What makes you think your patient has gestational diabetes? Patients whose body mass index (BMI) is 30 kg/m2 or higher prior to pregnancy or who have an immediate family member with diabetes are at increased risk for developing gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). The American Diabetes Association (ADA) has recommended that patients at high risk of…
At a Glance Patients do not, typically, show signs or symptoms indicating increased risk for developing diabetes. However, some patients will have impaired fasting glucose (IFG) or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) that fails to meet the criteria for the diagnosis of diabetes but are still too high to be considered normal. Such patients have been…
At a Glance Both diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state (HHS) are serious complications of diabetes that develop as a consequence of too little insulin, coupled with an increase in concentration of counter-regulatory hormones, such as glucagon, catecholamines, cortisol, and growth hormone. DKA occurs when ketones are produced during hepatic metabolism of free fatty…
What makes you think your patient has type II diabetes? Type II diabetes is, typically, not diagnosed until health complications appear. Signs and symptoms of type II diabetes often develop slowly and include: increased thirst frequent urination dry mouth extreme hunger weight loss fatigue headaches blurred vision Additional symptoms may include: slow-healing sores or cuts…
At a Glance Type I diabetes is a disease typically diagnosed in children and young adults and accounts for only 5-10% of those with diabetes. Patients with type I diabetes fail to produce insulin, resulting in excess blood glucose levels. Symptoms of type 1 diabetes include: increased thirst frequent urination extreme hunger weight loss fatigue…
