Question | Answer |
Where is the pituitary gland located? | At the base of the brain |
What is the nickname for the pituitary gland? | The "master gland" |
Purpose of the pituitary gland? | To regulate the function of all the other glands |
What hormones do the pituitary gland secrete? | somatotropin, ACTH, TSH |
somatotropin, a hormone released by the pituitary gland, is also called? | Human growth hormone |
What does somatotropin do? | Regulates growth |
Where are the adrenal glands located? | Adjacent to the kidneys |
What hormones are released by the adrenal glands? | Corticosteroids, LH |
What do the hormones of the kidney's do? | Help regulate blood pressure, helps somewhat with metabolism and immune system |
What do corticosteroids do? | Act on the immune system to suppress the body's response to infection or trauma. |
What two categories are corticosteroids primarily used for? | 1) replacement therapy
2) anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressant agents |
What are some reasons to use corticosteroids? | -Allergic reactions -Life threatening shock -Cancer patients using Chemo -Cerebral edema
-Organ transplant patients -Immunosuppressant
-Acute flare ups of UC, rheumatic, skin conditions |
Why is prolonged use of corticosteroids discouraged? | It can cause suppression of the pituitary gland with adrenocortical atrophy, in which the body no longer produces its own hormone. |
What are dose packs used for? | They are used to facilitate dose tapering. |
Side effects of corticosteroids? | Delayed wound healing, increased susceptibility to infection, muscle pain or weakness, osteoporosis, Cushing's syndrome, gastric issues, CNS effects, petechiae, easy bruising, skin thinning and tearing. |
Where is the thyroid gland located? | Front part of the neck |
What is the thyroid gland responsible for? | Metabolism |
Two bioactive thyroid hormones | thyroxine (T4)
triiodothyronine (T3) |
Major product of the thyroid gland | thyroxine (T4) |
Most common thyroid problem in the U.S. | hypothyroidism |
hypothyroidism is? | Diminished or absent thyroid function
-TSH is elevated
-T3 and T4 are decreased |
hyperthyroidism is? | Elevated thyroid function |
Disease associated with hyperthyroidism? | Grave's disease |
Conditions associated with hypothyroidism? | cretinism, myxedema |
Symptoms of hypothyroidism | fatigue, dry skin, thinning hair, weight gain, constipation, sensitivity to cold, irregular menses |
Antithyroid agents are used to treat? | hyperthyroidism |
Side effects of antithyroid agents? | Rash, urticaria, pruritus, abnormal sense of taste, blood dyscrasias |
Major disease of the pancreas? | Diabetes mellitus |
Numbers to remember for insulin- Rapid | 10
1
3 |
Numbers to remember for insulin- Short | 30
1
6 |
Numbers to remember for insulin- Intermediate | 1
6
18 |
Numbers to remember for insulin- Long | 1
0
Up to 24 |
What is a thyroid storm? | An emergency, it is a thyroid crisis for people who have hyperthyroidism. |
What are the symptoms of a thyroid storm? | High fever, CHF, shock, confusion, irritability |
When does a thyroid storm occur? | After thyroid is removed, surgery, injury, thyroid is not functioning normally |
Important things to tell your patients who are on meds such as levothyroxine, Thyroid agents? | Take them on an empty stomach, don't miss doses. |
T or F: You can split levothyroxine and Tapazole meds | False- you should never split them |
Type 1 diabetes mellitus | Insulin dependent |
Type 2 diabetes mellitus | Insulin resistance and deficiency |
Most common form of diabetes mellitus? | Type 2 |
What is the result of long-term, poorly controlled diabetes? | Vascular injury |
Where is insulin produced in the body? | The islets of Langerhans in the pancreas |
All injected insulin products currently marketed are one of two types: | biosynthetic human
analog |
Most of the insulin used today is? | U-100 |
Each line on the insulin 100 unit (1ml) syringe represents ____ units. | Two |
If a patient has hyperglycemia, administer ___? | Insulin |
If a patient has hypoglycemia, administer ____? | Glucogon, juice, sugar tablets |
Regular insulin is best given ___ to ___ min before a meal. | 30-60 |
Insulin is administered with what route and location? | SQ, in arms or legs
(Limbs absorb fastest) |
All insulin injections are at a ___ degree angle no matter that they are subcutaneous. | 90 |
T or F: verification of insulin dosage with another caregiver is very important to prevent one of the most dangerous medication errors. | True |
Patient education topics for new diabetic patients includes...? | -Diet -injection instructions -sliding scale instructions -storage -how long insulin lasts once it is opened |
How long does insulin last once it is opened? | about 30 days (28-42) |
Tests performed for diabetes mellitus | hemoglobin A1C
fasting glucose |
Why are two insulins usually prescribed to patients? | One is for maintenance and one is for emergency situations |
Symptoms of hyperglycemia | -excessive thirst-anorexia-unexplained weight loss for people under 40-polyuria-fruity breath-lethargy-weakness-flu symptoms-vision problems-ketoacidosis |
Symptoms of hypoglycemia | -perspiration-pallor-hunger-nausea-vomiting-irritablity-confusion-tremor-weakness-tingling in fingers-vision problems-tachycardia-shallow breathing-headache-hypothermia |
T or F:Hypoglycemic reactions in older diabetics may mimic a CVA? | True |
Symptoms of type 2 diabetes | excessive weight gain(those over 40)-excessive thirst-excessive urination-excessive weakness-poor circulation-slow healing-vision problems |
Sulfonylureas are? | oral hypoglycemic drugs that work by increasing insulin production from the pancreas and improving peripheral insulin activity |
Side effects of sulfonylureas? | GI distress-weakness-fatigue-lethargy-vertigo-headache-hypoglycemia |
How do alpha-glucosidase inhibitors work? | By delaying digestion of complex carbohydrates and subsequent absorption of glucose.
*Take with 1st bite of meals |
Side effects of alpha-glucosidase inhibitors? | High rate of GI effects |
How do biguanides work? | Decreasing hepatic glucose production and enhancing insulin uptake in muscle tissue |
Side effects of biguanides? | GI effects-hypoglycemia |
Incretin therapies are? | Agents that mimic the actions of incretin hormones that normally naturally occur within the GI tract in response to food. |
Side effects of incretin therapies? | GI effects, injection site reactions, hypoglycemia |
Meglitinides are? | stimulate the beta cells of the pancreas to produce insulin. |
Side effects of meglitinides? | GI effects, hypoglycemia, upper respiratory infection |
What do thiazolidinediones do? | Lower blood glucose by decreasing insulin resistance and improving sensitivity to insulin in muscle, liver, and adipose tissue. |
Side effects of thiazolidinediones? | Weight gain-fluid retention-edema-uri-respiratory symptoms-myalgia-hypoglycemia |
What does the parathyroid gland do? | regulates calcium levels |
Where is the thymus gland located and what does it effect? | Above the heart, the immune system |
Where is the pineal gland located, and what does it do? | Brain, regulates melatonin (sleep hormone) |
What does the hypothymus gland do? | Secretes growth hormone |
What is the purpose of insulin in the body? | It makes our body's cells absorb glucose from the blood |
Why should an insulin pen be primed? | Makes sure that it is ready to use and gets rid of any air inside |