These Pages were written by:

University of Sunderland Pharmacy Degree Level Three

In today's society where the pharmacists role is vital in the treatment and management of many diseases. It is imperative that we as pharmacists  possess the knowledge base and ability to enhance the patient's quality of life. Diabetes is an area in which pharmacists are under utilised and can play a greater role in it's management.

In the United Kingdom diabetes affects approximately 750,000 people of whom 600,000 have Non-Insulin Dependant Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM).

There are two main sub-divisions of diabetes mellitus:

• Type 1 diabetes (IDDM)

This type of diabetes requires regular administration of parental insulin.

The incidence of type 1 diabetes tends to increase around the time of puberty and declines thereafter.

• Type 2 diabetes (NIDDM)

This type can be managed by diet alone, or, in refectory cases by oral hypoglycaemic agents (rarely insulin).

The incidence of type 2 diabetes increases with age and increasing obesity and is more common in men than women. It follows that 75% of NIDDM patients in the UK are obese, thus suggesting that obesity is a key element predisposing to NIDDM.

By working through the following  pages, you will have a better understand of diabetes and it's management.

Below are a few questions to test your knowledge of the subject matter at this stage.

Questions (make a note of your answers on a piece of paper)

1. What are the symptoms of hyperglycaemia?
2. What are the symptoms of diabetic ketoacidosis?
3.What is the aim of insulin therapy?
4. What are the drawbacks of insulin therapy?
5. What are the new drug developments for NIDDM?

This questions will be repeated at end of these pages.

Best viewed in: