Monthly Archives: September 2007
Complications After Pancreas Transplantation
Patients who have received both a pancreas and a kidney have had the best results. Acute rejection is more common, however, than in patients who receive a kidney alone. Surgical complications after pancreas-only transplantation are common, occur earlier, and lead … Continue reading
Compensatory Mechanisms of Hypoglycemia
The body responds to hypoglycemia by producing and releasing counterregulatory hormones, such as glucagon and epinephrine. Usually, this process begins when the glucose level falls below 60 mg/dl.Glucagon, a hormone secreted by the alpha cells of the islets of Langerhans, … Continue reading
Oral Antidiabetic Drugs
For people with Type 2 diabetes, the first line of treatment is nutritional therapy coupled with exercise. If diet and exercise don’t control blood glucose levels adequately, a physician may prescribe oral antidiabetic drugs. These drugs, which are effective only … Continue reading
Diabetes and CAD
Diabetes is a risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD). Thus, an adult who has recently been diagnosed with diabetes should have a fasting lipid profile to detect any lipid abnormalities. Obesity and lipid abnormalities-both risk factors for CAD-are common … Continue reading
Diabetes and its Effect on Body
Next, check your patient’s height and weight. Patients with Type I diabetes are usually underÂweight or average weight, whereas patients with Type 2 diabetes are usually overweight at the time of diagnosis. A recent rapid weight loss is a common … Continue reading
Electrocardiogram to Monitor Diabetes
Diabetes is a major risk factor for CAD, which is the most common cause of death in patients with diabetes. An ECG evaluates the electrical activity of your patient’s heart and can detect evidence of myocardial ischemia, myocardial infarction, and … Continue reading
Hypoglycemia- Caused by Diabetes
Hypoglycemia caused by diabetes therapy that’s too aggressive or by poor management (for example, using insulin without eating) can cause neurologic signs such as tremors, faintness, and difficulty in communicating. If left untreated, hypoglycemia can quickly lead to a loss … Continue reading
Details on Endocrine Function
Clusters of about one million endocrine cells lie embedded between the acini. These endocrine cells, also known as pancreatic islets or islets of Langerhans, make up about 2% of the total mass of the pancreas. The endocrine cells function as … Continue reading
Hyperglycemia- Untreated Diabetes
Chronic hyperglycemia results from untreated or poorly controlled diabetes. But acute hyperglycemia results from factors that interfere with glucose controlan acute infection, for instance. If hyperglycemia becomes severe enough, the patient may develop a serious condition, such as OKA and … Continue reading