Drug Therapy for Diabetes Mellitus Chapter 41 Drug Therapy for Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes Mellitus Classifications Type 1 Type 2 Characterized by hyperglycemia Differ in Onset, course Pathology, treatment

Diabetes Mellitus (cont.) Type 1 Common chronic disorder of childhood Autoimmune disorder that destroys pancreatic beta cells difficult to control Sudden onset between ages 4 and 20 years High incidence of complications Requires exogenous insulin administration

Diabetes Mellitus (cont.) Type 2 Characterized by hyperglycemia and insulin resistance Historically, onset after age 40 years Increasing prevalence among children and teens Gradual onset with less severe symptoms 90% of people with diabetes have type 2 disease

Diabetes Mellitus (cont.) Type 2 (cont.) Risk factors for development Presence of metabolic syndrome (estimated greater than 50 million Americans) Abdominal obesity low HDL Hypertriglyceridemia Hypertension and/or impaired fasting glucose

Diabetes Mellitus (cont.) Type 2 (cont.) Ethnicities at high risk for type 2 development African Americans (13.3%) Hispanics (greater than 13.9%) Commonly undiagnosed Native Americans/Alaskans (12.8%) Caucasians (8.7%)

Diabetes Mellitus (cont.) Chronic, systemic disease characterized by Metabolic abnormalities Vascular abnormalities Major clinical manifestation of metabolic abnormalities Hyperglycemia Fasting blood glucose levels greater than 126 mg/dL

Diabetes Mellitus (cont.) Major clinical manifestation of metabolic abnormalities (cont.) Impaired fasting glucose (IFG) (i.e., prediabetes) Fasting blood glucose levels between 100 and 125 mg/dL Recommended blood glucose level for those with diabetes 80 to 120 mg/dL before a meal 100 to 140 mg/dL HS

Diabetes Mellitus (cont.) Major clinical manifestation of metabolic abnormalities (cont.) Macrovascular abnormalities Hypertension Myocardial infarction Stroke Peripheral vascular disease (PVD)

Diabetes Mellitus (cont.) Major clinical manifestation of metabolic abnormalities (cont.) Microvascular abnormalities Retinopathy Blindness Nephropathy

Diabetes Mellitus (cont.) Signs and symptoms Hyperglycemia Glycosuria Polydipsia Polyuria Dehydration Polyphagia

Diabetes Mellitus (cont.) Complications Myocardial infarction, stroke Blindness Leg amputation Renal failure Hyperosmolar hyperglycemic nonketotic coma (HHNC)

Question Is the following statement True or False? Diabetes mellitus is a chronic, systemic disease characterized by metabolic abnormalities.

Answer False Rationale: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic, systemic disease characterized by metabolic and vascular abnormalities. While a major clinical manifestation of DM is hyperglycemia, vascular problems include atherosclerosis throughout the body, which results in hypertension, MI, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease (PVD).

Endogenous Insulin Protein hormone secreted by pancreas Secretion levels increase after a meal Secreted into portal circulation Transported to liver (about ½) Reaches systemic circulation (about ½) Insulin binds with cellular receptors, allowing rapid entry of glucose into cells. Affects cellular metabolism

Endogenous Insulin (cont.) Clears from circulating blood in 10 to 15 minutes. Insulin plays major role in metabolism. Carbohydrates to glucose Fats to lipids Proteins to amino acids Overall effect is to lower blood glucose levels.

Endogenous Insulin (cont.) Regulation of insulin secretion Glucose is a major stimulus. Several hormones raise blood glucose levels. Insulin secretion is inhibited. Stimulation of specific adrenergic receptors Stress conditions

Question Is the following statement True or False? Insulin is a lipid hormone secreted by beta cells in the pancreas.

Answer False Rationale: Insulin is a protein hormone secreted by beta cells in the pancreas that allows rapid entry of glucose into cells.

Antidiabetic Medications Insulins Oral hypoglycemics Amylin analogs Incretin mimetics Dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitors

Hypoglycemic Medications Insulin Human insulins only—in the United States Synthetic product is identical to endogenous insulin. Insulin analogs Synthesized in laboratories by altering the type or sequence of amino acids

Hypoglycemic Medications (cont.) Insulin (cont.) Administration Cannot be given orally Most given sub-Q Regular can also be administered IV Differ in onset and duration of action

Hypoglycemic Medications (cont.) Insulin (cont.) Short acting Rapid onset, short duration of action Intermediate, long acting Slower absorption, prolonged action Several mixtures of intermediate and short acting are available and commonly used.

