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MT Newsletter |  |
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SMT Faculty
Jessie Jacob Manu Prakash Rema Valsala |
Thought for the month: | What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us ...Emerson |
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MT Newsletter | |
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|
SMT Faculty
Jessie Jacob Manu Prakash Rema Valsala |
Thought for the month: | What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us ...Emerson |
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FAQs
Standards Questionnaire |
The site of the injury was extensive.
He was advised total abstinence from alcoholic beverages. Forgotten memories is an example of an oxymoron. An oxymoron is a contradictory word pair. Vesical: Relating to any bladder, but usually the urinary bladder. |
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Q. What is the difference between Tylenol No. 3 and Tylenol No. 4?
Both are combinations of acetaminophen and codeine. Used in the treatment of mild-to-moderate pain; acetaminophen is 300 mg in both while the strength of codeine is 30 mg in Tylenol No. 3 and 60 mg in Tylenol No. 4. Q. What is diabetes mellitus? - continued... Diagnosis of diabetes mellitus The fasting blood glucose (sugar) test is the preferred way to diagnose diabetes. It is easy to perform and convenient. After the person has fasted overnight (at least 8 hours), a single sample of blood is drawn and sent to the laboratory for analysis. Normal fasting plasma glucose levels are less than 110 mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter). If the overnight fasting blood glucose is greater than 126 mg/dl on two different tests on different days, the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus is made. A random blood glucose test can also be used to diagnose diabetes. Random blood samples (if taken shortly after eating or drinking) may be used to test for diabetes when symptoms are present. A blood glucose level of 200 mg/dl or higher indicates diabetes, but it must be reconfirmed on another day with fasting plasma glucose or an oral glucose tolerance test. The oral glucose tolerance test (GTT) is the gold standard for making the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. It is still commonly used for diagnosing gestational diabetes. With an oral glucose tolerance test, the person fasts overnight (at least 8 but not more than 16 hours). Then first, the fasting plasma glucose is tested. After this test, the person receives 75 grams of glucose (100 grams for pregnant women). Blood samples are taken up to four times to measure the blood glucose. In a person without diabetes, the glucose levels rise and then fall quickly. In someone with diabetes, glucose levels rise higher than normal and fail to come back down as fast. The hemoglobin A1c test (glycohemoglobin) is a valuable measure of the overall effectiveness of blood glucose control over a period of time. Sugar sticks, and when it is around for a long time, it is harder to get it off. In the body, sugar sticks too, particularly to proteins. The red blood cells that circulate in the body live for about 3 months before they die off. When sugar sticks to these cells, it gives us an idea of how much sugar is around for the preceding 3 months. In most labs, the normal range is 4-5.9 %. In poorly controlled diabetes, its 8.0% or above, and in well-controlled patients it is less than 7.0%. The benefits of measuring hemoglobin A1c is that is gives a more reasonable view of what is happening over the course of time (3 months), and the value does not bounce as much as finger stick blood sugar measurements. There is a correlation between A1c levels and average blood sugar levels as follows:
A1c(%) Mean blood sugar (mg/dL)
6 135
7 170
8 205
9 240
10 275
11 310
12 345
The American Diabetes Association currently recommends an A1c goal of less than 7.0%.
Acute complications of diabetes mellitus 1. Excessive loss of fluid and electrolytes in the urine due to increased urine glucose. 2. Diabetic ketoacidosis. Lack of insulin also causes the breakdown of fat cells, with the release of ketones into the blood. Ketones turn the blood acidic. Symptoms of diabetic ketoacidosis include nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Without prompt medical treatment, patients with diabetic ketoacidosis can rapidly go into shock, coma, and even death. Diabetic ketoacidosis can be caused by infections, stress, or trauma. Urgent treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis involves the intravenous administration of fluid, electrolytes, and insulin, usually in a hospital intensive care unit. Antibiotics are given for infections. 3. Hyperosmolar coma. Accompanied by dehydration, severe blood sugar elevation in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus can lead to an increase in blood osmolality (hyperosmolar state). This condition can lead to coma. This is a medical emergency. Immediate treatment with intravenous fluid and insulin is important in reversing the hyperosmolar state. 4. Hypoglycemia means abnormally low blood sugar (glucose). In patients with diabetes, the most common cause of low blood sugar is excessive use of insulin or other glucose-lowering medications, to lower the blood sugar level in diabetic patients. Low blood sugar can lead to nervous system symptoms such as dizziness, confusion, weakness, and tremors. Untreated, severely low blood sugar levels can lead to coma, seizures, and, in the worse case scenario, irreversible brain death. The treatment of low blood sugar consists of administering glucose drinks, such as orange juice, soft drinks (not sugar-free), glucose tablets or IV glucose. If the individual becomes unconscious, glucagon can be given by intramuscular injection. Glucagon causes the release of glucose from the liver, and should be part of the emergency kit of a diabetic, especially if the patient uses insulin. Chronic complications of diabetes mellitus 1. Blood vessel diseases and are generally classified into small vessel disease (microvascular disease), such as those involving the eyes, kidneys and nerves and large vessel disease (macrovascular disease) involving the heart and blood vessels. Diabetes accelerates hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) of the larger blood vessels, leading to coronary heart disease (angina or heart attack), strokes, and claudication (pain in the lower extremities because of lack of blood supply). 2. Eye complications. The major eye complication of diabetes is called diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy occurs in patients who have had diabetes for at least 5 years. Diseased small blood vessels in the back of the eye cause the leakage of protein and blood in the retina. Disease in these blood vessels also causes the formation of small aneurysms (microaneurysms), and new but brittle blood vessels (neovascularization). Spontaneous bleeding from the new and brittle blood vessels can lead to retinal scarring and retinal detachment, thus impairing vision. To treat diabetic retinopathy a laser is used to destroy and prevent the recurrence of the development of these small aneurysms and brittle blood vessels. Cataracts and glaucoma are also more common among diabetics. 3. Renal complications. Kidney damage from diabetes is called diabetic nephropathy. The kidneys lose their ability to cleanse and filter blood. The accumulation of toxic waste products in the blood leads to the need for dialysis. Dialysis involves using a machine that serves the function of the kidney by filtering and cleaning the blood. In patients who do not want to undergo chronic dialysis, kidney transplantation can be considered. 4. Nervous system complications. Nerve damage in diabetes is called diabetic neuropathy and is also caused by disease of small blood vessels. Symptoms of diabetic nerve damage include numbness, burning, pricking or tingling (paresthesia) and aching of the feet and lower extremities. ......to be continued in the next issue |
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Use of x:
Lowercase x is used to express by in dimensions. Example: The mass measured 6 x 4 cm. (Note the space before and after the x).When the word times is dictated and can be translated as for, it should be transcribed as for rather than using times or x Example: Dictated: The patient was given antibiotics to take times 2 weeks. Transcribed: The patient was given antibiotics to take for 2 weeks.When the word times is dictated and means the number of times a thing was done, the letter x can be used. Example: Dictated: Blood cultures were negative times 3. Transcribed: Blood cultures were negative x3. Dictated: The patient is alert and oriented times 3. Transcribed: The patient is alert and oriented x3. (Note there is no space between x and the number). Use the symbol x meaning times only when the x precedes a numeral. Example: Demerol was administered 3 times. (Not 3x) Decade references: Use numerals for decade references. Do not use an apostrophe. Example: The patient is in her 50s. (NOT 50’s, NOT fifties) |
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Q. The patient __________ of recurrent abdominal pain.
a. complaints b. complaint c. complains d. complain Q. He is a bright boy. Here bright is used as a ___________. a. Euphemism b. Denotation & Connotation c. Oxymoron d. Metaphor Q. A bruise or a black and blue mark is also known as ___________. a. ecchymosis b. petechia c. purpura d. keloid Q. Find the meaning of these medical homonyms: galactorrhea and galacturia profuse and perfuse vertex and vortex See the answers in the next month's issue.... |
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