Diabetes: Clinical Presentation, Screening, and Diagnostics
The “classic triad” of symptoms in new-onset Type 1 diabetes.
What are polyuria, polydipsia, and polyphagia?
For most adults with diabetes, the A1C target is less than this value.
What is 7%?
At diagnosis, this is the first step for type 2 diabetes management.
What are lifestyle, nutrition, and exercise?
This first-line agent lowers A1C by 1–2% by reducing hepatic glucose production and improving peripheral uptake.
What is metformin (a biguanide)?
Worldwide, this deficiency is the leading cause of hypothyroidism.
What is iodine deficiency?
A patient with a BMI of 22 falls into this weight category.
What is healthy weight?
Numbness, tingling, recurrent skin or yeast infections, and blurred vision are common in this type of diabetes.
What is Type 2 diabetes?
A falsely high A1C may occur in patients with these types of anemia.
What are iron, B12, or folate deficiency anemias?
If A1C is not at goal after 3 months in type 2 diabetes, this should be added.
What is an oral agent (e.g., metformin)?
These injectable agents increase insulin release with meals, decrease glucagon, slow gastric emptying, and promote weight loss.
What are GLP-1 receptor agonists (e.g., semaglutide, liraglutide)?
A patient with ↑ TSH and ↓ Free T4 likely has this type of thyroid disease.
What is primary hypothyroidism?
A BMI of ≥40 is classified as this
What is Class III obesity (severe/morbid obesity)?
Adults with a BMI ≥ 25 (≥ 23 in Asian Americans) plus one or more risk factors should be screened early for this type of diabetes.
What is Type 2 diabetes?
This blood product can cause either falsely high or falsely low A1C, depending on storage medium and dilutional effects.
What is an RBC transfusion?
Add insulin in Type 2 diabetes when this A1C threshold or persistent hyperglycemia is reached despite oral meds.
What is A1C > 10% (or persistent hyperglycemia despite oral agents)?
Metformin must be avoided or discontinued if the patient’s GFR falls below this value.
What is < 30 mL/min (avoid/contraindicated; use caution if < 40 mL/min)?
This hyperthyroid emergency presents with fever, tachycardia, agitation, and can be fatal without rapid treatmen
What is thyroid storm?
This syndrome is defined by a cluster of ↑BP, ↑BG, central obesity, and abnormal cholesterol.
What is metabolic syndrome (Syndrome X)?
A random plasma glucose ≥ 200 mg/dL plus these symptoms is diagnostic.
What are classic hyperglycemia symptoms (polyuria, polydipsia, weight loss)?
The preferred monitoring method for type 1 diabetes.
What is Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM)?
Approximately how much does 15 g of carbohydrates raise blood glucose?
What is ~50 mg/dL?
Sulfonylureas commonly cause this side effect that patients need to recognize and treat promptly.
What is hypoglycemia?
This medication is preferred for initial treatment of hyperthyroidism unless the patient is pregnant in the first trimester.
What is methimazole?
These medications work by increasing insulin, lowering glucagon, and slowing gastric emptying to promote satiety.
What are GLP-1 receptor agonists (semaglutide, liraglutide)?
A1C 5.7-6.4%, FPG 100-125 mg/dL, or OGTT 140-199 mg/dL is consistent with this intermediate stage.
What is prediabetes?
If CGM is not available, how many times per day should type 1 patients check glucose?
What is 3–4 times per day?
The target fasting plasma glucose (FPG) for basal titration is under this value.
What is < 100 mg/dL?
This rare but life-threatening infection has been associated with SGLT2 inhibitors, especially in the perineal region.
What is Fournier’s gangrene?
A painless, fixed thyroid mass with hoarseness and dysphagia should raise suspicion for this condition.
What is thyroid malignancy?
This dual incretin drug improves both insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity and produces stronger A1C and weight reduction effects.
What is tirzepatide (Mounjaro)?