List I - Core Conditions Flashcards
What is type 2 diabetes?
- Insulin resistance and a relative insulin deficiency result in persistent hyperglycaemia
What are the risk factors for type 2 diabetes?
- Obesity and inactivity
- Family history
- Ethinicity - Asian, African and Black communities
- History of gestational diabetes
- Poor dietary habits
- Drug treatments
- Polycystic ovarian syndrome
- Metabolic syndrome
- Low birth weight for gestational age
How many people in the UK have type 2 diabetes?
- 3.5 million (including 31,500 children and young people under the age of 19 years)
- Estimated there are over half a million people with undiagnosed diabetes
What is the prognosis of people with type 2 diabetes?
- With optimal management people can participate normally in the usual activities of daily life but are at risk of complications
- Insulin deficiency in type 2 progresses with time and usually worsens over a period of years
- Initial management is with lifestyle (diet and exercise) over time people may need antidiabetic drug treatments
What are the macrovascular complications of diabetes?
- Cardiovascular disease
- MI, CVD, peripheral arterial disease (e.g. intermittent claudication)
- CVD accounted for 52% of deaths in people with type 2 diabetes
- Twofold increased risk of stroke within the first 5 years of diagnosis compared with the general population
- 20% of hospital admissions for heart failure, MI, and stroke are in people with diabetes (type 1 or 2)
What are the microvascular complications of diabetes?
- Nephropathy - 3/4 people with diabetes will develop some stage of CKD in their lifetime
- Retinopathy - diabetes is the leading cause of preventable blindness in people of working age in the UK
- Diabetic retinopathy accounts for 7% of people who are registered blind in England and Wales
- Chronic painful neuropathy - estimated to affect up to 26% of people with type 2 diabetes and people with diabetes are up to 30 times more likely to have an amputation compared with the general population
- Autonomic neuropathy - presents in different ways including sweating, blood vessels (postural hypotension), GI (gastroparesis and diarrhoea), heart, bladder and sexual function (35-90% of men with diabetes have erectile dysfunction)
What other complications are there from type 2 diabetes?
- Psychological - anxiety and depression (incl. children with behavioural and conduct disorders)
- Reduced quality of life - challenges of daily living hyper/hypo and monitoring
- Infections - UTI and skin
- Reduced life expectancy - reduced by an average of 10 years
- Dementia - 1.5 - 2.5 fold increased risk of dementia
How should a diagnosis be made of type 2 diabetes in adults?
- HbA1c of 40mmol/litre (6.5%) or more
- Or if HbA1c is inappropriate e.g. end stage CKD, diagnosis is made by a fasting blood glucose level of 7.0mmol/l or greater
How should diagnosis of type 2 diabetes be made in an asymptomatic person?
- Never on a single abnormal HbA1c or fasting glucose level
- At least one additional abnormal HbA1c or plasma glucose level is essential
- If the second test result is normal arrange regular review of the person
How should diagnosis of type 2 diabetes be made in a symptomatic person?
- Diabetes can be diagnosed with more confidence on the basis of a single abnormal HbA1c or fasting plasma glucose level (a second test would be sensible)
- Be aware that sever hyperglycaemia in people with an acute infection, trauma, or circulatory may be transitory and should not be regarded as diagnostic of diabetes
In which groups should diagnosis of type 2 diabetes diagnosis not be made on the basis of HbA1c?
- Children and young people <18 years
- Pregnant women or 2 months post partum
- People with diabetes symptoms less than 2 months
- People at high diabetes risk who are acutely ill
- People taking medication that may cause hyperglycaemia (corticosteroids)
- People with acute pancreatic damage, including pancreatic surgery
- People with end stage CKD
- People with HIV infection
In which groups should interpretation of HbA1c to diagnose diabetes be made with caution?
- Abnormal haemoglobin
- Anaemia
- Altered red cell lifespan (post-splenectomy)
- Recent blood transfusion
What is the initial care and support offered to an adult with type 2 diabetes?
- Ensure that an individual care plan is set up for all adults with type 2 diabetes
- Offer a structured group education programme (DESMOND)
- Ensure the person and/or their family/carers know how to contact the diabetes team during working hours
- Provide information on government disability benefits
- Manage life style issues such as diet and exercise
- Screen for the complications of type 2 diabetes
- Provide up to date information on diabetes support groups - diabetes UK
What is the DESMOND programme?
