipsia
- Polyphagia (significant weight loss uncommon initially)
- Glycosuria
- Acanthosis nigricans
T2DM investigations
Gold:
- HbA1c > 48 mmol/mol
- >42 - 72 = pre-diabetes
Blood glucose
Oral glucose tolerance test
Only 1 +ve needed if symp; 2 if asymp
T2DM Tx
- Life style mods
- weight loss
- diet
- stop smoking
- exercise
- control blood pressure + cholesterol
- Metformin if HbA1c >48
- Sulfonylurea, thiazolidinedione, GLP-1 analogue, DPP-4 inhib, SGLT-2 inhib
- Potentially insulin in late stage
T2DM complications
Macrovascular:
- Atherosclerosis (hyperglycaemia induces oxidative stress) -> CVD
Microvascular:
- Nephropathy
- Retinopathy
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Autonomic neuropathy
+ decreased immunity due to hyperglycaemia
Pathophys of Hyperosmolar Hyperglycaemic state
- Decreased insulin -> hyperglycaemia + gluconeogenesis
- BUT Sufficient insulin to stop ketogenesis
- Volume depletion -> raised osmolarity + hyperviscosity
Presentation of HHS
General:
- Fatigue/lethargy
- N+V
Neuro:
-
Raised ICP
- Papilloedema, headaches, altered consiousness
- weakness
Haem:
- Hyperviscosity (risk of MI, stroke, DVT/thrombosis)
Cardio:
- Dehydration -> Hypotension -> Tachycardia
NO significant acidosis
HHS Diagnosis
- Serum glucose > 30 mmol/L
- Hypotension
- Hyperosmolarity (>32 mosmol/kg)
- NO significant acidosis (> 7.3) or ketosis
HHS Tx
- FLUID REPLACEMENT
- VTE prophyl (LMWH)
- Insulin if persisting w/ treatment (risk of hypoglycaemia/kalaemia so oft give w/ glucose/dextrose + monitor potassium)
Define Hypoglycaemia
Serum glucose < 4.0 mmol/L
Normal physiological response to hypoglycaemia
- Alpha islet cells stimulated -> glucagon + inhibits insulin production -> hepatic gluconeogenesis/lysis
- Increased production of adrenaline, growth hormone and CORTISOL -> gluconeogenesis
Non-diabetic causes of hypoglycaemia
ExPLAIN:
- Exogenous medication (alcohol, aspirin overdose, IGF-1 which inhibits hepatic gluconeogenesis)
- Pituitary insufficiency
- Liver failure
- Addison’s disease
- Insluinoma/Islet cell tumours
- Non-pancreatic neoplasm (fibrosarcoma)
Presentation of hypoglycaemia
Blood glucose <3.3 = AUTONOMIC:
- Sweating
- Shaking
- Hunger
- Anxiety
- Nausea
Blood glucose <2.8 = NEUROGLYCOPENIC:
- Weakness
- Vision changes
- Confusion
- Dizziness
Severe + uncommon:
- Convulsion
- Coma
Wipple’s triad
- signs and symptoms of hypoglycaemia
- low blood glucose
- resolution of symptoms with correction of blood sugar
Investigation of hypoglycaemia in non-diabetic
Gold = 48 - 72 hour FAST with serial blood glucose
Hypoglycaemia Tx
Community:
- ORAL GLUCOSE 10-20g
- May have ‘hypokit’ -> IM/SC glucagon
Hospital:
- Quick acting carbs/oral glucose
- Unconscious/unable to swallow:
- SC/IM glucagon
- OR IV 20% glucose solution