The main goal of treating diabetes is to minimise the probability of complications while maximising the patient’s quality of life. When a new diagnosis of T2DM is made, a determination of how the patient is treated is based primarily on…
Diabetes can be screened using an HbA1C level, fasting plasma glucose, or an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT). If fasting plasma glucose is used alone for screening, ≥ 2 abnormal readings are required to make the diagnosis. An HbA1C level…
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder characterised by insulin resistance and impaired insulin secretion leading to hyperglycaemia. It peaks between 60 and 70 years and is more common in men. Screening for type 2 diabetes Diagnosis…
Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is a chronic autoimmune disease caused by the destruction of insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells. This results in absolute insulin deficiency and hyperglycaemia. It commonly presents in childhood and adolescence with the triad of polyuria, polydipsia…
Systemic sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune connective tissue disease characterised by skin fibrosis (scleroderma), fibrosis of the internal organs, vasculopathy, and immune system dysregulation. It is more common in women and peaks between 60 and 70 years. Classification Classification Description…
Sjögren’s syndrome is a chronic autoimmune disorder characterized by lymphocytic infiltration and fibrosis of exocrine glands; it primarily affects the salivary and lacrimal glands. It affects women more than men (M: F 9:1) and peaks between 40 and 60 years. It is…
Bechet’s syndrome is a chronic multisystemic inflammatory disorder characterised by recurrent oral and genital ulcers, uveitis, and skin lesions. It is associated with HLA-B5. The diagnosis is clinical. It is more prevalent in countries along the Silk Road, from Eastern…
Vasculitides are autoimmune inflammatory disorders of blood vessels that can affect any organ. They can be primary or secondary to other conditions, e.g., SLE, rheumatoid arthritis, hepatitis B and C, and HIV. Symptoms depend on the organ affected. The classification…
Fibromyalgia is a syndrome characterised by widespread pain throughout the body with tender points at specific anatomical sites. The diagnosis is likely if a patient is tender in at least 11 of 18 tender points. It accounts for 10% of…
Pseudogout is caused by the deposition of calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystals in the synovium. Clinical features of pseudogout Clinical feature Description Acute CPPD crystal arthritis Acute monoarthropathy affecting large joints in the elderly. Chronic CPPD Symmetrical polyarthritis and synovitis (like…