Monitoring - Oral hypoglycaemics and insulin

Question 1

What are monitoring requirements for metformin?

Answer 1

Renal function

Baseline and annually (high risk of renal impairment bi-annually)

Question 2

Why is it important to monitor renal function in those taking metformin?

Answer 2

Due to increased risk of lactic acidosis if kidney’s become impaired

Question 3

What are monitoring requirements for insulin in adults?

Answer 3

maintain a blood-glucose concentration of between 4 and 9 mmol/litre for most of the time (4–7 mmol/litre before meals and less than 9 mmol/litre after meals).

Question 4

What are monitoring requirements for insulin in children?

Answer 4

It is therefore best to recommend that children should maintain a blood-glucose concentration of between 4 and 10 mmol/litre for most of the time (4–8 mmol/litre before meals and less than 10 mmol/litre after meals).

Question 5

Patient/Carer advice for Metformin?

Answer 5

Risk of Lactic acidosis: -
dyspnoea
muscle cramps
abdo pain
hyporthermia
asthenia