Week 12: Major Complications of Diabetes Flashcards
1
Q
What are the microvascular complications of diabetes? (3)
A
- eye
- kidney
- neuropathy
2
Q
What does diabetes do to the eyes?
A
- High blood glucose and high blood pressure can damage eye blood vessel, causing retinopathy, cataracts, and glaucoma
3
Q
What does diabetes do to the kidneys? (2)
A
- High blood pressure damages small blood vessels
- excess blood glucose overworks the kidneys, resulting in nephropathy (deterioration of kidney function)
Basically your kidneys are working all the time, so the vascular system to the kidneys gets destroyed
4
Q
Why does diabetes cause neuropathy? (3)
A
- Hyperglycemia damages nerves in the peripheral nervous system
- May result in pain and/or numbness
- feet wounds may go undetected, get infected and lead to gangrene
5
Q
What are the macrovascular complications of diabetes? (3)
A
- brain
- heart
- Extremities
6
Q
What does diabetes do to the brain?
A
- Increased risk of stroke and cerebrovascular disease, including transient ischemic attack, cognitive impairment,etc.
7
Q
What does diabetes do to the heart?
A
- high blood pressure and insulin resistance increases risk of coronary heart disease
- linked to kidneys as per diagram
8
Q
What does diabetes do to the extremities? (2)
A
- PVD results from narrowing of blood vessels, increasing risk of reduced or lack of blood flow in the legs
- feet wounds are likely to heal slowing, contributing to gangrene and other complications
- linked to neuropathy as per diagram
9
Q
What are the chronic complications of hyperglycemia? (2)
A
- causes thickening of basement membranes, leading to organ damage
- Ischemia in small blood vessels (hypoxia)
10
Q
Chronic complications flow chart
A
11
Q
Where do the ulcers on the foot occur mostly? (4)
A
- top of toes
- heel of foot
- pad of foot
- bottom of toes
12
Q
What is the critical high and low blood sugar values?
A
high - 33 mmol/L
low - 2.8 mmol/L
