Type 2 Diabetes Flashcards
What is type 2 diabetes?
relative deficiency of insulin due to an excess of adipose tissue - not enough insulin to go around all excess fatty tissue, so blood glucose creeps up
What is MODY?
Group of inherited disorders affecting the production of insulin
young patients who get symptoms similar to T2DM - asymptomatic hyperglycaemia with progression to more severe complications such as DKA
What is the way that T2DM is often detected?
routine blood tests
also polydipsia, polyuria
What are 9 risk factors for T2DM?
- Obesity and inactivity
- Family history
- Ethnicity - Asian, African, Black communities
- History of gestational diabetes
- Poor dietary habits - high GI, low fibre
- Drug treatments e.g. statins, corticosteroids, thiazide+beta blocker
- Polycystic ovarian syndrome
- Metabolic syndrome
- Low birth weight for gestational age/prematurity
What are the 3 macrovascular and 3 microvascular complications of T2DM?
Macrovascular:
- Ischaemic heart disease
- Cerebrovascular events
- Peripheral arterial disease
Microvascular:
- Nephropathy
- Retinopathy
- Peripheral neuropathy
What are 2 forms of neuropathy that can be a complication of T2DM?
- Chronic painful neuropathy
- Autonomic neuropathy - skin, blood vessels, GI tract, heart, bladder, sexual function affected, blunting of hypo perception
What are 6 complications of T2DM in addition to the microvascular and macrovascular complications?
- Metabolic complications - dyslipidaemia and DKA
- Psychological complications - anxiety and depression
- Reduced quality of life - self monitoring, self-management, planning activities
- Infectiosn - UTIs and skin
- Reduced life expectancy
- Dementia - 1.5-2.5x risk
What test is usually used to diagnose T2DM?
HbA1c of 48 mmol/mol (6.5%) or more
When might the use of HbA1c be inappropriate to diagnose T2DM, and what can be used in this instance?
Fasting plasma glucose level of 7.0 mmol/L or greater
What is an example of evidence of insulin resistance on examination?
acanthosis nigricans
If a patient is asymptomatic, how does this influence the way a diagnosis of T2DM is made?
should never be based on single abnormal HbA1c or fasting plasma glucose level; at least one additional abnormal HbA1c or plasma glucose level is essential
if second test result normal, arrange regular review of person
How is T2DM diagnosed in a symptomatic person?
More confidence with single abnormal HbA1c or fasting plasma glucose level (although second test may be prudent still)
What are 3 causes of severe transient hyperglycaemia?
- Acute infection
- Trauma
- Circulatory
When should HbA1c not be used to diagnose diabetes? 8 situations
- Children and young people (<18)
- Pregnant women/ 2 months postpartum
- Symptoms of diabetes for <2 months
- People at high diabetes risk who are acutely ill
- People taking medication that may cause hyperglycaemia (e.g. corticosteroids)
- People with acute pancreatic damage, including pancreatic surgery
- People with end-stage chronic kidney disease
- People with HIV infection
What are 4 situations when HbA1c should be interpreted with caution?
- Altered haemoglobin
- Anaemia (any cause)
- Altered red cell lifespan (e.g. post-splenectomy)
- Recent blood transfusion
What can be said about the symptoms of T2DM and how it often presents?
thirst, polyuria, blurred vision, weight loss, recurrent infections, tiredness: not usually severe, may be absent
In addition to diabetes type 1, what are 5 other causes of diabetes to rule out when diagnosis T2DM?
- Monogenic diabetes
- Secondary to pathological condition or disease
- Secondary to drug treatment
- Secondary to trauma
- Secondary to pancreatic surgery
If you suspect T2DM in a child and young person what should be done?
immediately refer (on the same day) to a multidisciplinary paediatric diabetes care team with the competencies need to confirm the diagnosis and provide immediate care
What is DKA?
metabolic state characterised by triad of hyperglyceamia, ketonaemia and acidosis
medical emergency as it leads to dehydration and electrolyte imbalances
What is usually the cause of DKA?
although more common in type 1 diabetes, can also develop in type 2
What are the 4 criteria when you should suspect DKA?
- Known diabetes or signiificant hyperglycaema (BM >11 mmol/L)
- Clinical features of DKA
- Precipitating factors present
- Ketones in urine or blood
What are 5 possible precipitating factors for DKA?
