Diabetes mellitus and glucose

Details

Title

Diabetes mellitus and glucose

Type

Stage Two

Module code

HLS127

Requirement

Compulsory

Module objective

By the end of the training period trainees will, in respect of competencies in the clinical biochemistry of diabetes mellitus and glucose, be able to:

• analyse, synthesise, evaluate and apply knowledge
• perform a range of technical and clinical skills and procedures
• demonstrate the attitudes and behaviours necessary for professional practice as a consultant clinical scientist dealing with the complexities, uncertainties and tensions of professional practice at this level.

Knowledge and understanding

By the end of the training period the trainee will be able to demonstrate the ability to analyse, evaluate and synthesise relevant knowledge and its application to their professional practice in relation to:

• glucose metabolism
• the classification of diabetes, including diagnostic criteria for diabetes, impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and IFG impaired fasting glucose (IFG)
• the pathophysiology of diabetes, including type 1 diabetes, insulin-resistance, type 2 diabetes, and secondary diabetes
• the complications of diabetes, such as acute metabolic complications (e.g., diabetic ketoacidosis, hyperosmolar non ketotic hypoglycaemia) and chronic complications such as microvascular (nephropathy, microalbuminuria, neuropathy and retinopathy) and macrovascular (lipid abnormalities, coronary heart disease, peripheral vascular disease)
• the principles of treatment of diabetes and monitoring of diabetic control, including use of insulin and other pharmacological agents, dietary modification, home monitoring with meters, continuous glucose monitoring, and laboratory glucose monitoring
• the principles of glycated haemoglobin, insulin, C-peptide, microalbumin assays
• the causes and laboratory investigation of hypoglycaemia in adults and children
• metabolic syndrome
• inherited forms of diabetes.

Technical and clinical skills

By the end of the training period the trainee will be able to demonstrate a critical understanding of current relevant research, theory and knowledge and its application to the performance of the following technical procedures and laboratory skills:

• the laboratory diagnosis, investigation and management of diabetes mellitus, including methods based upon glucose measurement and glycated haemoglobin.
• the laboratory’s contribution to managing diabetes, including measurement of glucose and glycated haemoglobin.
• the differences between various causes of diabetes.