MEH Diabetes Mellitus Flashcards
What is diabetes mellitus?
Raised blood glucose level. Over years leads to damage of the small and large blood vessels causing premature death from cardiovascular diseases. Long term/chronic disease
Why is it a major concern?
Major budget use of NHS Cause of blindness Cause of amputation Cause of CVD/PVD/stroke Reduces life expectancy
What is metabolic syndrome (4)?
A cluster of the most dangerous risk factors associated with CVD:
1) Diabetes and raised fasting plasma glucose
2) Abdominal obesity
3) High cholesterol
4) High BP
What are the markers for metabolic syndrome for each of the 4 criteria?
Waist >94cm for men >80cm for women
Plus any 2 of:
Raised triglyceride >1.7mmol/L or on treatment
Reduced HDL cholesterol <1 for men <1.2 for women
Raised BP >135/75 or on treatment
or Raised fasting glucose >5.6mmol or treated diabetes
What causes metabolic syndrome (5)
Central obesity Insulin resistance Genetics Ageing Sedentary lifestyle
What is insulin resistance linked to in particular?
Obesity
Insulin resistance often processes to type 2 diabetes true/false
True
What is the genetic and autoimmune basis of type 1 diabetes?
Mostly genetic –> alleles of HLA DQB1 an MHCII molecule.
Autoantibodies against beta cells destroy them
Environmental role in pathogenesis
How might diabetes mellitus present?
Polyuria
Polydipsia (excessive thirst)
Blurring of vision (change in refraction due to glucose)
Urogenital infections –> thrush
Tiredness
Weakness
Lethargy
Weight loss (due to effect of no insulin)
How do you test for diabetes mellitus?
How do you diagnose?
Fasting glucose
HbA1c - glycated Hb
Oral glucose tolerance test (not used now?)
1 abnormal test and symptoms
or 2 tests if asymptomatic
What are the benefits of using HbA1c over the fasting glucose (2)?
No need to fast
Indicates average of glucose levels over the past 3 months
Why could someone who was newly diagnosed with diabetes type 1 present with vomitting?
Why could they present with hyperventilation?
Could present as diabetic ketoacidosis —> a response is vomitting (would reduce acidosis)
Due to ketoacidosis —> lowers pH –> drive to breath off CO2 to reduce acidity leads to hypeventilation
Why would type I diabetic have ketones in their urine? Why would type II not?
Due to lipid break down due to reduced insulin:anti-insulin ratio –> excess leads to lipolysis. Liver uses triglycerides to make energy due to the lack of insulin to enable plasma glucose to be utilised. This leads to excess ketone formation.
What is Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA)?
Major life threatening complication of diabetes indicated by hyperglycaemia hyperketonuria and ketoacidosis (lowered pH)
What are the genetic markers for diabetes type I?
Genetic markers HLA DR3 and HLA DR4.