Diabetic ketoacidosis
Diabetic ketoacidosis
Updated: 01/21/2021
© Jun Wang, MD, PhD
General features
- Life threatening
- More common in type 1 diabetes
- Usually associated with concomitant infection, missed or disrupted insulin treatments, or medical/emotional stress
- Diagnosed based on history, clinical presentation, and elevated ketone levels
Key pathogenesis
- Exaggerated insulin deficiency due to elevated anti insulin effects caused by increased epinephrine, etc
- Accelerated fat metabolism (lipolysis, increase free fatty acid, etc) and ketogenesis
- Accumulation of ketones due to impaired urinary excretion following dehydration
Clinical presentations
- Most common: Insidious increase in polydipsia and polyuria
- Non specific symptoms: Malaise, generalized weakness, and fatigability, nausea and vomiting
- Signs: Shallow rapid breathing early (sighing respiration) or air hunger (Kussmaul) if acidosis grows severe, abdominal tenderness, and disturbance of consciousness
- Hyperosmorality
- Osmotic diuresis
- Coma
Key Laboratory findings
- Hyperglycemia
- Metabolic acidosis
- Ketosis
- Ketonuria
- Impaired renal function
Managements
- Insulin
- Electrolyte supplements and alkalinizing agents for acidosis, etc
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