- Diabetes Education for Self-Management for Ongoing and Newly Diagnosed
- Offer at time of diagnosis with annual reinforcement and review
- Explain structured education is an integral part of their diabetes care
What is the diet advice you should give to people with type 2 diabetes?
- Emphasise the importance of a healthy balanced diet
- Low fibre, fruit, vegetables, wholegrain and pulses, low fat dairy products and oily fish
- Control intake of foods containing saturated and trans fatty acids
- If the person is overweight advise a body weight loss target of 5-10%
- Consider referring to a dietitian
What is the advice on exercise and physical activity you should give to people with type 2 diabetes?
- Advise that regular exercise may lower blood glucose levels
- All adults aged over 19 years should aim to be active daily
- Over a week should add up to 150 minutes (2.5 hours) of moderate intensity physical activity (such as brisk walking or cycling) in bouts of 10 minutes or more
- Alternatively 75 minutes of vigorous intensity activity (running or playing football) spread through the week or combinations of both
- Adults should take part in muscle strength training on at least 2 days per week
- Time spent sedentary should be minimised
- Older adults with risk of falls should incorporate physical activity to improve balance and coordination on at least 2 days per week
- Advise that regular exercise can
- Reduce their increased cardiovascular risk in the medium and long term
- Help with weight management (combined with a healthy diet)
What is the advice to people with diabetes on alcohol intake?
- Give information on the maximum alcohol intake
- Advise to avoid drinking on an empty stomach
- Alcohol absorbed faster
- Eat a snack that contains carbohydrate before and after alcohol
- Advise that alcohol may exacerbate or prolong the hypoglycaemic effect or antidiabetic drugs
- Signs of hypoglycaemia may become less clear and delayed hypoglycaemia may occur several hours after alcohol
- Advise on wearing a MedicAlert bracelet or Diabetes ID card
What is the advice to people with diabetes regarding smoking?
- If they smoke advise to stop
- Advise it is a cardiovascular risk factor
- Explain about the dangers of substance misuse
- Advise young adult non-smokers never to start smoking
What are the targets of HbA1c for people with type 2 daibetes to aim for to reduce the risk of long term vascular complications?
- Diet and lifestyle - 48mmol/mol (6.5%)
- Diet and lifestyle combined with a single drug not associated with hypoglycaemia (metformin) - 48mmol/mol (6.5%)
- People taking a drug associated with hypoglycaemia (sulphonylurea) - 53mmol/mol (7.0%)
- 58 mmol/mol
Following diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, what should the monitoring frequency be?
- Measure HbA1c at 3-6 monthly intervals (tailored to individual needs) until the HbA1c is stable on unchanging treatment, then at 6 monthly intervals
- If the person achieves HbA1c lower than their target they should be encouraged to maintain it
- Do not routinely offer self monitoring of blood glucose levels for adults with type 2 diabetes
What is the advice to a person with HbA1c not adequately controlled on a single drug and rises to 58mmol/mol or higher (7.5%)?
- Reinforce advice on diet and lifestyle and adherence to antidiabetic drug treatment
- Support the person to aim for HbA1c 53mmol/mol (7.0%)
- Intensify drug treatment
How should HbA1c control be managed in older and frail people?
- Case by case
- Consider relaxing the target if the person is:
- Unlikely to achieve long term risk reduction benefits
- Risk of hypo could risk fall or injury
When is there a role for self monitoring blood glucose levels for adults with type 2 diabetes?
- Person is on insulin therapy
- Evidence of hypoglycaemic episodes
- Drug treatment has a risk of hypo
- Pregnant or planning on becoming pregnant
- When on corticosteroids
- To confirm suspected hypoglycaemia
What can lead to worsening hyperglycaemia in adults with type 2 daibetes?
- Intercurrent illness or infection
How should a person with type 2 diabetes with intercurrent illness be managed?
- Consider the need for hospital admission or seeking specialist advice
- Managing in primary care
- Assess and manage the illness
- Assess how well the blood glucose has been managed
- Warn that the illness may affect blood glucose control
- Consider self monitoring of blood glucose
- Ensure the person has written contact details of their diabetes specialist team
- Ensure the person has sick day food and hydration supplies at home
- Easily digestible food and sugary drinks
- Oral rehydration food and sugary drinks
- Glucose tablets or oral gel
- Equipment for self monitoring
- Additional supplies of insulin (if on insulin therapy)
- A glucagon kit (if appropriate)
What are the sick day rules for a person with diabetes type 2?
