Diabetes Flashcards
(30 cards)
How does the body maintain a constant level of blood glucose?
GI tract- food
Liver- glycogen, gluconeogenesis
What is blood glucose homeostasis regulated by:
insulin, glucagon, epinephrine
insulin
responds to a rise in blood sugar
- promotes uptake and/or storage of glucose by cells
glucagon
responds to a drop in blood sugar
- brings glucose out of storage
epinephrine
helps raise blood glucose
- fight or flight
what is the normal fasting blood glucose amount?
4.0-6.0 mmol/L
What is diabetes?
a complex metabolic disorder
- due to the insufficient production or utilization of insulin
- inability to absorb, transport and utilize glucose
What happens to glucose in diabetes?
Glucose builds up in the bloodstream instead of being used for energy
Diagnosis of diabetes is made on the basis of
- fasting blood sugar: more than or equal to 7mmol/L
- oral glucose tolerance test: more than or equal to 11.1mmol/L
- A1C: more than or equal to 6.5% (in adults)
Type 1 diabetes
produces little or no insulin
cause of type 1 diabetes
cause = unknown
- probably autoimmune: body’s immune system attacks beta cells of the pancreas
Can you prevent type 1 diabetes
not preventable
What was type 1 diabetes previously known as
insulin-dependent or juvenile diabetes
Onset of type 1 diabetes
early childhood –> young adult hood
what percentage of cases does type 1 diabetes account for
10%
Type 2 Diabetes
the pancreas produces too little insulin or body is no long sensitive to the presence of insulin (insulin resistance)
Risk factors of type 2 diabetes
obesity, age >40yrs, ethnicity, genetics
Onset for type 2 diabetes
traditionally it was an adult-onset disease but is now diagnosed in children and adolecents
Gestational Diabetes (GDM)
temporary condition in pregnancy (5.4%)
Cause of GDM
the pancreas produces an insufficient insulin to deal with excess needs in pregnancy and change in hormones
risk factors of GDM
age less than or equal to 35yrs, obesity, previous baby >9lbs, pre-diabetes, GDM in previous pregnancy
Prevention strategies for type 2
- eating healthy (limit refind sugars), regular PA, weight management
signs and symptoms
excessive thirst, frequent urination
excessive hunger
extreme fatigue
weight loss (type 1)
headache, blurred vision
elevated blood sugar - hyperglycemia
glucose in the urine - glucosuria
health complications
- Associated with chronic exposure to increase blood sugar: damage to blood vessels and veins
- retinopathy: eye disease, blindness
- nephropathy: kidney disease
- peripheral vascular disease, neuropathy: tingling and numbness in extremities, poor circulation
- erectile disfunction
