Risk Factors
One modifiable risk factor for Type 2 Diabetes.
What is activity level? diet? weight? smoking?
What are the “3 Ps” of diabetes?
What is the first-line oral medication for Type 2 Diabetes?
What is Metformin?
Name one acute complication of diabetes.
What is DKA/ HHS?
What type of diet is recommended for patients with diabetes?
What is a balanced diet with carbohydrate control?
One non-modifiable risk factor for obesity.
What are genetics, family history, age, gender, health conditions (hormone disorders)?
Name one classic symptom of hypoglycemia.
What is:
Name one non-medication intervention for obesity management.
What is exercise, diet modification, improved sleep habits, smoking cessation, decreased stress level?
Name one chronic complication of diabetes.
What is neuropathy, retinopathy, nephropathy...?
Name one benefit of regular exercise for patients with diabetes.
Exercise is highly beneficial for diabetes management because it improves blood sugar control by increasing insulin sensitivity and glucose uptake by muscles. It also helps with weight management, improves heart health by lowering blood pressure and bad cholesterol, and enhances overall well-being, reduces stress, and improves sleep.
True or False: Being overweight as a child increases your risk for Type 2 Diabetes later in life.
Answer is: True
True or False: Obesity always causes Type 1 Diabetes.
False - obesity can contribute to development of type 2 diabetes.
Which type of insulin acts fastest?
What is rapid acting insulin?
What complication can obesity cause in the musculoskeletal system?
What is osteoarthritis?
Why is foot care important in diabetes?
Prevents foot wounds that go unnoticed, causing high risk for infection.
List two lifestyle factors that increase risk for diabetes.
What are:
physical inactivity, excess weight, poor diet, regular alcohol consumption, smoking, poor sleep quality, chronic stress
Which lab value confirms diabetes: Fasting glucose ≥ ____ mg/dL?
A. 150
B. 126
C. 75
What is 126 mg/dL?
What is the BMI cutoff for obesity?
What is greater than or equal to 30?
Why does poorly controlled diabetes increase infection risk?
What is poor circulation and immune suppression?
What is the recommended HbA1c target for most patients?
Less than 7
Explain how obesity contributes to insulin resistance.
Excess fat accumulation in adipose tissue can disrupt its normal function. Enlarged fat cells are less responsive to insulin, decreasing glucose uptake.
Fat can accumulate in the organs and disrupt how these organs function, contributing to insulin resistance.
Obesity is associated with chronic inflammation, which releases inflammatory cytokines. These cytokines interfere with insulin signaling, promoting insulin resistance.
Obesity leads to increased production of fatty acids, which can accumulate in cells and interfere with insulin signaling.
Obesity is linked to increased oxidative stress, which damages cells and impairs insulin sensitivity.
Describe the difference in onset between Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes generally presents in childhood due to lack of production of insulin through pancreatic beta cells. Must be treated by insulin injections.
Type 2 diabetes generally presents in adulthood due to insulin resistance and can be treated with diet modification, exercise, and oral medications.
Explain why lifestyle changes are critical even if medication is prescribed for diabetes type 2.
If you take diabetes medicine, it's important to balance what you eat and drink with your medicine. Too little food in proportion to your diabetes medicine — especially insulin — can lead to dangerously low blood sugar. This is called hypoglycemia. Too much food may cause your blood sugar level to climb too high so that medication is not effective.
What is metabolic syndrome, and why is it important in obesity/diabetes?
Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of risk factors -central obesity, high blood pressure, elevated blood sugar, and abnormal triglyceride/cholesterol levels, that significantly increases the risk for type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Obesity is a primary driver of metabolic syndrome by contributing to insulin resistance. Managing metabolic syndrome involves lifestyle changes like healthy eating, regular physical activity, and weight loss to reduce insulin resistance and control the underlying consitions.
Teach your patient how to recognize hypoglycemia and what to do about it.
Early symptoms include:
Consume 15 grams of fast-acting carbohydrates.
Reassess blood glucose in 15 minutes and repeat if necessary. Eat a small snack or the next meal to prevent further drops in glucose.