- If on insulin therapy, they should not stop treatment
- If self monitoring indicated it should be done carefully and frequently
- Consider ketone monitoring
- Maintain normal meal pattern where possible
- Aim to drink at least 3 L of fluid a day to prevent dehydration, seek urgent medical advice if:
- Sick, drowsy or unable to keep fluids down
- Have persistent vomiting or diarrhoea
- When feeling better they should continue to monitor their glucose levels until they return to normal
Which drug treatment is first line for type 2 diabetes?
- Metformin - gradually increase the dose over several weeks to minimise the risk of adverse effects such as GI
- Trial of modified release metformin if GI effects are intolerable
Which drug is offered if metformin is contraindicated for type 2 diabetes?
One of the following:
- Gliptin
- Pioglitazone
- Sulfonylurea
- SGLT-2i
If the first line treatment for type 2 diabetes is contraindicated what can be added?
Metformin plus one of the following:
- Metformin plus a gliptin, or
- Metformin plus pioglitazone, or
- Metformin plus a sulfonylurea.
- Metformin plus an SGLT-2i
For people in whom metformin is contraindicated or not tolerated, consider the following:
- A gliptin plus pioglitazone, or
- A gliptin plus a sulfonylurea, or
- Pioglitazone plus a sulfonylurea.
- An SGLT-2i instead of a gliptin if a sulfonylurea or pioglitazone is not appropriate
If the second line treatment for type 2 diabetes is contraindicated what can be added?
For people who can take metformin:
- Triple therapy with metformin, a gliptin, and a sulfonylurea, or
- Triple therapy with metformin, pioglitazone, and a sulfonylurea, or
- Triple therapy with metformin, pioglitazone or a sulfonylurea and an SGLT-2i. (The SGLT-2i dapagliflozin in a triple therapy regimen is recommended as an option for treating type 2 diabetes in adults, only in combination with metformin and a sulfonylurea NOT pioglitazone), or
- Starting insulin-based treatment. See the CKS topic on Insulin therapy in type 2 diabetes for more information.
- For people in whom metformin is contraindicated or not tolerated:
- Consider starting insulin-based treatment.
If the third line treatment for type 2 diabetes is contraindicated what can be added?
For people on triple therapy with metformin and two other oral antidiabetic drugs, consider combination treatment with metformin, a sulfonylurea, and a glucagon-like peptide-1(GLP-1) mimetic for:
* Adults who have a body mass index (BMI) of 35 kg/m2 or higher (adjust accordingly for people from Black, Asian and other minority ethnic groups) and specific psychological or other medical problems associated with obesity, or
* Adults who have a BMI lower than 35 kg/m2 and insulin therapy would have significant occupational implications, or weight loss would benefit other significant obesity-related comorbidities.
* Or a combination of metformin, a DPP-4 inhibitor and the sodium glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor ertugliflozin for people with diabetes only if the disease is uncontrolled with metformin and a DPP‑4 inhibitor, and a sulfonylurea or pioglitazone is not appropriate.
* For people on insulin-based treatment:
Seek specialist advice (or refer the person to their diabetes team) for consideration of treatment with a GLP-1 mimetic plus insulin.
How should screening/review for type 2 diabetes be done?
- At every review appointment
- Measure height, weight and waist circumference and calculate BMI
- Assess for anxiety and depression
- Check smoking status
- Assess for neuropathy
- Every 6 months
- Measure HbA1c
- Once a year screen for:
- Retinopathy
- Diabetic foot problems
- Nephropathy
- Cardiovascular risk factors
- On insulin - check injection sites
When is retinopathy screening done for type 2 diabetes?
- At time of diagnosis, annually thereafter
- Emergency review by opthalmologist if there is:
- Sudden loss of vision
- Rubeosis iridis
- Pre-retinal or vitreous haemorrhage
- Retinal detachment
- Urgent review by an opthalmologist if there is:
- Abnormal vessels on the retina
What does diabetic foot screening entail for type 2 diabetes?
