Recognition and Management

of Diabetic Ketoacidosis
By Dr Kiran
JR1 Dept of General Medicine
“Sugars are high,
They reach the sky!
Breath smells of grapes,
I'm under the drapes,
My breathing is fast,
I hope I will last,
Insulin and saline,
They are the lifeline”
CLINICAL PRESENTATION: SYMPTOMS

● DKA usually evolves rapidly, over a 24 hour period.

● Earliest symptoms are polyuria, polydipsia and weight loss.
● Nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain are usually present.
● Malaise, generalized weakness and fatigability.
● As the duration of hyperglycemia progresses, neurologic symptoms, including
lethargy, focal signs, and obtundation can develop. Frank coma is uncommon
in DKA.
CLINICAL PRESENTATION: SIGNS
● Ill appearance.
● Labored respiration (Kussmaul).
● Dry mucous membranes, dry skin and decreased skin turgor.
● Decreased reflexes.
● Characteristic ketotic breath odor.
● Tachycardia
● Hypotension
● Tachypnea
● Hypothermia/ Fever (if infection is present)
● Confusion
● Coma
● Abdominal tenderness.
INTRODUCTION

● Diabetic Ketoacidosis is an acute, major and life-threatening complication of

Diabetes.
● It mainly occurs in patients with Type 1 Diabetes but it is not uncommon in
some patients with Type 2 diabetes.
● Described by Dr. Julius Dreschfeld in 1886.
DEFINITION

● DKA is an extreme metabolic state caused by insulin deficiency. It is defined

as an acute state of severe uncontrolled diabetes associated with
ketoacidosis that requires emergency treatment.
● It is a state of absolute or relative insulin deficiency aggravated by ensuing
hyperglycemia, dehydration and acidosis-producing derangements in
intermediary metabolism.
DIAGNOSIS
● Triad of hyperglycemia, high anion gap metabolic acidosis and ketonemia.
ADA (2009)
● Glucose> 13.9 mmol/L (250 mg/dI).
● Bicarbonate< 18 mmol/L; pH< 7.3.
● Ketones positive result for urine or serum ketones by nitroprusside reaction.
JBDS (2013)
● Glucose > 11 mmol/L (200 mg/dI) or known Diabetes.
● Bicarbonate < 15 mmol/L or pH< 7.3 or both.
● Ketones > 3 mmol/L or (++) in urine dipstick.
EPIDEMIOLOGY

● DKA accounts for 14% of all hospital admissions of patients with diabetes and
16% of all diabetes-related fatalities.
● DKA is frequently observed in diagnosis of type 1 diabetes and often indicates
this diagnosis (3%).
● The overall mortality rate for DKA is 0.2-2%, being at the highest in
developing countries.
● The incidence of DKA in developing countries is higher.
● It is far more common in young patients.
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY

● DKA is a complex disordered metabolic state characterized by

hyperglycemia, ketoacidosis and ketonuria.
● It usually occurs as a consequence of absolute or relative insulin deficiency
that is accompanied by an increase in counter-regulatory hormones (i.e,
glucagon, cortisol, growth hormone, epinephrine).
● This imbalance enhances hepatic gluconeogenesis, glycogenolysis, lipolysis
and ketogenesis.
DKA
ETIOLOGY

● Inadequate insulin treatment or noncompliance.

● New onset diabetes (20-25%)
● Acute illness -Infection (30 to 40%), CVA, Acute Myocardial Infarction, Acute
Pancreatitis
● Drugs - Clozapine or olanzapine, Cocaine, Lithium, SGLT2 inhibitors,
Terbutaline
LABORATORY EVALUATION
● Blood test for glucose every 1-2 hour.
● ABG/VBG.
● Serum electrolytes (includes phosphate)
● Renal function test.
● Urine dipstick test (acetoacetate).
● Serum ketones (3-betahydroxybutyrate).
● CBC.
● Anion gap.
● Osmolarity.
● Cultures.
● Amylase.
● Repeat lab investigations are key!
Types
MANAGEMENT

● Correction of fluid loss with intravenous fluids.

● Correction of hyperglycemia with insulin.
● Correction of electrolyte disturbances, particularly potassium loss.
● Correction of acid-base balance.
● Treatment of concurrent infection, if present.
CORRECTION OF FLUID LOSS
● It is a critical part of treating patients with DKA.
● Use of isotonic saline.
● 15-20 mL/kg/hour for the first few hours.
● Recommended schedule:
Administer 1-3 L during first hour.
Administer 1 L during second hour.
Administer 1 L during the following 2 hours.
Administer 1 L every 4 hours, depending on the degree of dehydration and CVP.
● When patient becomes euvolemic, switch to 0.45% saline is recommended, particularly
if hypernatremia exists.
Deficits
INSULIN THERAPY

