Transcript Diabetes - EMTS Gulf Coast

Diabetes
Larry Lambert, EMTParamedic
Acadian Integrated
Services
MP 252
What is Diabetes?
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Disorder of metabolism – Insufficient
production of insulin
Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert
sugars and starches to usable energy by the
body
Cause of Diabetes is still a mystery ….there
are some genetic and environmental facts
appear to play a role.. Obesity and lack of
exercise in particular
Prevalence of Diabetes
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About 21 million children and adults in the US
have diabetes
It is estimated another 6.2 million have the
disease and aren’t aware
The disease is diagnosed by either a Fasting
Plasma Glucose Test (FPG) or Oral Glucose
Tolerance Test (OGTT)
Types of Diabetes
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Type 1 – Failure of the body to produce
sufficient insulin
Type 2 – Body fails to use the insulin effectively
Gestational Diabetes – about 4 % pregnant
females develop GD during pregnancy; of
those almost half develop type 1 in later life,
particularly post menopausal
What is insulin?
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Insulin is a hormone
It is produced in the
pancreas
The pancreas is a
digestive organ that
sits behind the
stomach and produces
other enzymes of
digestion
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Carbohydrates are
absorbed into the
intestines
Most cells of the body
have insulin receptors
These receptors pick
up insulin then
together they absorb
sugar for energy into
the cells
How do we make Insulin?
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In the 1920’s Dr. Banting and Best discovered
insulin in dogs. Even though the pancreas
produces other hormones, they isolated the
insulin and found how to harvest it.
Later the same technique was used to to
“harvest” insulin from pigs and cows.
By the 1980’s DNA technology allowed us to
make insulin from human cells.
Signs and symptoms of Diabetes
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Excessive Urination
Excessive Wt loss
Increased Irritability
Slow healing wounds
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Excessive Thirst
Extreme Hunger
Blurry Vision
Increased fatigue
Diabetic Emergencies
Insulin shock
Hypoglycemia
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Sudden Onset
Rapid Heart Rate
Dizziness
Change in behavior – erratic – intoxicated like
state
Headache
Pale & Sweaty Skin
Unconsciousness
Treatment of Diabetic Emergencies
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Patient/Rescuer Safety
Support ABC’s
Call for EMS/Medic
If patient is conscious and showing signs of
hypoglycemia give regular soft drink or fruit
juice with high sugar content
Follow up with peanut butter, crackers
Diabetic Coma
Hyperglycemia
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Gradual Onset - hours to days
Thirst
Dehydration
Fever – red skin
Ketone breath
Change in mental status