Recurrent Diabetic Ketoacidosis following Bariatric Surgery: The Role of Micronutrients

Abstract

We report a case of a 29-year-old woman admitted twice to our hospital with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) within 45 days following her bariatric surgery. The first admission required intensive care during her postoperative days after bariatric surgery. Subsequently, she continued to report high level of ketones on a daily basis. At her second admission, she presented with all three criteria of DKA. She was treated with a standard protocol for DKA, but ketones plasma level remained high despite significant improvement in pH and glycemic control. The administration of thiamine replacement was associated with normalization of the hyperketonemia. Thiamine deficiency can be associated with bariatric surgery and can lead to high ketone level in individuals with type 1 diabetes.

Keywords

• thiamine
• bariatric surgery
• diabetes