Topic overview

Start with the big picture

The lesson distinguishes type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes, and secondary diabetes, and presents diagnostic thresholds using fasting plasma glucose, oral glucose tolerance testing, A1c, and random glucose with symptoms. For type 2 diabetes, it introduces lifestyle measures and metformin as first-line therapy, followed by selecting additional medicines according to cardiovascular, heart-failure, kidney, and hypoglycemia concerns. Other sections cover insulin types and initiation, individualized glycemic targets, drug risks, and responses to hypoglycemia, DKA, and HHS. The clinical picture also includes routine eye, kidney, and foot screening, cardiovascular risk reduction, vaccination, and glucose targets in gestational diabetes.