3. Introduction and Epidemiology
Acute, life threatening complication of DM in predominant in Type 1
Overall mortality is <1%, but a mortality rate >5% in the elderly has been reported
Mortality in patients with DKA is frequently related to the underlying etiological
precipitant rather than the metabolic sequelae of hyperglycaemia or ketoacidosis
4. Precipitating Factors
Common - infection (often pneumonia or urinary tract infection) &
discontinuation of or inadequate insulin therapy
Acute major illnesses such as myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular accident,
sepsis, or pancreatitis.
New-onset type 1 diabetes, in which DKA is a common presentation.
Poor compliance with the insulin regimen.
6. Insulin
Ingested glucose is primary stimulant of
insulin release from B-cells of pancreas
Insulin main action : Liver, adipose tissue
and skeletal muscle
7. Deficiency in insulin secretion due to loss of islet cell mass in type 1 DM
Initial stage secretory failure of B cells impairs fuel storage
Evident during glucose tolerance test
Later stage as level of insulin decrease, fuel stores are mobilized during fasting
resulting hyperglycemia
As disease progression increase blood glucose level can no longer trigger
insulin activity lead to cell starvation
8. Pathogenesis
Complex relationship between insulin and
counterregulatory hormones
DKA is a response to cellular starvation
due to insulin deficiency
Relative absence insulin and excess
counterregulatory hormones result in
hyperglycemia
Insulin
Glucagon
Cortisol
Catecholamines
GH
10. Ketone Body Formation
Lipolysis
B-oxidation splits fatty acids into Acetyl-
CoA
Acetyl-CoA either:
Enter Kreb’s cycle to produce ATP
Enters Ketogenic pathway to produce
acetoacetic acids (ketones body)
12. Clinical Presentation
Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) usually evolves rapidly - over a 24-hour period.
In contrast, symptoms of HHS develop more insidiously, often persisting for
several days before hospital admission.
Clinical manifestation of DKA related directly to
Hyperglycemia
Volume depletion
Acidosis
Osmotic diuresis gradually led to volume loss, in addition to renal losses of Na, Cl,
K, Phos, Ca, Mg
13. Clinical Features
Alteration of consciousness seems to correlate better with elevated serum
osmolality (>320mmol/kg) than with severity of metabolic acidosis
Kussmaul respiration (increase rate and depth of breathing)
Acetone produce fruity odor breathing
Abdominal pain and tender in DKA correlate with level of acidosis
Pain can be due to gastric dilatation, ileus or pancreatitis
17. Principles of Management
1. Volume repletion
2. Reversal of metabolic consequences of
insulin insufficiency
3. Correction of electrolyte and acid-base
balance
4. Recognition and treatment of
precipitating cause
5. Avoidance complications
22. Complications
Related to acute disease
In general, the greater initial
Serum osmolality
BUN
Blood glucose
Serum HCO3 (<10 mEq/L)
Infection and myocardial infarction main
contributors for mortality
Greater mortality
25. Complications of DKA (summary)
Related to Acute Disease Related to Therapy Later Complication
Loss of airway Hypokalemia Recurrent anion gap
metabolic acidosis
Sepsis Hypophosphatemia Non-anion gap metabolic
acidosis
Myocardial infarction Acute respiratory distress
syndrome
Vascular thrombosis
Hypovolemic shock Cerebral edema Mucormycosis
Hypoglycemia
26. Disposition and follow up
Required hospitalization in a monitored setting (ICU)
Nursing experienced with IV Insulin infusion
27. What to monitor? Our treatment aim?
Parameters Rate Aim
DXT Hourly Drop by 3
VBG (HCO3, K) 1H
4H
6H
HCO3 rise by 3
K : 3-5 mmol/L
Ketone 4 hourly 0.5 mmol/L/H
BUSE 6 hourly
Vital signs, I/O charting Hourly Aim positive balance
Urine output >0.5ml/kg/H
Cardiac monitor
SPO2
Continuous
28. What else to monitor?
Clinical Monitor Possible causes
A
B
Respiration Tachypneic Worsening acidosis
C Circulation Hypotension
Arrythmias
Dehydration
Electrolyte
imbalance
D GCS Drop of GCS Hypoglycemia
Cerebral edema
Hyponatremia
29. Input/output aim?
For I/O, how much of positive balance?
