Diabetes

Question 1

What is diabetes mellitus?

Answer 1

A group of metabolic disorders characterised by chronic hyperglycaemia due to insulin deficiency or insulin resistance or both

Question 2

What is type 1 characterised by?

Answer 2

Characterised by the progressive loss of all or most pancreatic beta cells

Question 3

Difference between type 1+2 in population affected?

Answer 3

Type 1 is most common in the young

Type 2 is relatively common in the older and overweight population

Question 4

What is type 2 characterised by?

Answer 4

Slow progressive loss of beta cells with disorders of insulin resistance or deficiency

Question 5

What are the triad of symptoms associated its type 1 ?

Answer 5

Polyuria, polydipsia and unexplained weight loss

Question 6

How do you diagnose diabetes?

Answer 6

Triad of symptoms plus:
- random venous plasma glucose (more than 11.1mmol/l)
-fasting plasma glucose (more than 7.0mmol/l)
-ogtt
With no symptoms need more than one of the above

Question 7

Symptoms of hyperglycaemia

Answer 7

Polyuria, polydipsia, unexplained weight loss, fatigue, blurred vision, dry/itchy skin, poor wound healing and plasma proteins may become gylcosylated.

Question 8

Symptoms of hypoglycaemia

Answer 8

Sweating, anxiety, hungers, temour, palpitations, confusion, drowsiness, seizures, coma and eventually death
SO must be treated QUICKLY

Question 9

Explain the sequence of events leading to ketoacidosis in an uncontrolled diabetic

Answer 9

High rates of B-oxidation of fats in the liver coupled with the low insulin/anti insulin ratio causes the production of huge amounts of ketone bodies. ^ketone bodies = ketoacidosis

Question 10

Why is ketoacidosis a dangerous condition?

Answer 10

Features include prostration, hyperventilation, nausea, vomiting, dehydration and abdominal pain
Nausea>vomiting>coma>death
Must be treated quickly!!!