This organ functions as both an endocrine and exocrine gland, playing roles in hormone regulation and digestive enzyme secretion.
What is the pancreas?
Uncontrolled hyperglycemia, dehydration, metabolic acidosis, and ketone production are hallmark clinical features of this acute diabetic complication.
What is diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)?
This condition typically presents with more severe hyperglycemia, often exceeding 600 mg/dL
What is HHS (Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic Syndrome)?
An acronym stands for a condition in which excessive antidiuretic hormone leads to water retention and hyponatremia.
What is Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone?
This condition is caused by a deficiency or resistance to antidiuretic hormone and leads to excessive urination and thirst.
What is Diabetes Insipidus (DI)?
Gallstones and chronic alcohol use are the two most common causes of this painful inflammatory condition.
What is pancreatitis?
In this condition, glucose cannot enter body cells for energy, so fat is broken down for fuel instead, leading to ketone production. This hormone is missing or severely deficient.
What is insulin?
This major difference helps distinguish DKA from HHS and involves the presence of this byproduct of fat metabolism.
What are ketones?
In SIADH, urine becomes more concentrated due to an excess of this hormone.
What is antidiuretic hormone (ADH)?
This laboratory measurement is commonly used to assess a patient's hydration status by evaluating the concentration of solutes in the blood.
What is serum osmolality?
These diagnostic tests are commonly used to evaluate a patient with suspected pancreatitis.
What are CBC, BMP, abdominal ultrasound, and CT with contrast?
These deep, labored respirations are the body’s attempt to eliminate excess carbon dioxide during metabolic acidosis.
What are Kussmaul’s respirations?
This electrolyte must be closely monitored during treatment of HHS and can lead to (blank).
What is potassium and dangerous cardiac rhythms?
This electrolyte level commonly drops in patients with SIADH due to dilutional effects from water retention.
What is sodium?
These are key clinical manifestations of Diabetes Insipidus, including increased urination and this intense sensation.
What are excessive urination and excessive thirst? (Also acceptable: increased plasma osmolality, low urine osmolality, low specific gravity.)
What are the three clinical manifestations of acute pancreatitis?
What are epigastric pain, vomiting, ecchymosis at the flanks or umbilicus.
Name three priority nursing interventions for managing a patient with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).
What are IV fluids, insulin administration, and potassium replacement?
(ABG monitoring, EKG monitoring, or glucose checks)
This diabetic emergency has a more rapid onset than its counterpart and is most commonly associated with type 1 diabetes.
What is DKA?
Cancer, head trauma, meningitis, opioids, and general anesthesia are common causes of this hormone imbalance involving excessive ADH secretion.
What is SIADH?
These are three common risk factors for developing Diabetes Insipidus.
What are head trauma, brain surgery, and tumors?
This severe form of pancreatitis involves diffuse bleeding, tissue necrosis, and fibrosis of the pancreatic tissue.
What is necrotizing hemorrhagic pancreatitis?
This metabolic process occurs in the liver and kidneys to generate glucose from non-carbohydrate sources like amino acids and lactate.
What is gluconeogenesis?
Initial treatment for HHS includes this fluid replacement protocol.
What is fluid replacement with NS or ½ NS, half over 12 hours and the rest over 36 hours?
These are three common nursing interventions for managing a patient with SIADH.
What are fluid restrictions, diuretics, and safety or seizure precautions? (monitoring intake and output)
This medication is used to treat Diabetes Insipidus by decreasing urine output and acting as a synthetic form of antidiuretic hormone
What is DDAVP (desmopressin)?