● Insulin therapy to be initiated only if potassium levels are above 3.3 mEq/L
● Intravenous regular insulin preferred.
● Initiated with IV bolus of regular insulin (0.1 units/kg) followed by continuous
infusion of regular insulin of 0.1 units/kg/hour.
● SC route may be taken in uncomplicated DKA (0.3 U/kg then 0.2 U/kg one
hour later).
● When serum glucose reaches 200 mg/dl, reduce insulin infusion to 0.02-0.03
U/kg/hour and switch the IV saline solution to dextrose in saline.
● Revert to SC insulin, after patient begins to eat (continue IV infusion
simultaneously for 1 to 2 hours).
POTASSIUM REPLACEMENT

● If the initial serum potassium is below 3.3 mEq/L, IV potassium chloride is

started with saline (20 to 40 mEq/hour).
● If the initial serum potassium is between 3.3 and 5.3 mEq/L, IV KCI (20 to 30
mEq) is added to each liter of IV replacement fluid and continued until the
serum potassium concentration has increased to the 4.0 to 5.0 mEq/L range.
● If the serum potassium is initially greater than 5.3 mEg/L, then potassium
replacement should be delayed.
CORRECTION OF ACIDOSIS

● Bicarbonate therapy is a bone of contention among physicians and still

remains a controversial subject, as clear evidence of benefit is lacking.
● Bicarbonate therapy is only administered if the arterial pH is less than 6.9.
● 100 mEq of sodium bicarbonate in 400 mL sterile water is administered over
two hours. Repeat doses until pH rises above 7.0.
● Bicarbonate therapy has several potential harmful effects.
ABG OR VBG?
THE CASE FOR VENOUS RATHER THAN ARTERIAL BLOOD GASES IN DIABETIC
KETOACIDOSIS - Kelly AM et al (2006).
● There is reasonable evidence that venous and arterial pH have sufficient agreement as to be
clinically interchangeable in patients with DKA who are hemodynamically stable and without
respiratory failure.
ARTERIAL BLOOD GAS RESULTS RARELY INFLUENCE EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN
MANAGEMENT OF PATIENTS WITH SUSPECTED DIABETIC KETOACIDOSIS-
Ma OJ et al (2003).
● ABG results rarely influenced emergency physicians' decisions on diagnosis, treatment, or
disposition in suspected DKA patients. Venous pH correlated well and was precise enough
with arterial pH to serve as a substitute.
ABG OR VBG

Other Reasons:
● ABGs can cause radial artery spasm, infarct, and/or aneurysms
● ABGs are painful to patients, even more so than IV access
● By the way, when is the last time you checked a Modified Allen's Test before
doing a radial ABG?

The VBG-electrolytes were 97.8% sensitive and 100% specific for the

diagnosis of DKA in hyperglycemic patients (Menchine M et al., 2011).

BICARBONATE THERAPY
BICARBONATE IN DIABETIC KETOACIDOSIS : A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW - Chua et al (2011).

● Transient improvement in metabolic acidosis.

● No improved glycemic control.
● Risk of cerebral edema in pediatric patients.
● No studies with pH <6.85.

INTRAVENOUS SODIUM BICARBONATE THERAPY IN SEVERELY ACIDOTIC

DIABETIC KETOACIDOSIS - Duhon et al (2013).

● No Difference In: Time to resolution of acidemia, time to hospital discharge, time on IV insulin, potassium
requirement in first 24hrs.
● Subgroup Analysis of pH < 6.9 showed no statistical difference in time to resolution of acidemia.
BICARBONATE THERAPY

CLINICAL BOTTOM LINE

● Intravenous bicarbonate therapy may transiently make acidemia better, but
there is no improvement of glycemic control, time on insulin, time to hospital
discharge, and in children can worsen cerebral edema.
INSULIN WHEN?

PREVALENCE OF HYPOKALEMIA IN ED PATIENTS WITH DIABETIC

KETOACIDOSIS - S. Arora et al (2012).

• Hypokalemia was observed in 5.6% of patients with DKA.

