Diabetes: Don’t Sugarcoat It

 

Diabetes Mellitus is a major public health problem worldwide and its incidence is projected to continue rising at an alarming rate. It is a chronic condition of hyperglycemia that overtime leads to serious damage to many of the body’s systems, including the heart, kidneys, blood vessels, and nerves if poorly controlled. Therefore, testing for the diagnosis and monitoring of diabetes is critical so treatment can be initiated and adjusted before extensive damage occurs. This presentation will describe the clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of type 1 and type 2 diabetes with an emphasis on analytical methods used in diagnostic testing.

Originally published on February 2, 2022

Lecture Presenter

Heather A. Nelson, PhD

Heather A. Nelson, PhD

Clinical Chemistry Fellow
University of Utah Department of Pathology, ARUP Laboratories

Dr. Heather Nelson graduated from Elmira College with a BS in Chemistry and Biology in 2012. In 2018, she earned her PhD in Anatomy and Cell Biology from SUNY Upstate Medical University. Upon completing her PhD, she pursued a two-year postdoctoral fellowship at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where her research focused on understanding the underlying mechanisms leading to human islet dysfunction and diabetes.

Objectives

After this presentation, participants will be able to:

  • Describe and differentiate type 1 and type 2 diabetes
  • Identify the criteria required for diagnosis of diabetes and the analytical methods used in the clinical laboratory for diagnostic testing
  • Discuss blood glucose monitoring, insulin administration, and medications used in managing diabetes

Sponsored by:

University of Utah School of Medicine, Department of Pathology, and ARUP Laboratories