Management of severe inaugural diabetic ketoacidosis in paediatric intensive care: retrospective comparison of two protocols.

The best protocol for severe inaugural diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) in children remains unclear. We compared two protocols by assessing effects during the first 24 h on osmolality, serum sodium, and glucose variations, which are associated with the risk of cerebral oedema, the most dreaded complication of DKA. We also recorded complications. We retrospectively included children aged 28 days to 18 years and admitted for severe DKA to either of two paediatric intensive care units (PICUs) in Paris (France). The two protocols differed regarding hydration volume, glucose intake, and sodium intake. From 17 June 2010 to 17 June 2015, 93 patients were included, 29 at one PICU, and 64 at the other. We compared severe glycaemic drops (> 5.5 mmol/L/h), mean glycaemia variations, serum sodium, serum osmolality, and the occurrence of cerebral oedema (CE) during the first 24 h after PICU admission. Severe glycaemic drops occurred in 70% of patients, with no between-group difference. Blood glucose, serum sodium, and serum osmolality variations were comparable. Seven (7.5%) patients were treated for suspected CE, (4 [10.3%)] and 3 [6.3%]) in each PICU; none had major residual impairments. CONCLUSION:  The two paediatric DKA-management protocols differing in terms of fluid-volume, glucose, and sodium intakes had comparable effects on clinical and laboratory-test changes within 24 h. Major drops in glycaemia and osmolality were common with both protocols. No patients had residual neurological impairments. WHAT IS KNOWN: • Cerebral oedema is the most severe complication of diabteic ketoacidosis in children.The risk of cerebral oedema is dependant on both patient related and treatment-related factors. • The optimal protocol for managing severe inaugural diabetic ketoacidosis in children remains unclear, and few studies have targeted this specific population. WHAT IS NEW: • Two management protocols that complied with ISPAD guidelines but differed regarding the amounts of fluids, glucose, and sodium administered produced similar outcomes in children with severe inaugural diabetic ketoacidosis. • Cerebral oedema was rare with both protocols and caused no lasting impairments.

Adverse Effects of Glycemia-Lowering Medications in Type 2 Diabetes.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus is focused on preventing the occurrence and delaying the development of macro- and micro-vascular complications. Glycemic control can help prevent these complications, but there is concern about the adverse effects of glycemia-lowering medications. A rational approach is to balance the desired low risk of adverse events against the unwanted higher risk of major complications resulting from suboptimal glucose control. RECENT FINDINGS: Using the above approach, approved glucose-lowering agents have favorable benefit-to-risk profiles for use in most patients with type 2 diabetes. We first briefly review the mechanism of actions and benefits of the different commonly used classes of glycemia-lowering medications and then discuss adverse effects and safety concern associated with their use. Our overall assessment is that if used appropriately, the different classes of glycemia-lowering medications offer beneficial outcomes with relatively modest and, in some instances, preventable adverse events.

Old and new approaches to the interpretation of acid-base metabolism, starting from historical data applied to diabetic acidosis.

The approach to acid-base chemistry in medicine includes several methods. Currently, the two most popular procedures are derived from Stewart's studies and from the bicarbonate/BE-based classical formulation. Another method, unfortunately little known, follows the Kildeberg theory applied to acid-base titration. By using the data produced by Dana Atchley in 1933, regarding electrolytes and blood gas analysis applied to diabetes, we compared the three aforementioned methods, in order to highlight their strengths and their weaknesses. The results obtained, by reprocessing the data of Atchley, have shown that Kildeberg's approach, unlike the other two methods, is consistent, rational and complete for describing the organ-physiological behavior of the hydrogen ion turnover in human organism. In contrast, the data obtained using the Stewart approach and the bicarbonate-based classical formulation are misleading and fail to specify which organs or systems are involved in causing or maintaining the diabetic acidosis. Stewart's approach, despite being considered 'quantitative', does not propose in any way the concept of 'an amount of acid' and becomes even more confusing, because it is not clear how to distinguish between 'strong' and 'weak' ions. As for Stewart's approach, the classical method makes no distinction between hydrogen ions managed by the intermediate metabolism and hydroxyl ions handled by the kidney, but, at least, it is based on the concept of titration (base-excess) and indirectly defines the concept of 'an amount of acid'. In conclusion, only Kildeberg's approach offers a complete understanding of the causes and remedies against any type of acid-base disturbance.

Euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis following major vascular surgery is a new item on the differential for postoperative acidosis.

New pharmacologic advances in the treatment of diabetes include SGLT-2 inhibitors, which have been demonstrated in randomized-controlled clinical trials to reduce overall and cardiac-specific mortality and slow progression of chronic kidney disease. Euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis is a rare but life-threatening complication associated with the use of SGLT-2 inhibitors. Here we describe a case of severe euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis after lower extremity bypass in a patient taking an SGLT-2 inhibitor. Awareness of this potential complication is essential as these novel agents are increasingly used in patients with cardiovascular disease.

The Study of Different Clinical Pattern of Diabetic Ketoacidosis and Common Precipitating Events and Independent Mortality Factors.

INTRODUCTION: Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality among diabetic patients in spite of major advances in the pathogenesis and more standardized diagnosis and treatment. AIM: To find out the different patterns of clinical presentations, common precipitating factors and independent mortality factors in DKA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital, Mysuru on 110 patients from November 2007 to October 2009. Clinical presentation and precipitating factors of DKA were monitored. Univariate analysis was done to identify statistically significant risk factors contributing to DKA mortality and was used for multiple logistic regressions to identify independent mortality predictors. A scoring methodology was used to identify the risk of having multiple risk factors in an individual. RESULTS: In this study, the mean age was 42.33 years, with a male to female ratio of 1.2:1. The most common complaints were vomiting and generalized weakness seen in 55 (50%) and 49 (44.5%) cases respectively. The most common precipitating factors were infections and poor compliance to antidiabetic treatment seen in 57 (52%) and 23 (21%) cases respectively. The predictors of mortality included age equal to or more than 65 years, Depressed Mental State (DMS) in the first 24 hour, insulin requirement equal to or more than 50 units in the 12 hours to bring blood glucose to less than 300 mg%, fever in the first 24 hours, shock in the first 24 hours, RBS persistently equal to or more than 300 mg% even after 12 hours with standard treatment protocol, fluid requirement equal to or more than 6 L in the first 24 hours, pH less than 7.2 and bicarbonate less than 15 mmol/l at presentation were statistically significant predictors of mortality. Multivariate analysis failed to identify an independent mortality factor; but, adverse parameters of more than 5 was significantly associated with death. CONCLUSION: Risk stratification of patients with DKA is possible from simple clinical and laboratory variables available during the first day of hospitalization and further channeling the patients to ICU at the correct time to prevent mortalities.

Trombosis venosa profunda del miembro superior en un paciente con cetoacidosis diabética / Deep venous thrombosis of the upper limb in a patient with diabetic acidosis

La Trombosis Venosa de Miembros Superiores (TVP – Ms Ss) profunda es una enfermedad poco frecuente y de difícil diagnóstico. Sin historia de esfuerzo físico de miembros superiores, las trombofilias suelen ser la condición más frecuentemente relacionada. La cetoacidosis diabética puede tener relación con la TVP por varias razones. Se presenta un caso de un hombre de 26 años con cetoacidosis diabética e infección respiratoria baja; tenía instalado un catéter venoso central y presentó una TVP en miembro superior derecho

Deep Vein Thrombosis of upper limbs is not common and sometimes, of difficult diagnosis. Risk factors, in absence of physical strain include thrombophylia, as is found in diabetic ketoacidosis . We present a 26 year-old man who was admitted with diabetic acidosis and a lower respiratory infection. A central vein catheter was installed and TVP of right upper limb was diagnosed and treated