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Diagnostic criteria (1)[C]:
Hyperglycemia (glucose usually 250 to 800 mg/dL)
Low HCO3 (usually ≤18 mEq/L)
Metabolic acidosis on arterial blood gases (pH <7.3)
Anion gap = serum sodium - (serum chloride + bicarbonate), > 10 mmol
Other important labs:
Serum ketosis: Check β-hydroxybutyrate (β-HB) instead of ketones to evaluate ketosis (2)[B]. β-HB is the predominant ketone produced and is preferred over serum ketones. β-HB >3 mg/dL is abnormal and should be decreased to <1.5 mg/dL within 12 to 24 hours (3)[B].
Urine ketosis (urinalysis [UA]) may only identify acetoacetate and not β-HB.
Glycosuria
Hyperamylasemia, hyperlipasemia
Hypertriglyceridemia/hypercholesterolemia
Increased creatinine and BUN: Markedly increased serum ketones may cross-react and cause a falsely high serum creatinine.
Pseudohyponatremia: Hyperglycemia or hypertriglyceridemia may cause an artificially low sodium concentration. The measured sodium is suppressed by 1.6 mg/dL for every 100 mg/dL of glucose over 100 mg/dL.
Decreased calculated total body K+: Severe acidosis gives an artificially high K+ level.
Increased serum osmolality (mOsm/kg) = [2 � serum Na (mEq/L) + glucose (mg/dL)/18 + BUN (mg/dL)/2.8]; if calculated osmolality <320 mOsm/kg, consider etiologies other than diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)
Elevated base deficit
A1C helps determine history of diabetic control.
CBC, electrolytes, BUN, creatinine
Serum β-HB or ketones
Arterial blood gases (ABGs); venous blood gases (VBGs) may also be used (VBG pH correlates with 0.03 lower than ABG pH).
Chest x-ray to rule out pulmonary infection
Head CT scan if suspected CVA or cerebral edema
If necessary, cardiac enzymes and blood cultures
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Diagnostic Procedures/Other
Only if surgical problem is the underlying precipitant (e.g., appendicitis, cholecystitis) �
TREATMENT
- Oxygen and airway management, as needed
- Establish IV access.
- Cardiac monitoring
- Start isotonic crystalloid solution (0.9% saline).
- Fingerstick glucose testing
GENERAL MEASURES
- All but mild cases require inpatient management.
- Severe DKA requires an ICU setting.
- Goals
- Fluid resuscitation
- Insulin therapy to normalize serum glucose
- Resolution of anion gap acidosis
- Correction of electrolytes
- Identify and treat the precipitating cause (e.g., infection, MI)
- Laboratory testing during management:
- Serum glucose q1-2h until stable
- Electrolytes, phosphorus, and venous pH q2-6h as needed
MEDICATION
First Line
- Insulin (1)[C]
- Bolus 0.1 U/kg IV then continuous infusion at 0.1 U/kg/hr (do not use initial insulin bolus in children)
- If without bolus, 0.14 U/kg/hr continuous infusion (4)
- Aim for rate of serum glucose decline of 100mg/dL/hr
- When glucose 200 mg/dL, reduce infusion to 0.02 to 0.05 U/kg/hr IV or give rapid-acting insulin at 0.1 U/kg SC q2h; goal glucose is 150 to 200 mg/dL.
- Overlap and continue IV insulin infusion for 1 to 2 hours after SC insulin is initiated.
- IV fluids to correct dehydration: Start with 0.9% NaCl bolus, calculate corrected sodium; if serum Na+ is high, consider 0.45% NaCl to replace free fluid loss or when adding potassium replacement.
- When glucose is 200 mg/dL, change to 5% dextrose with 0.45% NaCl at 150 to 250 mL/hr.
- Potassium: falsely elevated due to acidosis; when K+ ≤5.2 mg/dL and if urine output is adequate, start replacement with 20 to 30 mEq/L of K+ in 1 L IV fluids (1).
- Hold insulin if K+ ≤3.3 mg/dL; give IV potassium 20 to 30 mEq/hr with fluids until >3.3 mg/dL to prevent cardiac arrhythmia (class III).