- At time of diagnosis, annually thereafter
- Advice about foot care, foot wear, persons risk of developing a foot problem, information about blood glucose control
- Examination
- Neuropathy - 10g monofilament for foot sensory examination
- Limb ischaemia - ABPI
- Ulceration
- Callus formation
- Infection and/or inflammation
- Deformity
- Gangrene
- Charcot arthropathy (acute, localised inflammatory condition that may lead to varying degrees of bone destruction, subluxation, dislocation and deformity)
- Categorise on examination findings - low, medium or high risk
- Management - based on foot ulceration risk category
- Low risk - continue annual assessments
- High risk - referral to foot protection service, seen within 2-4 weeks if at high risk or 6-8 weeks if moderate risk
- Dependent on the persons risk of developing a diabetic foot problem, reassessments should be carried out as follows:
- Annually - low risk
- Frequently (3-6 monthly) - moderate risk
- More frequent (1-2 monthly) - high risk with no immediate concern
- Very frequently (1-2 weekly) - high risk with immediate concern
- More frequent assessments for people who are not able to check their own feet
What does nephropathy screening entail for type 2 diabetes?
- Perform annually
- Send a first pass early morning specimen for ACR and measure eGFR
- CKD diagnosed when tests show reduction in kidney function or presence of proteinuria (>3 months) eGFR <60mL/min/1.73m2 and/ or ACR persistently >3mg/mmol
What does cardiovascular risk factor screening entail for type 2 diabetes?
- Assess annually
- Assess the following
- Age
- Albuminuria
- Smoking status
- Blood glucose control
- Blood pressure
- Full lipid profile (HDL, LDL, cholesterol and triglycerides)
- Family history of CVD
- Waist circumference
How should people on anti-hypertensive drug treatment with type 2 diabetes be managed?
- Manage hypertension with antihypertensive medication
- Review BP control and treatments
- For patients under 80 years reduce clinic BP to below 140/90 and maintain that level
For patients aged 80 and over reduce clinic BP to below 150/90 and maintain that level - Use ABPM or HBPM but be aware that HBPM levels are 5mmHg lower than ABPM
How should people with type 2 diabetes without previously diagnosed hypertension or nephropathy be assessed?
- Measure BP at least annually and reinforce lifestyle advice
- Confirm a diagnosis of hypertension in people with:
- Clinical BP of 140/90 mmHg or higher
- ABPM daytime average or HBPM average of 135/85mmHg or higher
- Refer people on the same day for specialist assessment if they have severe hypertension (180/120mmHg) with:
- Retinal haemorrhage or papilloedema (accelerated hypertension)
- Life threatening symptoms such as new onset confusion, chest pain, signs of heart failure or acute kidney injury
- Suspected phaechromocytoma (labile or postural hypotension, headache, palpitations, pallor, abdo pain or diaphoresis)
- Carry out investigations for target organ damage as soon as possible if a person has severe hypertension but no symptoms or signs indicating same day referral
How should people with type 2 diabetes without previously diagnosed hypertension or nephropathy be treated?
- If target end organ damage is identified, consider starting anti-hypertensive drug treatment immediately without waiting for the results of ABPM or HBPM
- If no target end organ damage, repeat BP measurement within 7 days
- Offer anti-hypertensive drug treatment in addition to lifetsyle advice to adults of any age with persistent stage 1 or 2 hypertension
- Stage 1 BP 140/90 - 159/99
- Stage 2 BP 160/100 - 180/120
- Discuss with the person their individual CVD risk and preferences for treatment including no treatment, explain the risks and benefits before starting treatment
- Consider anti-hypertensive medication for adults under 60 with stage 1 hypertension and a QRISK <10%
- For adults aged <40 years with hypertension - consider specialist evaluation of secondary causes of hypertension and a more detailed assessment of the long term balance of treatment benefit and risks
If anti-hypertensive treatment is required in type 2 diabetes, what should be offered?
- ACEi or ARB to all adults
- For black African or African-Caribean, consider ARB in preference to ACEi
- Do not combine ACEi and ARB
- Offer CCB next step or
- Thiazide like diuretic in addition to ACEi or ARB
- If not controlled after 3 medications, consider adding a fourth antihypertensive drug - measure BP again and assess for postural hypotension
- Consider adding a fourth medication for people with confirmed resistant hypertension
- Consider further diuretic therapy with low-dose spironolactone for adults who have a blood potassium level of 4.5mmol/L or less
- Consider an alpha-blocker or beta-blocker for adults who have a blood pressure level of >4.5mmol/L
- For women who are considering pregnancy, pregnant or breast feeding manage in line with pregnancy and hypertension guidelines
Which medications should not be offered to manage the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in adults with type 2 diabetes?
