Diabetes Initial Treatment, Management and Education
Does the newly diagnosed patient need insulin?
If type 1 diabetes is suspected the patient should be referred to secondary care diabetes services urgently.
- Most patients are young (<50 years), but insulin may be required at any age
- BMI often less than 25kg/m2
- Check urine for ketones. Anything more than minimal ketosis is a strong indication for insulin
- Often associated with marked hyperglycaemia, rapid weight loss and rapid onset of severe symptoms
- Some people may have a personal and/or family history of autoimmune disease
- Severely ill patients may show features of acidosis including deep, sighing respiration and alteration in conscious level and require urgent hospitalisation
- Protracted vomiting or ketonuria (Type 1)
- Same day referral to secondary care diabetes services for insulin initiation
- Newly diagnosed Type 1
- Do not routinely measure C-peptide and/or diabetes-specific autoantibody titres to confirm type 1 diabetes in adults
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Clinical support group
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Endocrine and Diabetes
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