- For each 0.1 unit of pH, serum K+ will change by ~0.6 mEq in opposite direction.
- Phosphorus: Routine replacement may lead to hypocalcemia; if very low (<1.0), give 20 to 30 mEq/L of K-Phos in fluids.
- Sodium bicarbonate: no demonstrable benefit with a pH >7.0 (2,5)[B]; rehydration usually leads to resolution of acidosis. Guidelines recommend its use with pH <6.9 or in patients with life-threatening hyperkalemia; however, there is evidence that it may increase cerebral edema, especially in children (6)[A].
- Magnesium: If Mg ≤1.8 mg/dL and the patient is symptomatic, consider replacement.
- Precautions
- If the patient is on an insulin pump, it should be stopped.
- If glucose does not fall by 10% in 1st hour, give regular insulin 0.14 U/kg IV bolus, then continuous infusion at previous rate.
- If using bicarbonate, add 100 mmol or 2 ampules of sodium bicarbonate to 400 mL isotonic solution with 20 mEq KCL over 200 mL/hr for 2 hours until venous pH is >7.0, then stop infusion (1).
Second Line
Insulin, SC or IM: Load with 0.3 U/kg SC, followed by 0.1 U/kg/hr; space dosing to q2h once glucose <250 mg/dL; in uncomplicated DKA, may be safe and cost effective (7)[B] �
Pediatric Considerations
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Geriatric Considerations
Must be careful with impaired renal function or congestive heart failure when correcting fluid and electrolyte abnormalities
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Pregnancy Considerations
Pregnancy itself is diabetogenic and also results in a compensated respiratory alkalosis (HCO3 19 to 20 mEq/L) with theoretically reduced buffering capacity
Pregnant women are more susceptible to DKA.
Euglycemic DKA
Increased risk of preeclampsia and fetal death
β-Tocolytics and corticosteroids can trigger DKA.
Perinatal death: 9-35%
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INPATIENT CONSIDERATIONS
Admission Criteria/Initial Stabilization
ADA admission guidelines: blood glucose >250 mg/dL; pH <7.3; HCO3 ≤15 mEq/L; ketones in urine; ICU setting for severe DKA (10) �
IV Fluids
- 1 to 1.5 L over the 1st hour, then, if serum corrected Na is high or normal, give 0.45% NaCl at 250 to 500 mL/hr depending on hydration state.
- Switch to 5% dextrose in 0.45% saline at maintenance rate when serum glucose <200 mg/dL; maintain blood glucose between 150 and 250 mg/dL.
- Overly rapid correction of fluid balance may precipitate cerebral edema (2)[C]; if the blood glucose level is falling too rapidly, consider using a 10% dextrose solution instead.
Pediatric Considerations
Bolus 10 to 20 mL/kg initially; 4-hour fluid total should be <50 mL/kg to reduce chance of cerebral edema.
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Discharge Criteria
- Discharge when DKA has resolved: anion gap <12, glucose <200 mg/dL; pH >7.3; bicarbonate >18 mEq/L; additionally, patients must be tolerating PO intake and able to resume home medication regimen
- Underlying precipitant (e.g., infection) must be identified and treated.
ONGOING CARE
FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS
Patient Monitoring
- Monitor mental status, vital signs, and urine output q30-60min until improved, then q2-4h
- Monitor blood sugar q1h until <200 mg/dL, then q2-6h.
- Monitor electrolytes, BUN, venous pH, and creatinine q2-4h.
DIET
- NPO initially
- Advance to preketotic diet when nausea and vomiting are controlled.
- Avoid foods with high glycemic index (e.g., soft drinks, fruit juice, white bread, etc.).
PROGNOSIS
- 16% of all diabetes-related fatalities
- Overall DKA mortality of 0.5-2%.
- In children <10 years of age, DKA causes 70% of diabetes-related fatalities.
