Physiology 3.4

Question 1

How many people in the UK are diagnosed with diabetes every 10 minutes?

Answer 1

3 people

Question 2

How many people over 65 have diabetes?

Answer 2

1 in 4.

Question 3

What are type 1 diabetes?

Answer 3

Insulin dependant.
Genetically susceptible.
Make up 10% of all diabetics.

Question 4

What are type 2 diabetics?

Answer 4

Non-insulin dependant.
Due to lifestyle.
Make up 90% of all diabetics.

Question 5

What is type 1 diabetes/insulin dependant diabetes mellitus?

Answer 5

An autoimmune condition where the pancreas beta cels are destroyed. These are the cells that produce insulin. So not enough insulin is produced by the body, however the body still responds to insulin.

Question 6

What is type 2 diabetes/non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus?

Answer 6

Usually caused by chronic exposure too nutrients.
This chromic exposure of glucose creates a constant presence of insulin - the receptors become insensitized OR there is a reduction in their number.

The body still makes insulin, but the body doesn’t respond to it. They might even make too much insulin to counteract the problem (hyperinsulaemia).

Question 7

Ketoacidosis in type 1 diabetes?

Answer 7

• The body doesn’t make insulin - so cells cannot use glucose.
• the body uses fatty acids for most tissues as energy.
• Amino acids are converted into ketones via beta oxidation in the liver, they are used by the brain.
• Ketone uptake is insulin dependant - without the insulin ketones build up in the blood.
• These are acidic - causing ketoacidosis/ketosis.

Question 8

How serious is ketoacidosis?

Answer 8

Death will occur within hours of ketoacidosis if not treated.

Question 9

What are the signs of ketoacidosis?

Answer 9

• Acetone (fruity) smelling breath.

- Ketones are detectable in the urine.

Question 10

What are the main causes of type 2 diabetes?

Answer 10

High sugar or animal fat diet.
Lack of exercise.
Obesity.

Question 11

How can pre-diabetics reverse their high blood glucose levels?

Answer 11

Before a person gets type 2 diabetes they can change their lifestyle and potentially lower their blood glucose levels before the damage is permanent.

Question 12

How is diabetes diagnosed?

Answer 12

Hyperglycaemia is the diagnostic criteria for diabetes.

Question 13

What is the test used to diagnose diabetes?

Answer 13

Glucose tolerance test.

Question 14

Does the glucose tolerance test determine between type 1 and type 2 diabetes?

Answer 14

No.

Question 15

How long after the glucose load should blood glucose levels return to normal?

Answer 15

Within one hour.

Question 16

Complications of hyperglycaemia?

Answer 16

LONG TERM:
retinopathy 
neuropathy (diabetic ulcers - limb amputation)
nephropathy (kidney disease)
cardiovascular disease

Question 17

Complications of hypoglycaemia?

Answer 17

Occur very quickly, often resulting in coma, brain damage or death:

• inhibition of insulin secretion
• cognitive dysfunction
• lethargy
• coma
• convulsions
• permanent brain damage and death