- Do not offer antiplatelet treatment (aspirin or clopidogrel)
How should lipid modification be managed for people with type 2 diabetes (without established CVD)?
- Offer statin treatment with 20mg atorvastatin for the primary prevention of CVD if the person is aged 84 years and younger and their estimated 10-year risk of developing CVD using the QRISK2 assessment tool is 10% or more
- Consider offering statin treatment of atorvastatin 20mg for patients who are 85 years of age or older - formal risk assessment not needed
How should lipid modification be managed for people with type 2 diabetes (with established CVD)?
- Advise statin treatment with atorvastatin 80 mg for the secondary prevention of CVD - formal risk assessment not needed
- Ensure regular protocol is followed before initiating statin treatment (see coronary heart disease notes)
How should neuropathy be managed for people with type 2 diabetes?
- Erectile dysfunction - consider prescribing a phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor (sildenafil, etc)
- Autonomic neuropathy - advise small particle size diet, involve gastroenterologist for consideration of a prokinetic drug such as erythromycin, metoclopramide or domperidone
- Be aware of increased risks of postural hypotension for adults taking tricyclic antidepressants or antihypertensive medications
What is the recommended dosing of metformin stardard release for type 2 diabetes?
- 500 mg with breakfast for at least 1 week, then 500 mg with breakfast and evening meal for at least 1 week, then 500 mg with breakfast, lunch, and evening meal thereafter; the usual maximum dose is 2 g daily in divided doses
What is the recommended dosing of metformin modified release for type 2 diabetes?
- 500 mg once daily, increased every 10-15 days on the basis of blood glucose measurements, maximum recommended dose is 2 g once daily with evening meal
- If control is not achieved, 1 g twice daily with meals should be tried
How should metformin be initiated and managed?
- Check eGFR - do not start if eGFR <30mL/min/1.73m2
During treatment - Monitor renal function
- At least once per year for people with normal renal function
- At least twice a year for people with impairment or risks such as elderly
- Review the dose of metformin if eGFR <45mL/min/1.73m2
- Stop treatment with metformin if eGFR <30 or those at risk of sudden renal function deterioration
What are the contraindications for metformin?
- Do not prescribe to people at risk of lactic acidosis including people with:
- DKA
- eGFR <30 standard release or <45 for modified release
- Acute conditions with potential to alter renal function - dehydration, prolonged fasting, severe infection or shock
- Hepatic insufficiency, acute alcohol intoxication or alcohol addiction
- People about to undergo elective surgery - discontinue 48 hours before, restart no earlier than 48 hours following surgery or resumption of oral nutrition if normal renal function has been established
- Prescribe in caution to people with mild to moderate CKD
What are the adverse effects associated with metformin?
- Gastrointestional - nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and loss of appetite - common at the start of treatment and resolve on their own in most cases - therefore gradual increase when starting is recommended
- Lactic acidosis - rare but potentially fatal adverse effect that can occur due to accumulation
- Insidious onset - abdo pain, anorexia, hypothermia, lethargy, nausea, respiratory distress and vomiting
- Stop if eGFR <30
- Vitamin B12 deficiency - long term and can be a cause of megaloblastic anaemia
- Hypoglycaemia - metformin alone does not cause hypoglycaemia but caution is advised when it is used in combination with other drugs
- Taste disturbance - common
- Skin reactions (rare) - erythema, pruritis and uticaria
What are the drug interactions with metformin?
- Alcohol - increased risk of lactic acidosis
- Beta blockers - can mask the warning signs of a hypo such as tremor
- Ketotifen - platelet count may be depressed when meformin is given with ketotifen
- Topiramate - may increase plasma concentration of metformin
- Caution advised when taken with other anti-diabetic drugs such as sulfonylurea (risk hypo)
What are gliptins?