COMPLICATIONS
- Cerebral edema (most common cause of death in children with DKA)
- Pulmonary edema
- Vascular thrombosis
- Hypokalemia
- Hypophosphatemia
- Cardiac dysrhythmia (secondary to hypokalemia or acidosis)
- MI, myocardial injury
- Acute gastric dilatation
- Late hypoglycemia (secondary to treatment)
- Erosive gastritis
- Infection, mucormycosis
- Respiratory distress
REFERENCES
11 Kitabchi �AE, Umpierrez �GE, Miles �JM, et al. Hyperglycemic crises in adult patients with diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2009;32(7):1335-1343.22 Agus �MS, Wolfsdorf �JI. Diabetic ketoacidosis in children. Pediatr Clin North Am. 2005;52(4):1147-1163.33 Trachtenbarg �DE. Diabetic ketoacidosis. Am Fam Physician. 2005;71(9):1705-1714.44 Kitabchi �AE, Murphy �MB, Spencer �J, et al. Is a priming dose of insulin necessary in a low-dose insulin protocol for the treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis? Diabetes Care. 2008;31(11):2081-2085.55 Kitabchi �AE, Umpierrez �GE, Murphy �MB, et al. Hyperglycemic crises in diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2004;27(Suppl 1):S94-S102.66 Chua �HR, Schneider �A, Bellomo �R. Bicarbonate in diabetic ketoacidosis-a systematic review. Ann Intensive Care. 2011;1(1):23.77 Umpierrez �GE, Latif �K, Stoever �J, et al. Efficacy of subcutaneous insulin lispro versus continuous intravenous regular insulin for the treatment of patients with diabetic ketoacidosis. Am J Med. 2004;117(5):291-296.88 Watts �W, Edge �JA. How can cerebral edema during treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis be avoided? Pediatr Diabetes. 2014;15(4):271-276.99 Brown �TB. Cerebral oedema in childhood diabetic ketoacidosis: is treatment a factor? Emerg Med J. 2004;21(2):141-144.1010 American Diabetes Association. Hospital admission guidelines for diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2004;27(Suppl 1):S103.
ADDITIONAL READING
- American Diabetes Association. Standards of medical care in diabetes-2013. Diabetes Care. 2013;36(Suppl 1):S11-S66.
- Sheikh-Ali �M, Karon �BS, Basu �A, et al. Can serum beta-hydroxybutyrate be used to diagnose diabetic ketoacidosis? Diabetes Care. 2008;31(4):643-647.
SEE ALSO
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 �
CODES
ICD10
- E10.10 Type 1 diabetes mellitus with ketoacidosis without coma
- E13.10 Oth diabetes mellitus with ketoacidosis without coma
- E10.11 Type 1 diabetes mellitus with ketoacidosis with coma
- E13.11 Oth diabetes mellitus with ketoacidosis with coma
- E08.11 Diabetes due to underlying condition w ketoacidosis w coma
- E08.10 Diabetes due to underlying condition w ketoacidosis w/o coma
ICD9
- 250.11 Diabetes with ketoacidosis, type I [juvenile type], not stated as uncontrolled
- 250.10 Diabetes with ketoacidosis, type II or unspecified type, not stated as uncontrolled
- 250.12 Diabetes with ketoacidosis, type II or unspecified type, uncontrolled
- 250.13 Diabetes with ketoacidosis, type I [juvenile type], uncontrolled
SNOMED
- 420422005 ketoacidosis in diabetes mellitus (disorder)
- 420270002 Ketoacidosis in type I diabetes mellitus (disorder)
- 421750000 Ketoacidosis in type II diabetes mellitus (disorder)
- 26298008 Diabetic coma with ketoacidosis (disorder)
- 421075007 ketoacidotic coma in type I diabetes mellitus (disorder)
- 421847006 Ketoacidotic coma in type II diabetes mellitus (disorder)
CLINICAL PEARLS
- Admit if blood glucose >250 mg/dL, pH <7.3, HCO3 ≤15 mEq/L, and ketones in urine.
- Potassium is falsely elevated due to acidosis; start replacement when K+ ≤5.2 mg/dL and urine output is adequate.