diabetes emergencies Flashcards
(48 cards)
definition of a hypo
<4
definition of a severe hypo
a hypo that requires assistance
how many severe hypo’s before driving licence revoked in a year
2
causes of hypoglycaemia
- excess insulin administration
- overdose of other antidiabetic medication eg SU’s
- not eating enough carbs
- alcohol excess
- physiological stressors
- rarely (insulinomas, addison’s disease)
symptoms of hypoglycaemia
- adrenergic symptoms due to adrenaline release
- sweating
- trembling
- tachycardia
- anxiety
- hunger
- pallor
- nausea
- vomiting
- neuroglycopaenic symptoms
- confusion
- tiredness
- irritable
- visual disturb
- arrhythmias
- seizure
hypo management if mild
abcde
- if mild/conscious then give 15g glucose surgary drink wait 10 mins and reassess, repeat 3x then call dr
- give long acting carb after
hypo management if severe and unconscious
- establish IV access 10% dextrose 150ml or 80ml
- glucagon 1mg IM
why dont you get ketones in 2dm
as some insulin prevents uncontrolled lipolysis as only need a very small mount
causes of DKA AND HHS 4I’s
insufficient insulin
infection
infarction
intercurrent illness
inx of hyperglycaemia
- capillary prick
- ketones
- urinalysis
- urea and electrolytes
- arterial blood gases
- fbc
- bp and hr
- ecg for potassium signs
- cxr for cause and blood cultures
ecg signs of hyperkalaemia
flattened p wave and prolonged QRS segment, tall peaked t weaves and sign wave, shortened qt interval
3 parameters for dka
hyperglycaemia >11
ketones >3
acidosis ph <7.3 or bicarb <15
how can dka cause mortality
- children by cerebral oedema
- adults by hypokalaemia, ards, comorbid
who gets dka 1 or 2
usually 1
precipitation of dka
- intercurrent illness as need to increase insulin
- eating disorder
- non-compliance
- infection
- infarction
what causes ketosis
- insulin deficiency exacerbated by elevated catecholamines and other stress hormones that cause unrestratined lipolysis
- lots of FFA for hepatic ketogenesis
2 types of ketones
3-hydroxybutyrate and acetoacetate
symptoms of dka
- dehydration (osmotic diuresis)
- electrolyte loss (na and k)
- polyuria
- weight loss
- weakness
- N&V
- leg cramps
- blurred vision
- abdo pain : amylase raise
- kussmaul breathing and smell of acetone
- hypotension
- hypothermia
why do infected patients with dka get pyrexia
vasodilation secondary to acidosis
inx dka
- venous blood
- urinalysis or blood for ketones
- ecg for hyperk
- blood cultures and cxr
- blood pressure hypovolaemia
- anion gap
dka is potassium raised or not raised
- in the blood potassium are raised as pH causes efflux from cells
- but potassium is intracellular cation so actually is low
what needs to be given with insulin
potassium as insulin also drives potassium out of cells
definition of severe dka
blood ketones>6 bicarb <5 pH <7 hypok already gcs <12 o2 <92% hr >100 or <60
what is the anion gap formula and usual range
(Na+K)-(Bic+Cl)
8-16