Hypoglycemic Medications (cont.) Insulin (cont.) Main insulin concentration is U-100. In the United States Measured with orange-tipped syringe Sub-Q injection absorbed most rapidly Abdomen Followed by upper arm, thigh, buttocks

Hypoglycemic Medications (cont.) Oral hypoglycemics Sulfonylureas Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors Biguanide Thiazolidinediones Meglitinides

Question Is the following statement True or False? Insulin plays a major role primarily in the metabolism of carbohydrate.

Answer False Rationale: Insulin plays a major role in the metabolism of carbohydrate, fat, and protein where the nutrients are broken down into simpler molecules (glucose, lipids, and amino acids, respectively).

Sulfonylureas Mechanism of action: increases secretion of insulin Indications for use: elevated serum glucose Adverse effects: hypoglycemia Nursing process implications: contraindicated during pregnancy, with renal or hepatic impairment, and critical illness

Alpha-Glucosidase Inhibitors Mechanism of action: delay digestion of complex carbohydrates Indications for use: decrease in postprandial glucose Adverse effects: hypoglycemia Nursing process implications: contraindicated for patients with hepatic disease, inflammatory and malabsorptive disorders

Biguanide Mechanism of action: increases use of glucose by muscle and fat cells, decreases hepatic glucose production, and decreases intestinal absorption of glucose Indications for use: insulin resistance Adverse effects: lactic acidosis Nursing process implications: No hypoglycemia; monitor for potentially fatal lactic acidosis

Thiazolidinediones (Glitazones) Mechanism of action: stimulate insulin receptors on muscle, fat, and liver cells Indications for use: insulin resistance Adverse effects: hepatotoxicity, congestive heart failure, weight gain Nursing process implications: monitor liver function studies, and closely monitor patients for signs of heart failure

Meglitinides Mechanism of action: stimulate pancreatic stimulation of insulin Indications for use: elevated serum glucose Adverse effects: hypoglycemia although less so than sulfonylureas Nursing process implications: proper medication administration including holding the medication if a meal is held

Amylin Analogs Mechanism of action: suppresses postprandial glucagon secretion Indications for use: regulate the postprandial rise in blood glucose Adverse effects: hypoglycemia Nursing process implications: monitor blood sugars closely; this medication increases the sense of satiety, possibly reducing food intake and promoting weight loss

Incretin Mimetics Mechanism of action: stimulating the pancreas to secrete the right amount of insulin based on the food that was just eaten Indications for use: postprandial glucose elevations Adverse effects: GI distress and nausea Nursing process implications: proper medication administration; monitor for a rare but serious side effect in the development of acute pancreatitis

Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 Inhibitors Mechanism of action: balance the release of insulin and limit the release of additional glucose from the liver; it has also been linked to increased beta cell neogenesis, inhibition of beta cell apoptosis, inhibition of glucagon secretion, delayed gastric emptying, and induction of satiety. Indications for use: elevated serum glucose. Adverse effects: may complicate renal disease. Nursing process implications: monitor for common side effects including upper respiratory tract infection, stuffy or runny nose, sore throat, and/or headache.

Angiotensin-converting Enzyme Inhibitors, Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers, and Statins Pharmacokinetics Pharmacodynamics Pharmacotherapeutics

Goals of Antidiabetic Therapy Blood glucose at normal or near-normal levels Promote normal metabolism of Carbohydrate, fat, protein Prevent acute and long-term complications Prevent hypoglycemic episodes

Nursing Interventions Use nondrug measures to improve control of diabetes and to help prevent complications. Assist the patient in maintaining the prescribed diet. Assist the patient to develop and maintain a regular exercise program.

Nursing Interventions (cont.) Perform and interpret blood tests for glucose accurately, and assist the patient and family members to do so. Test urine for ketones when the patient is sick, when blood glucose levels are greater than 200 mg/dL, and when episodes of nocturnal hypoglycemia are suspected. Also teach patients and family members to test urine when indicated.

Nursing Interventions (cont.) Promote early recognition and treatment of problems by observing for signs and symptoms of urinary tract infection, peripheral vascular disease, vision changes, ketoacidosis, hypoglycemia, and others. Teach patients and family members to observe for these conditions and report their occurrence. Discuss the importance of regular visits to health care facilities for blood sugar measurements, weights, blood pressure measurements, and eye examinations.

Nursing Interventions (cont.) Perform and teach correct foot care. Help patients keep up with newer developments in diabetes care by providing information, sources of information, consultations with specialists, and other resources. Provide appropriate patient teaching for any drug therapy and combination drug therapy for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Patients’ Adherence Complications of diabetes mellitus can be life threatening. Diabetes is the leading cause of myocardial infarction, stroke, blindness, leg amputation, and kidney failure. Metabolic abnormalities lead to damage in blood vessels and other body tissues.