- Infection e.g. pneumonia/UTI
- Physiological stress (trauma/surgery)
- Inadequate insulin or non-adherence with insulin treatment
- Other medical conditions e.g. hypothyroidism or pancreatitis
- Drugs e.g. corticosterioids, diuretics, sympathomimetic drugs e.g. salbutamol
How can you test for ketonaemia suggesting DKA in adults?
urine or blood ketones - test if you suspect, even if plasma glucose levels are near normal
How should you test for ketones in a child or young person with suspected DKA?
test for blood ketones with ketone testing meter and strips
if not possible, arrange immediate admission to a hospital with acute paediatric facilities
What is considered a high level of ketones from testing?
2+ in urine
>3mmol/L in blood
Do low blood ketones (<3 mmol/L) always exclude DKA?
not always
Is hyperglycaemia always present in DKA?
no - children and young people on insulin therapy may develop DKA with normal blood glucose levels
What are 6 symptoms of DKA?
- Increased thirst and urinary frequency
- Weight loss
- Inability to tolerate fluids
- Persistent vomiting and/or diarrhoea
- Abdominal pain
- Lethargy and/or confusino
What are 3 signs of DKA?
- Fruity smell of acetone on the breath
- Acidotic breathing - deep sighing (Kussmaul) respiration
- Dehydration - mild, moderate, severe or shock
What are 4 classes of dehydration in DKA?
- Mild - only just clinically detectable
- Moderate - dry skin and mucus membranes, reduced skin turgor
- Severe - sunken eyes and prolonged capillary refill time
- Shock
What are 3 signs of shock in DKA?
- Tachycardia, poor peripheral perfusion, hypotension (indicating decreased cardiac output)
- Lethargy, drowsiness, decreased level of consciousness (indicating decreased cerebral perfusion)
- Reduced urine output (decreased renal perfusion)
What is the definition of hypoglycaemia?
considered present when blood glucose levels decrease to <3.5 mmol/L
What initial support should be offered to patients diagnosed with T2DM? 7 aspects
- Individual care plan
- Structured group education programme e.g. DESMOND
- Ensure person and/or family know how to contact diabetes team during working hours and out of hours
- Provide info on government and disability benefits if needed
- Manage lifestyle issues e.g. diet, exercise
- Screen for complications of type 2 diabetes
- Provide up to date information (including written information) on diabetes support groups (local and national)
What are the recommened HbA1c targets for people managed by 1. lifestyle and diet 2. lifestyle + single drugs not associated with hypos 3. drug associated with hypos?
- <48
- <48
- <53
How frequently should you measure HbA1c levels in T2DM?
initially 3-6 monthly individuals, until HbA1c is stable on unchanging treatment then at 6 monthly intervals
What are 2 other reasons for a person with diabetes achieving a lower HbA1c, other than good control?
- Deteriorating renal function
- Sudden weight los
What is the advice re self-monitoring of blood glucose in T2DM, and what are 6 situations when you would consider it?
- Person is on insulin therapy
- There’s evidence of hypoglycaemic episodes
- The person is taking a drug that may increase their risk of hypoglycaemia while driving or operating machinery (such a sulfonylurea)
- Person is pregnant or is planning to become pregnant
- Short term: when starting steroids
- Short term: to confirm suspected hypoglycaemia
What are 2 situations when adults with T2DM are at increasd risk of worsening hyperglycaemia?
- Intercurrent illness
- Infection
What support should be arranged if a patient with T2DM does require self-monitoring of blood glucose?
Structured assessment should be covered at least annually, checking:
- self-monitoring skills, the quality and frequency of testing, and the equipment used
- that the person knows how to interpret the blood glucose results and what action to take if they are too high or too low
- impact of self-monitoring on person’s quality of life and the continued benefit to the person
What should you offer as the initial treatment for all adults with type 2 diabetes?
standard-release metformin (unless contraindicated)
How is metformin started in T2DM?
gradually increase dose of standard-release over several weeks (to minimise risk of adverse effects) such as GI effects
What should you consider if GI adverse effects on standard-release metformin at intolerable?
trial of modified-release metformin
What monitoring should be performed on metformin?
renal function
What are 4 second line treatments if first-line drug treatment (e.g. metformin) is ineffective?
- Metformin plus a gliptin or
- Metformin plus pioglitazone or
- Metformin plus sulfonylurea
- Metformin plus an SGLT-2i
If metformin is contraindicated or not tolerated, what are 4 drug treatment options to consider?
- Gliptin + pioglitazone or
- Gliptin + sulfonylurea or
- Pioglitazone + sulfonylurea
- SGLT+2i instead of gliptin if a sulfonylurea or pioglitazone is not appropriate
What are 4 third-line treatment options if second-line is ineffective and metformin can be taken?
- Triple therapy with metformin, 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
- Insulin-based treatment