Diabetes conditions and treatment

Question 1

What is insulin required for?

Answer 1

Sugar to enter most cells

Question 2

What is the blood glucose range for a non diabetic?

Answer 2

<3.3mmo/L

Question 3

What is the blood glucose for a diabetic?

Answer 3

<4.0mmo/L

Question 4

What is diabetes insipidus?

Answer 4

Dibetes insipidus is a rare condition where you produce a large amount of urine and often feel thirsty. It is due to an inadequate Anti-Diuretic Hormone.

Question 5

What is type one diabetes due to?

Answer 5

The destruction of islet cells within the pancreas

Question 6

What is the treatment of type one diabetes?

Answer 6

Insulin

Question 7

What is hyperglycemia?

Answer 7

Diabetic ketoacidosis. DKA occurs when the body has no insulin to use and switches to burning fatty acids and producing acidic ketone bodies (high above 20mmol/L.) Often breath has a pear drop smell.

Question 8

What is a hyperosmolar coma?

Answer 8

Non-ketotic coma is a dangerous condition brought on by very high blood glucose levels in type 2 diabetes (above 22mmol/L)

Question 9

What is the management of a hyperglycemia?

Answer 9

-Support ABCs
-Treat for hypovolemic shock (if it is unclear whether hypo or hyper)
-Check BSM
-Rapid transport
-Consider interventions (fluids)

Question 10

What should you do if a diabetic patient has collapsed and it is unclear whether the cause is hypo or hyper?

Answer 10

The hypo should be suspected and patient given glucose. Research states that untreated hypo can kill, whilst hyper will not significantly worsen with a single injection of IV glucose.