- Inhibitors of the enzyme dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP-4)
- Plays a major role in glucose metabolism by rapidly degrading the incretins (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) (GIP) and glucagon like peptide 1 (GLP-1) which stimulate postprandial insulin secretion and suppress glucagon secretion
- Inhibition of DPP-4 results in increased circulating levels of GIP and GLP-1 following the ingestion of food and to increase insulin secretion and reduced glucagon secretion
What are the gliptins available in the UK?
- Sitagliptin
- Saxagliptin
- Vildagliptin
- Linagliptin
- Alogliptin
When would a lower dose of gliptin be required?
- Impaired eGFR
* In combination with a sulphonylurea to reduce the risk of hypoglycaemia
How should gliptins be initiated and monitored?
- Check LFT and U and E’s
What are the contraindications and cautions for gliptins?
Do not prescribe gliptins to people with:
* Keto-acidosis
Avoid in people with:
* Renal impairment - end stage
* Hepatic impairment - avoid in people with ALT or AST greater than 3 times the upper limit of normal
* People with moderate to severe heart failure
What are the adverse effects of gliptins?
- GI disturbance
- Acute pancreatitis - uncommon but serious
- Bullous pemphigoid
- Hypoglycaemia - may occur in combination with other drugs
- Nervous system disorders
- Skin and subcutaneous disorders
- MSK and connective tissue disorders
- Infections
- Hepatic dysfunction
- Hypersensitivity reactions
What drug interactions are associated with gliptins?
- Beta blockers - may mask hypoglycaemia signs
- ACEi - may increase risk of angioedema
- Digoxin - sitagliptin increases plasma concentration of digoxin (no dose adjustment required but monitor)
- Ketoconazole - may increase plasma levels
- Rifampicin - possibly reduced effects
- Blood glucose lowering effects may be enhanced by:
- Alcohol
- Anabolic steroids
- MAOI’s
- Testosterone
- Blood glucose lowering effects may be impaired by:
- Corticosteroids
- Diuretics
- Oestrogens and progestogens
How does pioglitazone work?
- Reduces peripheral insulin resistance thereby leading to a reduction in blood glucose concentration (does not stimulate insulin secretion)
How should treatment with pioglitazone be initiated and monitored?
- Check LFT - if ALT is more than 2.5 times the upper limit of normal or there is any other evidence of disease, do not start treatment
- Measure FBC
- BMI
- Check for a history of bladder cancer or blood in the urine which has not been investigated - do not start if so
Following initiation of treatment with pioglitazone:
- Measure ALT
- Signs of fluid retention
- Assess the safety and efficacy of pioglitazone 3-6 months after treatment is initiated and regularly afterwards
What is the recommended dose of pioglitazone?
- 15-30 mg daily, increased to 45 mg according to response
What are the contraindications and cautions for pioglitazone?
Do not prescribe in people with the following:
- Heart failure (NYHA stages I to IV)
- In caution people at risk of developing congestive heart failure
- DKA
- Macroscopic haematuria
- Previous or active bladder cancer
- Hepatic impairment
- Start with lowest available dose
What are the possible adverse effects of pioglitazone?
- Fluid retention
- Bladder cancer
- Increased risk of bone fractures
- Weight gain
- Decreased visual acuity
- Hypoglycaemia risk increased
- Liver toxicity
- GI disturbance, anaemia, headaches, dizziness, arthralgia, hypoaesthesia, haematuria, impotence
What are the drug interactions associated with pioglitazone?
- Beta blockers
- Gemfibrozil
- Ketoconazole
- Lanreotide and octreotide
- NSAID’s
- Liver enzyme inducing drugs
- Blood glucose lowering effects may be enhanced by:
- Alcohol
- Anabolic steroids
- MAOI’s
- Testosterone
- Blood glucose lowering effects may be impaired by:
- Corticosteroids
- Diuretics
- Oestrogens and progestogens
How do sulfonylureas work?
- They are insulin secretagogues - act by augmenting insulin secretion and consequently are effective only when some residual pancreatic beta-cell activity is present
- Five available in the UK
- Glibenclamide
- Gliclazide
- Glimepiride
- Glipizide
- Tolbutamide
What are the contraindications and cautions of sulfonylureas?
Do not prescribe a sulfonylurea to people with:
* Acute porphoria
* Ketoacidosis
* Severe renal impairment
Prescribe sulphonylurea’s with caution in:
* People with severe hepatic impairment - increased risk of hypo
* People with mild to moderate renal impairment - risk of hypo
* Elderly - risk hypo
* People with G6PD deficiency
What are the adverse effects of sulfonylureas?
