Australian T1DM Statistics and Burden
T1DM and DKA Pathophysiology
Signs and Symptoms
Assessment, Diagnosis/ Differential Diagnosis
100

In 2021, approximately this many Australians were newly diagnosed with T1DM?

What is 3,000 people

100

This pancreatic cell is destroyed by the autoimmune process in T1DM.

What is Beta cell

100

This classic symptom occurs when glucose-induced osmotic diuresis increases urine output.

Polyuria

100

In suspected DKA, the preferred bedside ketone measurement is this circulating ketone.

What is Blood beta-hydroxybutyrate

200

This age band had Australia’s highest T1DM incidence rate in 2021.

What is 10–14 years

200

Name the two hepatic processes no longer adequately suppressed by insulin, increasing glucose output.

What is Glycogenolysis and Gluconeogenesis

200

Why can new T1DM cause weight loss despite polyphagia?

What is The body cannot use glucose properly, loses calories in urine and breaks down fat and protein.

200

A child has glucose 18 mmol/L, ketones 4.2 mmol/L, venous pH 7.34 and bicarbonate 20 mmol/L. Does this meet paediatric DKA criteria?

What is NO, hyperglycaemia and ketonaemia are present, but acidosis is absent

300

Explain why “13,200 Australians had T1DM in 2021” is an inaccurate statement.

What is 13,200 refers only to people aged 0–19, not all Australians with T1DM.


300

Complete the chain: insulin deficiency → lipolysis → free fatty acids → hepatic beta-oxidation → acetyl-CoA → _____.

What is Ketone bodies

300

Deep rapid breathing in DKA is called this, and it serves this purpose.

What is Kussmaul respirations, which lower CO2 to compensate for metabolic acidosis.




300

Give 2 Australian diagnostic assessments used and their threshold for diabetes in a non-pregnant person.

What is fasting glucose of at least 7.0 mmol/L, random glucose of at least 11.1 mmol/L in someone with classic symptoms, a 2-hour OGTT value of at least 11.1 mmol/L, or HbA1c of at least 6.5%.

400

In 2023–24, 69,100 admissions recorded T1DM, but only 15,400 listed it as principal diagnosis. What two cautions are essential when interpreting the 69,100?

What is Admissions are episodes, not unique people, and T1DM being listed does not necessarily mean it caused the admission.

400

Connect insulin deficiency to worsening renal clearance of both glucose and ketones in one causal sequence.

Insulin deficiency → hyperglycaemia → osmotic diuresis → dehydration → reduced renal perfusion → reduced clearance of glucose and ketones.


400

A patient progresses from thirst and polyuria to vomiting, deep breathing, tachycardia and confusion. Link each new feature to the DKA mechanism.

What is Acidosis causes vomiting and Kussmaul breathing. Dehydration causes tachycardia and severe metabolic disturbance can impair consciousness.

400

A young, non-obese patient has diabetes, negative GAD/IA-2/ZnT8 antibodies, preserved C-peptide and affected relatives in three successive generations. What diagnosis should be investigated?

What is Monogenic diabetes, such as MODY