Estimated deficit in DKA up to 100ml/kg (estimated 10% of body weight), in HHS up to
200ml/kg)
Aim to replace this deficit within the next 24-48 hours
Aim positive balance 2-3L within this period
30. If DXT < 14
Once blood glucose falls below 14 mmol/L
Switch to 5% dextrose at 125ml/H and reduce insulin infusion rate to 0.05
units/kg/hour; or
Switch to 10% dextrose at 125ml/H with no change in insulin infusion rate
If equipment is working but response to treatment inadequate, increase insulin
infusion rate by 1 unit/hr increments hourly until target achieved
31. When to stop/overlap IVI insulin?
Resolution of DKA:
Patient able to eat
Blood ketone <0.3 mmol/L
pH. >7.3
Do not discontinue intravenous infusion until 30 minutes after S/C short acting
insulin has been given
32. Calculating SC insulin:
Estimated dose = patient’s weight (kg) x 0.5
50% of dose as bedtime, another 50% to 3 basal bolus
Example: 80 kg required approximately 80kg x 0.5 = 40 units in 24 hours
Eg: short acting insulin 7u & 20 units bedtime
34. Background
HHS : characterized by progressive hyperglycemia and hyperosmolarity
Mostly in poor controlled or undiagnosed Type 2 DM
Occurred in elderly, with common risk factors being obesity
35. Pathophysiology
Insulin resistance
and/or deficiency
Osmotic diuresis
followed by impaired
renal excretion of
glucose
Inflammatory state with marked
elevation in proinflammatory
cytokines vs counter-regulatory
stress hormones (catecholamines,
GH, glucagon, cortisol)
38. Clinical features
History and comorbidities
Elderly, baseline cognitive impairment, multiple comorbid, referred for abnormalities in
V/S
Mostly evolved over days to weeks
Nonspecific complaints
Malaise, weakness, anorexia, fatigue, vomiting, cognitive impairment
15% may present with seizures (typically focal)
39. Diagnosis
Severe hyperglycemia (>33.3 mmol/L)
Elevated plasma osmolality (>315 mmol/kg)
Serum HCO3 >15 mmol/L
pH >7.3
Serum ketones negative to mild positive
* Important to recognize the potential for a variety of mixed acid-base patterns in patients with
HHS
42. Treatment
Improvement of tissue perfusion is the key to effective recovery in HHS
The therapeutic plan must be carefully considered and adjusted for concurrent
medical illnesses such as cardiac, renal, and pulmonary disease.
Overzealous resuscitation can result in significant harms and should be avoided.
Treating severely ill patients likely requiring intensive care unit
43. Correction of hypovolemia
Identifying and treating precipitating causes
Correcting electrolyte abnormalities
Gradual correction of hyperglycemia and hyperosmolarity
Frequent monitoring
44. Begin normal saline infusion before insulin therapy is started.
The average fluid deficit in HHS is in the range of 20% to 25% of total body water, or 8
to 12L.
One half of the fluid deficits should be replaced over the initial 12 hours and the
balance over the next 24 hours when possible.
Begin fluid resuscitation with 0.9% normal saline at a rate of 15 to 20 mL/kg/h during
the first hour, followed by rates from 4 to 14 mL/kg/h.
Limit the rate of volume repletion during the first 4 hours to <50 mL/kg of normal
saline. Once hypotension, tachycardia, serum hyponatremia, and urinary output
improve, 0.45% NaCl can be used to replace the remaining free water deficit.
Hourly glucose, electrolyte, and osmolality measurements should be taken to monitor
progress in the critically ill.