Generally mild and infrequent
- GI disturbances
- Disturbance in liver function
- Hypersensitivity reactions - occur in the first 6-8 weeks of treatment and consist mainly of allergic skin reactions which progress rarely to erythema multiforme and exfoliative dermatitis, fever and jaundice
- Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders - rare
- Blood disorders
- Hyponatraemia
- Dizziness and drowsiness
- Headaches and tinnitus
When should insulin therapy be considered in type 2 diabetes?
- Blood glucose levels are inadequately controlled despite dual therapy with metformin and another oral anti-diabetic drug
- Oral anti-diabetic drugs are contraindicated or not tolerated
What are the reasons for not initiating insulin therapy in type 2 diabetes?
- Obesity - can lead to further weight gain
- Physical and mental health - potential benefits of insulin therapy may not outweigh the potential risks
- Anxiety about needles
- Personal preference
- Concerns regarding group 2 vehicles
How do GLP-1 medications work?
- Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) mimetics bind to and activate the GLP-1 receptor to increase insulin secretion, suppress glucagon secretion and slow gastric emptying
- There are 3 GLP-1 mimetics available in the UK
- Exenatide
- Liraglutide
- Lixisenatide
How should treatment with a GLP-1 be initiated and monitored?
- NICE recommends that combination treatment with metformin, sulfonylurea and a GLP-1 mimetic should only be considered if triple therapy with metformin and two other oral anti-diabetic drugs is not effective
- After 6 months of treatment with a GLP-1 mimetic - check the persons body weight and HbA1c level
- Only continue treatment if the person has had a beneficial metabolic response (reduction of at least 11 mmol/mol (1%) in HbA1c and a weight loss of at least 3% of initial body weight
What is the mode of action of SGLT-2i?
- Reversible inhibition of sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) in the renal proximal convuluted tubule to reduce glucose reabsorption and increase urinary glucose excretion
What are the 3 licensed SGLT-2i medicines?
- Canagliflozin
- Dapagliflozin
- Empagliflozin
What are SGLT-2i medicines indicated for?
- Type 2 diabetes as monotherapy (if metformin inappropriate) or in combination with insulin or other anti-diabetic drugs (if existing treatment fails to achieve adequate glycaemic control)
- Dapagliflozin in a triple therapy is recommended as an option for treating type 2 diabetes in adults only in combination with metformin and a sulphonylurea
What are the contraindications for using SGLT-2i medicines?
- Serious risk of DKA
- Test for raised ketones in patients presenting with symptoms of DKA, even if plasma glucose levels are near normal, omitting this test could delay a diagnosis of DKA
- Stop if DKA is suspected
- Treat the DKA is confirmed
- Not recommended for patients with moderate to severe renal impairment <60 eGFR
- Increased risk of volume depletion
- Lactose intolerance - tablets contain lactose
What are the adverse effects of SGLT-2i medicines?
- Vulvovaginitis, balanitis, UTI
- Hypoglycaemia
- Pruritus
- Frequency of micturation
- Raised serum lipids
- Raised haematocrit
- Fourniers gangrene
- Dapagliflozin - angioedema - rare
Which drugs interact with SGLT-2i?
- Thiazide and loop diuretics
- Insulin and insulin secretagogues
- Enzyme inducers
- Digoxin
- Dabigatran
- Cholestyramine
What is type 1 diabetes mellitus?
- Autoimmune disorder
- Insulin producing islet cells of Langerhans in the pancreas are destroyed by the immune system
- Results in absolute deficiency of insulin, results in raised glucose levels in the blood
- Patients tend to develop T1DBM in childhood/early adult life and typically present unwell, possibly in DKA
What are the presenting features of T1DBM?
- Weight loss
- Polydipsia
- Polyuria
May present with diabetic ketoacidosis
- Abdominal pain
- Vomiting
- Reduced consciousness level
What is the WHO diagnostic criteria for DBMT1?
- If the patient is symptomatic:
- Fasting glucose greater than or equal to 7.0 mmol/L
- Random glucose greater than or equal to 11.1 mmol/L (or after 75g oral glucose tolerance test)
- If the patient is asymptomatic, the above criteria apply but must be present on two separate occasions.