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European Journal of Internal Medicine Nov 2023Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is an acute life-threatening emergency in patients with diabetes, it can result in serious morbidity and mortality. Management of DKA... (Review)
Review
Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is an acute life-threatening emergency in patients with diabetes, it can result in serious morbidity and mortality. Management of DKA requires reversing metabolic derangements, correcting volume depletion, electrolyte imbalances and acidosis while concurrently treating the precipitating illness. There are still controversies regarding certain aspects of DKA management. Different society guidelines have inconsistencies in their recommendations, while some aspects of treatment are not precise enough or have not been thoroughly studied. These controversies may include issues such as optimal fluid resuscitation, rate and type of Insulin therapy, potassium and bicarbonate replacement. Many institutions follow common society guidelines, however, other institutions either develop their own protocols for internal use or do not routinely use any protocols, resulting in inconsistencies in treatment and increased risk of complications and suboptimal outcomes. The objectives of this article are to review knowledge gaps and controversies in the treatment of DKA and provide our perspective on these issues. Moreover, we believe that special patient factors and comorbidities should receive more careful attention and consideration. Factors like pregnancy, renal disease, congestive heart failure, acute coronary syndrome, older age, use of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors and site of care all impact the treatment approach and require tailored management strategies. However, guidelines often lack sufficient recommendations regarding specific conditions and comorbidities, we aim to address unique circumstances and provide an approach to managing complex patients with specific conditions and co-morbidities. We also sought to examine changes and trends in the treatment of DKA, illuminate on aspects of latest research with a perspective towards future developments and modifications.
Topics: Pregnancy; Female; Humans; Diabetic Ketoacidosis; Insulin; Fluid Therapy; Potassium; Diabetes Mellitus
PubMed: 37419787
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejim.2023.07.005 -
Emergency Medicine Clinics of North... Nov 2023Hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state (HHS) is an underrecognized diabetic emergency with high morbidity and mortality. Many features of HHS overlap with those of diabetic... (Review)
Review
Hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state (HHS) is an underrecognized diabetic emergency with high morbidity and mortality. Many features of HHS overlap with those of diabetic ketoacidosis but key differentiators for HHS are serum osmolality greater than 320 mOsm/kg, lack of metabolic acidosis, and minimal to no presence of ketones. HHS is often triggered by an underlying illness-most commonly infection but may also be triggered by stroke, acute coronary syndrome, and other acute illnesses. Treatment guidelines recommend aggressive volume-repletion of osmotic losses in addition to insulin therapy, plus treatment of the underlying cause.
PubMed: 37758417
DOI: 10.1016/j.emc.2023.07.001 -
BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care Oct 2023Euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis (EDKA) is an emerging complication of diabetes associated with an increasing use of sodium-glucose transporter type 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitor... (Review)
Review
Euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis (EDKA) is an emerging complication of diabetes associated with an increasing use of sodium-glucose transporter type 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitor drugs. This review highlights the growing incidence of EDKA and its diagnostic challenges due to the absence of hallmark hyperglycemia seen in diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). The paper presents a classification system for the severity of EDKA, categorizing it into mild, moderate, and severe based on serum pH and bicarbonate levels. Another classification system is proposed to define stages of EDKA based on anion gap and ketones at the time of diagnosis and during the treatment period. A treatment algorithm is proposed to guide clinicians in managing EDKA. This treatment algorithm includes monitoring anion gap and ketones to guide insulin and fluid management, and slower transition to subcutaneous insulin to prevent a relapse. Increased awareness of EDKA is essential for a timely diagnosis because an early diagnosis and treatment can improve clinical outcomes.
Topics: Humans; Diabetic Ketoacidosis; Sodium-Glucose Transporter 2 Inhibitors; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Insulin; Ketones
PubMed: 37797963
DOI: 10.1136/bmjdrc-2023-003666 -
Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) Aug 2023Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) represents an acute, severe complication of relative insulin deficiency and a common presentation of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM)... (Review)
Review
Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) represents an acute, severe complication of relative insulin deficiency and a common presentation of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) primarily and, occasionally, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) in children and adolescents. It is characterized by the biochemical triad of hyperglycaemia, ketonaemia and/or ketonuria, and acidaemia. Clinical symptoms include dehydration, tachypnoea, gastrointestinal symptoms, and reduced level of consciousness, precipitated by a variably long period of polyuria, polydipsia, and weight loss. The present review aims to summarize potential pitfalls in the diagnosis and management of DKA. A literature review was conducted using the Pubmed/Medline and Scopus databases including articles published from 2000 onwards. Diagnostic challenges include differentiating between T1DM and T2DM, between DKA and hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic state (HHS), and between DKA and alternative diagnoses presenting with overlapping symptoms, such as pneumonia, asthma exacerbation, urinary tract infection, gastroenteritis, acute abdomen, and central nervous system infection. The mainstays of DKA management include careful fluid resuscitation, timely intravenous insulin administration, restoration of shifting electrolyte disorders and addressing underlying precipitating factors. However, evidence suggests that optimal treatment remains a therapeutic challenge. Accurate and rapid diagnosis, prompt intervention, and meticulous monitoring are of major importance to break the vicious cycle of life-threatening events and prevent severe complications during this potentially fatal medical emergency.
