Endocrine Disorders Flashcards
What are causes of Endocrine Disorders?
- Most common cause is development of tumours
- Called adenomas
- They may cause excess hormone or alter the regular function of the glands
- Target cells can become resistant or insensitive to hormones, creating the effect of a hormone deficit
- Congenital defects of glands
- Infections of glands
- Vascular problems
What is Diabetes?
- Diabetes Mellitus is caused by a relative deficit of insulin secretions from the beta cells or by a lack of response to the cells (insulin resistance)
- Insulin works to metabolize carbs, proteins and fats by the transport of glucose
- Your body doesn’t have insulin or does not recognize it
What is normal blood sugar?
4-8 mmol/L
What is Type 1 Diabetes
- Formerly known as Insulin Dependent, now called Juvenile Onset
- More severe form
- Occurs more frequently in children and adolescents, however, can occur at any age
- Insulin deficit results from destruction of the pancreatic beta cells in autoimmune reaction (basically attacks itself)
- This results in absolute deficit of insulin in the body, requiring replacement of therapy
- Amount of replacement therapy depends on the metabolic needs of the body
- Based on dietary intake and metabolic activity
- Diabetic complications such as hypoglycemia and DKA are more likely to occur in this group
What is Type 2 Diabetes?
- Formerly NIDDM
- Mature onset
- Based on decreased effectiveness of insulin (still has insulin but its not working as well anymore)
May be a result of: - Decreased beta cell production of insulin
- Increased resistance by body cells to insulin
- Increased production of glucose by the liver
- Any combination of these
- Can be controlled by diet, better glucose utilization (exercise), reducing insulin resistance, stimulating beta cells in the pancreas to secrete more insulin
- Type 2 is usually in older obese adults
What is Gestational Diabetes?
- May develop during pregnancy
- Disappears following delivery of the child
- Results from increased glucose intolerance resulting in high glucose levels
- Dietary management is vital
- Insulin is given worst case- oral meds are avoided as they are potentially teratogenic
- Often times these females develop diabetes later on in life
- Pancreas does not produce effective insulin
What is glucosuria?
Excess glucose spills into the urine
Why does glucosuria happen?
The level of glucose exceeds the kidney’s ability to filter and reabsorb it
What is Polyuria?
Large volumes of urine
Why does polyuria happen?
Glucose in the urine exerts osmotic pressure in the renal system, causes loss of fluid and electrolytes from body tissues.
What is polydipsia?
Increased thirst
What is polyphagia?
Increased appetite
What is Hypoglycemia?
- Blood sugar less than 4mmol/L, and less than 3mmol for children under 2 yr old.
- Excessive insulin that causes a deficit of glucose in the blood
- Sudden onset due to exercise, vomiting, skipping a meal after insulin intake or a med dosing error
Signs and symptoms of Hypoglcemia?
- Poor concentration
- Slurred speech
- Lack of coordination
- Staggering walk
- Often mimic intoxication
What is Diabetic Ketoacidosis?
- Results from insufficient insulin resulting in high BS
- > 22 mmol/L
- Occurs over several days
- May be initiated by infection or stress- these increase the demand for insulin in the body
- May also result from overindulgence of food or alcohol or medication errors
What is Diabetic Ketoacidosis?
- Results from insufficient insulin resulting in high BS
- > 22 mmol/L
- Occurs over several days
- May be initiated by infection or stress- these increase the demand for insulin in the body
- May also result from overindulgence of food or alcohol or medication errors
What is Diabetic Ketoacidosis?
- Results from insufficient insulin resulting in high BS
- > 22 mmol/L
- Occurs over several days
- May be initiated by infection or stress- these increase the demand for insulin in the body
- May also result from overindulgence of food or alcohol or medication errors
Signs and Symptoms of DKA related to dehydration
- Thirst, dry, rough mucosa
- Pulse is rapid, weak and thready
- Low BP
- Decreased urine output
- Deep, rapid respirations
- Sweet smelling breath
- Lethargy
- Decreased LOC
Signs and Symptoms of DKA related to dehydration
- Thirst, dry, rough mucosa
- Pulse is rapid, weak and thready
- Low BP
- Decreased urine output
- Deep, rapid respirations
- Sweet smelling breath
- Lethargy
- Decreased LOC
Signs and Symptoms of DKA related to imbalances of sodium, potassium, and chloride
- Abdominal cramps
- Nausea/vomiting
- Lethargy, weakness
- If potassium levels are affected- CNS depression, coma
Treatment of DKA
- Administration of insulin
- Replacement of fluid/electrolytes
- Bicarbonate- reverse acidosis
Hyperthyroidism
- Thyroid produces too much hormones
- Causes increase in body functions: increase HR, sweating, feeling nervous, weight loss, shaky hands, bulging eyes, hair loss, nausea, vomiting, increased appetite
Hypothyroidism
- Thyroid does not produce enough hormones
- S & S: cold intolerance, constipation, muscle or joint pain, brittle nails, slow heart rate
Adrenal insufficiency (Addison’s Disease)
- Caused by atrophy or destruction of glands (don’t make enough cortisol and aldosterone)
- Leads to the deficiency of all steroid hormones
- Frequently exhibit hyperpigmentation of the skin
Secondary Adrenal Insufficiency
- Relatively common condition
- Lack of adrenocorticotropic secretion from the pituitary gland
Phenochromocytoma
- Benign tumour of the adrenal medulla that secretes too much EPI
- Signs and symptoms include headache, sweating, heart palpitations, anxiety
Adrenal Cortex- Cushing’s syndrome
- Excessive amount of corticosteroids released (cortisol and hydrocortisone)
- They are responsible for stress so it can cause a lot of issues
Signs and Symptoms include: - Moon face, cardiac hypertrophy, obesity, poor wound healing, hypertension, osteoporosis, muscle wasting,