Medical Emergencies · patient case question
A patient with type 1 diabetes mellitus would exhibit all of the following EXCEPT:
Patient case: Medical Emergency in the Operatory
demo: 34-year-old female
chief: Composite restoration on tooth #3 under rubber dam isolation.
history: Asthma, well controlled. No known drug allergies. Latex sensitivity not previously documented.
meds: Albuterol inhaler as needed
findings: Ten minutes after rubber dam placement the patient develops audible wheezing, swelling of the lips and periorbital tissue, and urticaria over the neck.
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: D. Insulin resistance
- A. DKA is far more characteristic of type 1 than of type 2 because of the complete absence of insulin.
- B. Type 1 is autoimmune, with islet cell and GAD antibodies commonly detectable.
- C. Absolute deficiency from beta cell loss is the defining lesion of type 1.
- D. Correct — this is the exception. Insulin resistance is the hallmark of type 2 diabetes. Type 1 patients are typically insulin sensitive; their problem is that there is no insulin to respond to.
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