47. Blood gas: VBG or ABG?
Kelly AM et al. Review Article – Can Venous Blood Gas Analysis Replace
Arterial in Emergency Medical Care. Emery Med Australas 2010; 22: 493 – 498
For pH, 3 studies of patients with DKA (265 patients) were reviewed showing a
weighted mean difference of 0.02 pH units. Only one study, which was the largest
study (200 patients) reported 95% limits of agreement of pH that were -0.009 – 0.02 pH
units.
For bicarbonate, 7 studies with just over 900 patients were reviewed showing a
weighted mean difference of -1.41 mmol/L. Only 2 studies (246 patients and 95
patients) reported 95% limits of agreement which ranged from -5.8 to +5.3 mmol/L.
48. Blood gas: VBG or ABG?
Ma OJ et al. Arterial Blood Gas Results Rarely Influence Emergency Physician
Management of Patients with Suspected Diabetic Ketoacidosis. Acad Emerg Med
Aug 2003; 10(8): 836 – 41.
ABG analysis changed ED physicians diagnosis in 1% (95% CI 0.3 – 3.6%) of patients
ABG analysis changed ED physicians treatment in 3.5% (95% CI 0.3 – 3.6%) of patients
(Change from SQ to IV insulin or vice versa)
ABG analysis changed patient disposition in 2.5% (95% CI 1.1% – 5.7%) of patients
Venous pH correlated well with arterial pH with difference of -0.015 +/- 0.006 pH units
50. Insulin versus Electrolyte?
Patients with DKA will have total body potassium depletion from osmotic diuresis
and electrolyte losses.
Measured levels of serum potassium may be falsely normal or elevated due to
extracellular shifts of potassium from secondary acidosis.
The American Diabetes Association (ADA) actually recommends obtaining a a
serum potassium level before initiating insulin, but this is based on anecdotal
evidence.
That being said, according to Arora et al, approximately 5% of patients with DKA
will have hypokalemia.
51. Insulin versus Electrolyte?
Eg: In VBG you will see your K+ is 2.8.
If you start insulin therapy before electrolyte replacement, you will worsen
hypokalemia which is a very real cause of morbidity and mortality from cardiac
arrhythmias and respiratory muscle weakness.
Why?
Don’t forget that insulin will activate your Na-K ATPase which will shift potassium
intracellular and worsen your hypokalemia.
53. Do Sodium Bicarbonate really benefit?
Chua et al. Bicarbonate in Diabetic Ketoacidosis – A Systematic Review. Ann
Intensive Care 2011; 1 (23). 44 studies of DKA patients reviewed which showed:
Transient improvement in metabolic acidosis
No improved glycemic control
Risk of cerebral edema in pediatric patients
No studies with pH <6.85
54. Do Sodium Bicarbonate really benefit?
Duhon et al. Intravenous Sodium Bicarbonate Therapy in Severely Acidotic
Diabetic Ketoacidosis. Ann Pharmacother 2013. 47(7 – 8): 970 – 5.
Retrospective study of 86 patients with DKA which showed:
No difference in: Time to resolution of acidemia, time to hospital discharge, time on IV
insulin, potassium requirement in 1st 24hrs
Subgroup Analysis of pH < 6.9 (n = 20) showed no statistical difference in time to
resolution of acidemia
56. Should We Bolus Insulin Before Starting
the Infusion?
Is there any benefit to an initial insulin bolus in Diabetic Ketoacidosis?
Goyal et al. Utility of Initial Bolus Insulin in the Treatment of Diabetic Ketoacidosis. J
Emerg Med 2010; 38(4): 422 – 7.
Prospective, Observational Study of 157 patients with DKA:
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%) [NOT Statistically Significant]
(CRP, interleukins, TNF)
increase hepatic gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis
The actual rate of fluid administration should be individualized for each patient, based on the level of renal and cardiac impairment.
Other Reasons ABGs may not be preferred
Although rare, 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?
Block off Radial and Ulnar Artery for 30 seconds
Have pt make fist
Let go of ulnar artery and should have color return in <10seconds
If no color return or delayed…then pt DOES NOT have collateral blood flow (i.e. – Allen’s Test)
Myth#1 Busted: VBG can be used in place of ABGs