PubMed: 37568965
DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics13152602 -
Academic Emergency Medicine : Official... Aug 2023Studies using fast-acting subcutaneous (SQ) insulin analogs in diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) have demonstrated efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness, allowing treatment...
BACKGROUND
Studies using fast-acting subcutaneous (SQ) insulin analogs in diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) have demonstrated efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness, allowing treatment of mild-to-moderate (MTM)-severity DKA patients in non-intensive care unit (ICU) settings. However, emergency department (ED)-based studies are few, with limited exploration of impacts on operational metrics.
METHODS
We implemented the SQuID (Subcutaneous Insulin in Diabetic Ketoacidosis) protocol for adults with MTM-severity DKA in an urban academic ED, collecting data from August 1, 2021, to February 28, 2022. We examined fidelity (frequency of required q2h glucose checks), safety (proportion of patients administered rescue dextrose for hypoglycemia), and ED length of stay (EDLOS) for the SQuID cohort compared to patients (non-ICU) treated with a traditional insulin infusion. We also examined ICU admission rate among MTM-severity DKA patients after introduction of SQuID to two historical control periods (pre-intervention and pre-COVID). We used Mann-Whitney U to test for differences in EDLOS distributions, bootstrapped (n = 1000) confidence intervals (CIs) for EDLOS median differences, and the two-sample z-test for differences in ICU admissions.
RESULTS
We identified 177 MTM-severity DKA patients in the study period (78 SQuID, 99 traditional cohort) and 163 preintervention and 161 pre-COVID historical control patients. Fidelity to the SQuID pathway was good, with glucose checks exceeding the q2-h requirement. We found no difference in the proportion of rescue dextrose administration compared to the traditional pathway. We observed significant reductions in median EDLOS for the SQuID cohort compared to the traditional cohort during the study period (-3.0, 95% CI -8.5 to -1.4), the preintervention period (-1.4, 95% CI -3.1 to -0.1), and the pre-COVID control period (-3.6, 95% CI -7.5 to -1.8).
CONCLUSIONS
In this single-center study at an academic ED, treatment of patients with MTM-severity DKA with a SQ insulin protocol was effective, demonstrated equivalent safety, and reduced ED length of stay.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Insulin; Diabetic Ketoacidosis; Benchmarking; COVID-19; Glucose; Retrospective Studies; Diabetes Mellitus
PubMed: 36775281
DOI: 10.1111/acem.14685 -
Journal of Osteopathic Medicine Sep 2023Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is an endocrine emergency that can occur in people with diabetes. Its incidence is estimated to be 220,340 hospital admissions each year.... (Review)
Review
CONTEXT
Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is an endocrine emergency that can occur in people with diabetes. Its incidence is estimated to be 220,340 hospital admissions each year. Treatment algorithms include fluid resuscitation, intravenous (IV) insulin infusion, and scheduled electrolyte and glucose monitoring. The misdiagnosis of DKA in the setting of hyperglycemic emergencies results in overtreatment and unnecessary increases in healthcare utilization and costs.
OBJECTIVES
The aims of this study were to determine how often DKA is overdiagnosed in the context of other acute hyperglycemic emergencies, to describe the baseline characteristics of patients, to determine the hospital treatments for DKA, and to identify the frequency of endocrinology or diabetology consultation in the hospital setting.
METHODS
A retrospective chart review was conducted utilizing charts from three different hospitals within a hospital system. Charts were identified utilizing ICD-10 codes for admissions to the hospital for DKA. If the patient was over 18 and had one of the diagnostic codes of interest, the chart was reviewed for further details regarding the criteria for DKA diagnosis as well as admission and treatment details.
RESULTS
A total of 520 hospital admissions were included for review. DKA was incorrectly diagnosed in 28.4 % of the hospital admissions reviewed, based on a review of the labs and DKA diagnostic criteria. Most patients were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) and treated with IV insulin infusion (n=288). Consultation of endocrinology or diabetology occurred in 40.2 % (n=209) of all hospital admissions, and 128 of those consults occurred in ICU admissions. The diagnosis of DKA was incorrect in 92 of the patients admitted to the medical surgical unit (MSU) and in 49 of patients admitted to the ICU.
CONCLUSIONS
Almost one third of hospital admissions for hyperglycemic emergencies were misdiagnosed and managed as DKA. DKA diagnostic criteria are specific; however, other diagnoses like hyperosmolar hyperglycemic syndrome (HHS), hyperglycemia, and euglycemic DKA can make an accurate diagnosis more complicated. Education directed at improving the diagnostic accuracy of DKA among healthcare providers is needed to improve diagnostic accuracy, ensure the appropriate use of hospital resources, and potentially reduce costs to the healthcare system.
Topics: Humans; Diabetic Ketoacidosis; Retrospective Studies; Emergencies; Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring; Blood Glucose; Hospitals; Insulins; Diabetes Mellitus
PubMed: 37406169
DOI: 10.1515/jom-2023-0019