Diabetic ketoacidosis in a one-year analysis

Abstract

Introduction/Objective Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a common and most severe acute complication of diabetes. It is a severe metabolic disorder with a high morbidity rate. This article aims to examine patients hospitalized for DKA during a one-year timeframe, present their findings and determine the precipitating factors for the occurrence of DKA. Methods The retrospective study included 63 patients with DKA. The research was performed using descriptive statistics based on demographic data (age and gender) and laboratory findings (blood sugar value, pH value and blood bicarbonate level). Results The obtained results show that out of 63 patients, 20 (31.74%) were male and 43 (68.26%) female. The average age of male patients was 56.25 ±18.25 SD years and the average age of female patients 49.75 ± 14.42 SD years. The total average was 53.71±15.58 SD years. The total number of Type 1 diabetes patients was 29 (46.03%), 12 of which were male and 17 female. The total number of Type 2 diabetes patients was 34 (53.97%), 8 of which were male and 26 female. Blood sugar values on admission were 24.36±7.68 SD mmol/L, ph values 7.14±0.12 SD and bicarbonate values 11.2±3.76 SD mmol/L. Ketone bodies were measured qualitatively in urine samples marked as “+” to “+++” and therefore not included in the statistics. The patients had been diagnosed with diabetes for 15.2 ±8.3 SD years before hospitalization and their hospitalization lasted 7.89 ±2.87 SD days. The required time for resolving ketoacidosis was 16.21±12.02 SD hours. The time required to begin the administration of the GIK (glucose, potassium, insulin) regimen as a form of therapy was 4.88 ±2.33 SD hours. Blood sugar levels when switching to the GIK solution were 10.9±0.32 SD mmol/L. The most common precipitating factor for DKA was infection (48.32%), followed by the absence of insulin in therapy (43.13%), while other causes accounted for 8.55% of the cases. Conclusion Treating patients with DKA was based on current therapeutic algorithms. Our oneyear study presents their findings and treatment protocols. Since the incidence of diabetes mellitus is on the rise, its complications are also becoming more frequent which is why prevention is much needed.

Keywords

• ketoacidosis
• acid-base status
• diabetes
• parameters
• electrolytes