Endocrinology Flashcards
(126 cards)
What is type 1 diabetes?
- Metabolic disorder characterised by absolute insulin deficiency, leading to hyperglycaemia.
What is type 2 diabetes?
- A progressive disorder associated with decreased insulin secretion and increased insulin resistance. Leads to poor glycemic control (hyperglycaemia).
What is the clinical presentation of type 1 diabetes?
- Peak presentation at 10-14 YO (young).
- Polyuria/polydipsia.
- Weight loss.
- Excessive tiredness.
- For many patients, the first presentation will be DKA.
What is the main risk factor for developing type 1 diabetes?
- Genetics. Presence of HLA-DR3/4 predisposes someone to type 1 diabetes.
What is the clinical presentation of type 2 diabetes?
- Often asymptomatic at presentation and picked up on by screening.
- Can present with polyuria/polydipsia, but this is usually in more advanced hyperglycaemia.
What are the risk factors for type 2 diabetes?
- Age (older).
- Obesity.
- FH of type 2 diabetes.
- Non-white.
- Gestational diabetes.
- Pre-diabetes (HbA1c between 42 and 47).
- Dyslipidaemia (raised cholesterol).
- CVD (peripheral/coronary artery disease).
- Stress.
What are the investigations for diabetes mellitus (including ones used for the most common complications)?
- HbA1c > or = 48mmol/mol.
A repeat confirmatory test will be needed unless the patient has severe symptoms/the HbA1c is extremely high. - Fasting lipid profile. Raised LDL common in diabetics.
- Urine ketones should be tested if the patient is symptomatic. This could show raised ketones, which increase risk of future diabetic kidney disease (CKD).
- C-peptide. Used to differentiate between type 1 and 2 diabetes (not used routinely). High or normal in Type 2, low in type 1.
What are the key differences between type 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus?
- Type 1 in younger, type 2 in older.
- Type 1 associated with BMI<25, type 2 associated with BMI>25.
- C-pep. Raised/normal in type 2, low in type 1.
- Acanthosis nigricans. Associated with insulin resistance, so therefore is associated with type 2 diabetes not type 1.
- DKA absent: Type 2.
- More gradual onset: type 2.
How is type 1 diabetes monitored by the doctor?
- HbA1c check every 3-6 months. Aim for HbA1c > 48.
- Annual screenings for: Diabetic retinopathy, BP, Foot examination (Peripheral vascular disease, peripheral neuropathy).
- ACR (albumin:creatinine ratio). Used to monitor the kidney function in a patient with diabetes.
How is type 1 diabetes monitored by the patient?
- Regular capillary glucose monitoring.
- Should be done at least 4 times a day.
- If the patient has severe symptoms, or a neurological cognitive disorder that prevents them from manually monitoring their glucose, consider giving them a real-time capillary glucose monitor.
How are diet and exercise managed in type 1 diabetes?
- Diet. Individualised diet plan to patient with aim to maintain a healthy glucose level.
- Exercise. Exercise should be advised, but appropriate precautions taken.
What medication is used to treat type 1 diabetes?
- Basal-bolus insulin.
This involves basal (slow acting) insulin at regular intervals, and extra bolus (fast acting) insulin prior to meals and exercise.
- Consider use of an insulin pump if adherence is poor.
- Consider adding metformin (a biguanide) if BMI>25.
What are the main potential complications of type 1 diabetes?
- DKA.
- Hypoglycaemia.
- Retinopathy.
- Diabetic kidney disease (A type of CKD).
- Diabetic neuropathy.
- CVD (hypertension, peripheral vascular disease etc.)
How are exercise and diet managed in type 2 diabetes?
- Increase physical activity.
- Low fat, reduce calorie intake.
What are the different stages of glucose management for type 2 DM?
1st line: diet and lifestyle advice.
2nd line: add metformin (a biguanide).
3rd line: Start another diabetic medication (e.g. canagliflozin, a SGLT2 inhibitor).
When is metformin contraindicated?
- If GFR < 30.
What medications are given to control high BP in DM?
- ACEI (ramipril) or ARB (losartan).
What medications are given to those at high risk of CVD with type 2 DM? How are they determined to be at high risk of CVD?
- High intensity statins (atorvastatin).
- High risk determined using the QRISK3 scoring system.
What should happen on a diabetic “sick day”?
- All diabetic medications should be stopped until they are better.
How should type 2 diabetes medication be managed during pregnancy?
- Metformin is safe.
- All other DM type 2 drugs should be stopped.
What are the potential complications of type 2 DM?
- Diabetic kidney disease (CKD).
- Diabetic retinopathy.
- Peripheral neuropathy.
- CVD.
- Congestive heart failure.
- Stroke.
- DKA is still possible in type 2 diabetes, but more common in type 1.
What are the different classes of medications used to treat type 2 diabetes?
- Biguanides.
- GLP-1 agonists.
- SGLT2 inhibitors.
- DPP-4 inhibitors.
- Sulfonylurea.
What is DKA and what is the criteria?
Diabetic ketoacidosis.
It is an acute metabolic complication of diabetes, and the criteria is:
- Hyperglycaemia.
- Ketonaemia (high ketones).
- Metabolic acidosis (low bicarbonate).
Which type of diabetes does DKA occur in?
- Can occur in both, but more common in type 1.