• These findings support the ADA recommendation to obtain a serum potassium

before initiating intravenous insulin therapy in a patient with DKA
UTILITY OF INSULIN BOLUS
UTILITY OF INITIAL BOLUS INSULIN IN THE TREATMENT OF DIABETIC
KETOACIDOSIS - Goyal et al (2010).
● Insulin bolus at the start of an insulin infusion IS EQUIVALENT to no insulin bolus at the
start of an insulin infusion in several endpoints including:
Decrease normalization of glucose
Affect the rate of change of anion gap
Reduce ED or hospital length of stay
● Insulin bolus at the start of an insulin infusion DOES:
Increase hypoglycemic events by 6 fold (6% vs 1%).
WHICH INSULIN?
INSULIN ANALOGS VERSUS HUMAN INSULIN IN THE TREATMENT OF
PATIENTS WITH DIABETIC KETOACIDOSIS: A RANDOMIZED
CONTROLLED TRIAL - Umpierrez et al (2009)
• IV treatment with Regular & Glulisine Insulin.
• SC treatment with Regular Insulin/ PH & Glargine/Glulisine.
Conclusion:
• Equally effective in acute treatment of DKA.
• Lower rate of hypoglycemia with Glargine & Glulisine.
INSULIN HOW?
DIABETIC KETOACIDOSIS: LOW-DOSE INSULIN THERAPY BY VARIOUS
ROUTES - Fisher JN et al (1977).
Intravenous infusion of Insulin is superior to subcutaneous route.
TREATMENT OF DIABETIC KETOACIDOSIS WITH SUBCUTANEOUS INSULIN
ASPART - Umpierrez et al (2004).
• The use of subcutaneous insulin Aspart every 1 or 2 h represents a safe and
effective alternative to the use of intravenous regular insulin in the management of
patients with uncomplicated DKA.
INSULIN HOW?
EFFICACY OF SUBCUTANEOUS INSULIN LISPRO VERSUS CONTINUOUS
INTRAVENOUS REGULAR INSULIN FOR THE TREATMENT OF PATIENTS WITH
DIABETIC KETOACIDOSIS - Umipierrez et al (2004).
● Treatment of uncomplicated DKA with SC lispro every hour in a non-intensive care
setting may be safe and more cost-effective than treatment with IV regular insulin in the
intensive care unit.
SUBCUTANEOUS LISPRO AND INTRAVENOUS REGULAR INSULIN TREATMENTS
ARE EQUALLY EFFECTIVE AND SAFE FOR THE TREATMENT OF MILD AND
MODERATE DIABETIC KETOACIDOSIS IN ADULT PATIENTS - Ersoz et al (2006).
● Treatment of mild and moderate DKA with SC insulin lispro is equally effective and safe
in comparison with IV regular insulin.
TRANSITION FROM IV TO SC
BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATERS: SAFE AND EFFECTIVE TRANSITIONS OF THE INPATIENT WITH
HYPERGLYCEMIA - O'Malley et al (2008).

• First dose of SC insulin to be given at least 1 hour prior to discontinuation of IV insulin infusion, failing which
allows development of rapid rebound hyperglycemia.

TRANSITION FROM INTRAVENOUS TO SUBCUTANEOUS INSULIN: EFFECTIVENESS AND SAFETY OF A

STANDARDIZED PROTOCOL - Avanzini et al (2011).
● Stable blood glucoses which are less than 180 mg/dL for at least 4-6 h consecutively (Some studies suggest
24 hours).
● Normal anion gap and resolution of acidosis in DKA.
● Stable clinical status; hemodynamic stability.
● Not on Vasopressors.
● Stable nutrition plan or patient is eating
● Stable IV drip rates (low variability).
EUGLYCEMIC DKA: IT'S NOT A MYTH!

● It is essentially DKA without hyperglycemia (Glucose < 200 mg/dL).

Euglycemic DKA is a rare entity that mostly occurs in patients with Type 1
Diabetes, but also in Type 2 Diabetes.
● It has been associated with partial treatment of diabetes, carbohydrate food
restriction, alcohol intake, and with Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 (SGLT-2)
inhibitor medications.
● The exact mechanism of eu DKA is not entirely known.
EUGLYCEMIC DKA

● EUGLYCEMIC DKA EXISTS IN PATIENTS WHO ARE NOT ON SGLT-2

INHIBITORS - Munro JF et al (1973).

Vomiting was the most common symptom.

Most of the cases were Type 1 DM.

Management was same as DKA,

● SGLT-2 Inhibitors cause DKA - Peters A Let al (2015).
WHICH FLUID TO USE?
PLASMA-LYTE 148 VS 0.9% SALINE FOR FLUID RESUSCITATION IN
DIABETIC KETOACIDOSIS - Chua et al. (2012)
• PL had faster initial resolution of metabolic acidosis and less hyperchloremia,
with a transiently improved blood pressure profile and urine output.
RESUSCITATION WITH BALANCED ELECTROLYTE SOLUTION PREVENTS
HYPERCHLOREMIC METABOLIC ACIDOSIS IN PATIENTS WITH DIABETIC
KETOACIDOSIS - Mahler et al (2011).
• Resuscitation of DKA patients with BES results in lower serum chloride and
higher bicarbonate levels than patients receiving NS, consistent with prevention of
hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis.
WHICH FLUID TO USE?

FLUID MANAGEMENT IN DIABETIC-ACIDOSIS--RINGER'S LACTATE

VERSUS NORMAL SALINE - Van Zyl et al (2012).

• This study failed to indicate benefit from using RL compared to 0.9% NS

regarding time to normalization of pH in patients with DKA.

• The time to reach a blood glucose level of 14 mmol/I took significantly longer
with RL.
REFERENCES

● Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine

● British Medical Journal
● www.diabetes.org
● www.uptodate.com
● www.medscape.com
● www.rebelem.com
● www.ncbi.nIm.nih.gov
Thank You