What is diabetes? Flashcards
What are the primary sources of glucose to the body?
Glucose absorbed from gut (dietary glucose)
The Liver - through Gluconeogenesis & glycogenolysis
What is the role of insulin in our bodies
It is the only hormone that acts to lower blood glucose levels
It (and other enzymes) are used to maintain our blood glucose levels
What is the effect of insulin on these:
a) adipose tissue
b) the liver
c) muscle
Insulin release causes:
a) Adipose tissue - Reduced lipolysis
b) The liver - Reduced glucose production
c) Muscle - Increased glucose uptake into cells
What is the definition of diabetes?
a group of metabolic diseases of multiple aetiologies
characterised by hyperglycaemia together with disturbances of carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism
resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both
What are the symptoms of hyperglycaemia (and diabetes)?
Polydipsia (excessive thirst)
Polyuria (excessive urine passage)
Blurred vision
Weight loss
Infections
What are the potential complications of diabetes arising from metabolic decompensation?
Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) - usually type 1 diabetes
Hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic state (HHS) - type 2 diabetes
What are the long term complications of Diabetes?
Microvascular:
- Retinopathy
- Neuropathy
- Nephropathy
Macrovascular:
- Stroke
- MI
- PVD, diabetic foot etc
What is the approach to diagnosing diabetes?
Diabetes can be diagnosed when overt symptoms are present and random blood glucose measurement.
In absence of clear symptoms - diagnosis can be made using any 1 of 3 measurements of glucose metabolism
How is diabetes with overt symptoms diagnosed?
*Random plasma glucose* >11 mmol/L
other options:
Fasting plasma glucose > 7 mmol/L
2 hour OGTT (glucose tolerance test) value > 11
HbA1c > 48.00 mmol/mol
(Symptoms + 1 diagnostic test +ve)
How is diabetes with less clear symptoms diagnosed?
Same options for tests but requires 2 positives…
*Random blood glucose > 11
Fasting blood glucose > 7
2 hour OGTT > 11
HbA1c > 48
(no symptoms diagnosis = 2 diagnostic test +ves)
What is intermediate hyperglycaemia?
Its like a btec version of Diabetes. Blood tests show impairment - but not to the degree of diabetes.
- Impaired fasting glucose 6.1-7 mmol/L
- Impaired glucose tolerance 2h glucose ≥7.8 and <11mmol/l
- HbA1c 42-47mmol/mol
The diagnostic criteria for diabetes means that a lot of people tested will have impaired glucose metabolism (Intermediate hyperglycaemia) - but fail to be diagnosed with diabetes.
Why is this?
Diabetes diagnostic criteria identify patients who have significant enough risk of premature mortality and micro/macrovascular complications
Intermediate hyperglycaemia does not place you at a significant enough risk basically
What does intermediate hyperglycaemia indicate about a patients future?
Intermediate hyperglycaemia (IGT and IFG) identifies a group at higher risk of future diabetes and adverse outcomes such as cardiovascular disease
What does normoglycaemic mean?
For glucose levels associated with a low-risk of developing diabetes or CVD
What is the significance/meaning of HbA1c?
HbA1c - part of Haemoglobin which is bound to irreversibly to glucose
The higher the HbA1c - the higher the glucose levels
HbA1c circulates for the lifespan of the red blood cell, so reflects the prevailing blood glucose levels over the preceding 2-3 months (ie more long term measurement)
