A G.P's complete guide to diabetes

[Amity Island]

Worth a read. Any comments are most welcome.

Masterclass: A GP's complete guide to diabetes

As part of our Masterclass series, GP specialist in diabetes Dr Elizabeth Martin explains the key points in prevention, diagnosis and management of diabetes in general practice. This series showcases content from our Pulse Reference site, which supports GPs in making diagnoses. We are expanding...

www.pulsetoday.co.uk

 

[Robin]

Worth a read. Any comments are most welcome.

Masterclass: A GP's complete guide to diabetes

As part of our Masterclass series, GP specialist in diabetes Dr Elizabeth Martin explains the key points in prevention, diagnosis and management of diabetes in general practice. This series showcases content from our Pulse Reference site, which supports GPs in making diagnoses. We are expanding...

www.pulsetoday.co.uk

Well, I got as far as the first line…
'Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease'
No it isn’t. Diabetes is the fact of having too much glucose in the blood.
I had to read several paragraphs further on before discovering there were several types of diabetes, only one of which has anything to do with the metabolism.

 

[paultrose]

I had to read several paragraphs further on before discovering there were several types of diabetes, only one of which has anything to do with the metabolism.

And it didnt even mention my type which is an uncommon side effect to cancer treatment

 

[Tdm]

Well, I got as far as the first line…
'Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease'
No it isn’t. Diabetes is the fact of having too much glucose in the blood.
I had to read several paragraphs further on before discovering there were several types of diabetes, only one of which has anything to do with the metabolism.

But surely, if ones metabolism is working correctly, one would not have high blood sugars, as the metabolism of ones body would kick in to maintain homeostasis.
Unless someone had just come along and injected one with glucose, that is.

 

[gail2]

didt think a lot of it to be honest

 

[Robin]

But surely, if ones metabolism is working correctly, one would not have high blood sugars, as the metabolism of ones body would kick in to maintain homeostasis.
Unless someone had just come along and injected one with glucose, that is.

I’m splitting hairs, I’m afraid. I don’t like the thought of being defined as having a metabolic disease, when what I've got is a lack of something that my body ought to be manufacturing, (OK, which throws my metabolism out of whack) which can be replaced to allow me to carry on a normal life, I prefer to see it as a condition which is the word used by the article to define Type 1 when it gets round to distinguishing different types of diabetes lower down the page.

 

[dannybgoode]

I thought it was ok to be honest. It summarises the types well and gives a key good overview of the treatments.

It's not overly long but not so short as to miss detail.

Definitions are always going to be contentious. 'Scientific' definitions are not worded to please people or not, rather describe what the condition is. And it is a chronic metabolic disease regardless of the cause.

 

[Amity Island]

It is a chronic metabolic disease regardless of the cause.

Yes, I found this on N.I.C.E

Diabetes - type 1: Summary
Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder characterized by persistent hyperglycaemia (random plasma glucose more than 11 mmol/L) with disturbances of carbohydrate, protein, and fat metabolism resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both.

Diabetes - type 1 | Health topics A to Z | CKS | NICE

Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic disorders characterized by persistent hyperglycaemia (random plasma glucose more than 11 mmol/L).

cks.nice.org.uk

 

[AndBreathe]

Isn't it the body's inability to regulate blood glucose levels, albeit as a result of multiple root causes. It's only a very short read until T1, followed by other types are described.

The grouping together of conditions is not uncommon. For instance ILD covers around 300 chronic lung conditions; the common factor of which is a thickening of the linings of the lungs

The article cited isn't ideal when looking at any given type of diabetes,, but it's a starting point and at least acknowledges them, with a brief overview..

 

[dannybgoode]

The article cited isn't ideal when looking at any given type of diabetes,, but it's a starting point and at least acknowledges them,

I think as well it's important to consider the target audience. It is not written as an introductory piece to the general public rather a succinct piece, written by a specialist in the field, for GP's.

 

[Robin]

I think as well it's important to consider the target audience. It is not written as an introductory piece to the general public rather a succinct piece, written by a specialist in the field, for GP's.

I think that’s why I got so tetchy up thread (sorry!), coming from the point of view of someone who was assumed to be Type 2 by an GP, and was sent away with ineffective drugs. How many GPs are going to get beyond the first paragraph, I wonder.

 

[dannybgoode]

I think that’s why I got so tetchy up thread (sorry!), coming from the point of view of someone who was assumed to be Type 2 by an GP, and was sent away with ineffective drugs. How many GPs are going to get beyond the first paragraph, I wonder.

Coming from a family of medics - most, if interested, will read the whole thing.

And they don't mention treatment at all for any type in the first couple of paragraphs, just give some factual numbers.

When it comes to actual treatments, T1 is discussed first.

I note with interest that Metformin is contraindicated for people with IBD and I'm wondering if that extends to people with an ileostomy. I've read some interesting things recently that suggest it's not a good idea to take it if you do have one.

 

[trophywench]

I don't mind having a metabolic disorder at all, but I agree 100% that I don't have a metabolic disease.

 

[AndBreathe]

I think that’s why I got so tetchy up thread (sorry!), coming from the point of view of someone who was assumed to be Type 2 by an GP, and was sent away with ineffective drugs. How many GPs are going to get beyond the first paragraph, I wonder.

If a piece is to be written assuming nobody will pass the first paragraph, nothing would be written.

The sad, and harsh reality these days is that our GPs are our gatekeepers to specialist care, unless we have a bit of a rash or short term infection requiring a short term pharmaceutical intervention. Anything more complex, and off we pop to join a nice long waiting list, where at an indeterminate period hence, we will receive a text asking us if we still need what we have been referred for.