Diagnosis and Management of Diabetic Coma Essay -- Diabetes Health Ess

Diagnosis and Management of Diabetic Coma Diabetes is any disorder of the metabolism which causes excessive thirst and the production of large volumes of urine. A coma is a state of unrousable unconsciousness. (Martin (2002)) There are two types of diabetes: Diabetes Insipidus (DI) is a rare metabolic disorder, the symptoms of which are the production of large quantities of dilute urine and an increased thirst. It is caused by a deficiency of the pituitary hormone Anti-diuretic hormone (ADH / vasopressin) which regulates water reabsorption in the kidneys. (Martin (2002)) Diabetes Mellitus (DM) has symptoms of polyuria, wasting and glycosuria (mellitus means 'sweet urine') as well as the following tests to give a laboratory diagnosis of DM: Venous plasma glucose >11.1 mmol / L or Fasting venous plasma glucose > 7.0 mmol / L or Plasma venous glucose concentration > 11.1 mmol / L two hours after taking 75 g glucose in an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). There are two types of DM; insulin dependent DM (IDDM or type 1) and non-insulin dependent DM (NIDDM or type 2) Type 1 is caused by the destruction of pancreatic b cell destruction, which can be predicted by the detection of the presence of antibodies (Abs) to islet cells, (Pitteloud, Philippe (2000)) insulin and glutamic acid dehydrogenase (GAD) (a neurotransmitter) and a decrease in b cell insulin secretion. This destruction causes a decrease in insulin production, the hormone which stimulates glucose to be stored in the muscle and liver as glycogen. Type 1 causes an abrupt onset of severe symptoms, including a tendency to ketosis and a dependence on exogenous insulin. Type 2 is caused by a diet high in saturated fats, a lack of exercise and obesity. This is because the constantly high glucose levels cause insulin to be produced at constantly high levels, and so the body becomes desensitized to its effect as cells in target tissues posses fewer insulin receptors. Characteristics of NIDDM are that insulin is present, symptoms are moderate (tiredness and thirst), there is no tendency to ketosis and patients are not dependent on exogenous insulin. High blood glucose is controlled by diet, possibly with diabetic drugs. Complications of DM are: Cataract, as excessive blood glucose binds to lens proteins. Retinopathy (micro-angiopathy) caused by hemorrhage, etc.. .. ...ether the cause is glucose concentrations being too high or too low. Many causes of diabetic coma can be treated easily with hormones and fluids. References EMANCIPATOR K (1999) Laboratory diagnosis and Monitoring of Diabetes Mellitus, American Journal of Pathology, 112(5) PP665-674 EVERS IM, TER BRAAK EW, DE VALK HW, VAN DER SCHOOT B, JANSSEN N, VISSER GH (2002) Risk indicators Predictive For Severe Hypoglycemia During The First Trimester of Type 1 Diabetic Pregnancy, Diabetes Care, 25 (3) Pp554-559 Previous course notes, BIOM2003 MARTIN ELIZABETH A (2002) Concise Medical DictionarySixth Edition, Oxford, Oxford University Press, Pp148, 190-191, 374, 665-666, 717 MAYNE Philip D. (2001) Clinical Chemistry Sixth Edition, London, Arnold, Pp209-210 MOHSENI S (2001) Hypoglycemic Neuropathy, Acta Neuropathology, 102 (5) Pp 413-421 PITTELOUD N, PHILIPPE J (2000) Characteristics of Caucasian Type 2 Diabetic Patients During Ketoacidosis and Follow-up, Schweiz Med Wochenschr , 130, Pp576 - 582 TORTORA Gerard J, GRABOWSKI Sandra Reynolds (2000) Principles of Anatomy and Physiology Ninth Edition, New York, John Wiley & Sons Ltd., Pp 41, 964, 966, c-0, c-1