Water and Diabetes: Prevention and Cure.

Water is ubiquitous in nature, and that is why, perhaps, it is not viewed as a nutrient. In the context of diabetes, water intake may have implications in increasing insulin resistance, development of complications, relation to anti-diabetic agents and also in prevention of diabetes. In this brief article, we list various aspects of water nutrition, i.e., hydration that support its status as a mega- nutrient, as a preventative therapy against diabetes, and as a treatment modality for diabetes and its complications.

Overlap of diabetic ketoacidosis and hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state.

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and hyperosmolar hyperglycemia state (HHS) are two life-threatening metabolic complications of diabetes that significantly increase mortality and morbidity. Despite major advances, reaching a uniform consensus regarding the diagnostic criteria and treatment of both conditions has been challenging. A significant overlap between these two extremes of the hyperglycemic crisis spectrum poses an additional hurdle. It has well been noted that a complete biochemical and clinical patient evaluation with timely diagnosis and treatment is vital for symptom resolution. Worldwide, there is a lack of large-scale studies that help define how hyperglycemic crises should be managed. This article will provide a comprehensive review of the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of DKA-HHS overlap.

[Acute diabetic complications attended in a hospital emergency department: a descriptive analysis]. / Estudio descriptivo de las complicaciones agudas diabéticas atendidas en un servicio de urgencias hospitalario.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the characteristics of acute diabetic complications attended in a hospital emergency department. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cross-sectional, descriptive, retrospective study of patients with hyper- and hypoglycemic emergencies attended in a tertiary-care university hospital emergency department. RESULTS: We included 237 patients with a mean (SD) age of 61 (26) years. Diabetes had been diagnosed previously in 86.5% (type 2 in 74% and type 1 in 26%). Hyperglycemic emergencies were treated in 72%. The most frequent reasons for decompensation were poor control of type 1 diabetes (41.2%) and infections in type 2 diabetes (51.5%). Twenty-eight percent had low blood sugar levels caused by poor control of disease (50%). Patients with hypoglycemia had shorter mean stays. More admissions were made in type 2 diabetes than in type 1. CONCLUSION: Type 2 diabetes leads to more visits to the emergency department, more admissions, and a longer hospital stay than type 1 diabetes.

OBJETIVO: Conocer las complicaciones agudas diabéticas atendidas en un servicio de urgencias hospitalario (SUH). METODO: Estudio descriptivo transversal retrospectivo, realizado en un SUH de un hospital universitario de tercer nivel asistencial de los pacientes diagnosticados de hiperglucemias e hipoglucemias durante el año 2012. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron 237 pacientes con una edad media de 61 (± 26) años. El 86,5% presentaba diabetes: el 74% tipo 2 y el 26% tipo 1. Las hiperglucemias supusieron un 72%. Las causas de descompensación más frecuentes fueron el mal control en los diabéticos tipo 1 (41,2%) y las infecciones en los diabéticos tipo 2 (51,5%). Las hipoglucemias supusieron el 28%, producidas principalmente por mal control metabólico (50%). La estancia media fue menor que en las hiperglucemias. Los pacientes diabéticos tipo 2 tuvieron más ingresos que los tipo 1. CONCLUSIONES: Los diabéticos tipo 2 suponen una mayor frecuentación, mayor índice de ingresos y una estancia media mayor que los tipo 1.

Alteraciones del equilibrio acido base y electrolíticas en pacientes con crisis hiperglicémica atendidos en emergencia de un hospital general de Chiclayo / Electrolyte and acid-base abnormalities in patients with hyperglycemic crisis attended at emergency in a general hospital in Chiclayo

Resumen Objetivo: Describir las alteraciones del equilibrio ácido base y electrolíticas en pacientes con crisis hiperglicémica atendidos en la emergencia de un hospital general de Chiclayo. Material y métodos: Serie de casos, prospectivo y de corte transversal; se seleccionaron pacientes diabéticos con crisis hiperglicémica que fueron vigilados por 3 horas. Se registraron los datos clínicos, demográficos, gases arteriales, glicemia y electrolitos. Resultados: Se evaluaron 52 pacientes con una edad promedio 55,1 ± 16,9 y 29 (55,8%) de sexo femenino. El tiempo promedio de diagnóstico fue 4,3 ± 5,4 meses; 13 (25,0%) eran episodios debut, 4 (7,7%) fallecieron. El síntoma más frecuente fue confusión mental en 14 (26,9%), 30 (57,7%) tuvieron falla renal aguda. Las alteraciones electrolíticas más frecuentes fueron hiponatremia en 26 (50,0%) e hipokalemia en 18 (34,6%). La acidosis metabólica fue más frecuente en cetoacidosis que en coma hiperosmolar (85,0 vs 15,0%; p= 0,000). La falla renal aguda ocurrió en 76,7% en cetoacidosis diabética y en 23,3% en el coma hiperosmolar (p= 0,74). Conclusiones: La frecuencia y las complicaciones de la cetoacidosis diabética y del coma hiperosmolar, así como de las alteraciones electrolíticas, muestran grandes diferencias con los datos reportados en la literatura.

Summary Objective: To describe electrolyte and acid-base imbalances in patients with hyperglycemic crisis attended at emergency in a general hospital in Chiclayo. Methods: A case series of diabetic patients with hyperglycemic crisis that were followed for 3 hours. Clinical, demographic, blood gases, serum glucose and electrolytes were gathered from patient´s charts. Results: 52 patients were evaluated; mean age was 55.1 ± 16.9 years and 29 (55.8%) were females. Mean time to diagnosis was 4.3 ± 5.4 months; 13 (25.0%) occurred at onset of diabetes and 4 (7.7%) died. The most common symptom was mental confusion in 14 (26,9%) of patients, 30 (57,7%) had acute renal failure. Hyponatremia in 26 (50.0%) patients and hypokalemia in 18 (34.6%) were the most common electrolyte abnormalities found. Metabolic acidosis was more frequently found in patients with ketoacidosis than in hyperosmolar coma (85.0 vs 15.0%; p<0.0001). Acute renal failure occurred in 76.7% among patients with ketoacidosis and in 23.3% of patients with hyperosmolar coma (p=0.74). Conclusions: the frequency and complications of diabetic ketoacidosis and of hyperosmolar coma as well as the electrolyte abnormalities differed from those reported in the literature.