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Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) remains a common complication of Type 1 diabetes with significant morbidity.
The pathogenesis of DKA involves profound insulin deficiency in addition to counter-regulatory hormone
increases.
DKA occurs at disease onset, its frequency is related to a number of social determinants of health, and
in those with established diabetes it is linked with stress of intercurrent illness or insulin unavailability or
omission.
Most episodes of DKA can be prevented by measures developed to counter the causes.
Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) remains a common of DKA are preventable and those that do occur
complication of children and youth with Type 1 arise from a failure to sufficiently intervene early
diabetes (T1D), and has also been recognized in order to arrest the evolution of the DKA (see
in some adolescents with Type 2 diabetes [1,2] . ‘failure hypothesis’ later). The sequence will
DKA is a potentially life-threatening condition flow from:
that remains the leading cause of hospitalization Pathophysiology of DKA
for these individuals with T1D, and is associ-
ated with considerable morbidity and a small but Treatment of DKA
preventable number of mortalities.
Epidemiology of DKA and its complications
This review will approach DKA from the
standpoint that the majority, if not all, episodes Prevention of DKA
1
Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X8,
Canada
2
McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
3
Montreal Children’s Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
*Author for correspondence: Tel.: +1 416 813 6122; Fax: +1 416 813 7479; denis.daneman@sickkids.ca part of
10.2217/DMT.12.72 © 2012 Future Medicine Ltd Diabetes Manage. (2012) 2(6), 1–xxx ISSN 1758-1907 1
Review Daneman & Nakhla
blood glucose and electrolytes to near normal Table 1. Fluid and electrolyte losses in diabetic ketoacidosis
levels, identification and treatment of precipitat-
ing causes, and avoidance of complications of Fluid/electrolyte Average (range) loss/kg body weight
DKA and/or its treatment. Volume expansion Water 70 (30–100) ml
leads to improved renal perfusion, increased Sodium 6 (5–13) mmol
glomerular filtration rate, increased glycosuria, Potassium 5 (3–6) mmol
decreased blood glucose and reversal of the acido- Chloride 5 (3–9) mmol
sis. Insulin replacement is essential for complete Phosphate (0.5–2.5) mmol
restoration of metabolic homeostasis by restor- Modified from the ISPAD guidelines [2].
overestimated, particularly in those >2 years of The aim is to maintain plasma glucose con-
age, the fluid infusion rate should rarely be in centrations in the 8–14 mmol/l range. To pre-
excess of 1.5–2 times the usual daily require- vent too rapid lowering of the plasma glucose
ment based on age, weight or body surface concentration and hypoglycemia, 5% glucose
area. Urinary losses should not be added to the should be added to the iv. fluid (e.g., 5% glucose
calculation of replacement fluids. in 0.45–0.9% saline) when the plasma glucose
Box 2 outlines the approach to potassium, acid falls to approximately 14–17 mmol/l. At times,
base and phosphate management. it may be necessary to use 10–12.5% dextrose
to prevent hypoglycemia:
Insulin replacement
If the biochemical parameters of DKA (pH,
Correction of insulin deficiency is the third bicarbonate concentration and anion gap) do
mainstay of DKA management [1,2] : not improve, reassess the patient, review fluid
Dose: 0.1 unit/kg/h (e.g., one method is to (rate of infusion) and insulin therapy (insulin
dilute 50 units of regular [soluble] insulin in concentration and rate of infusion), and con-
50 ml normal saline; 1 unit = 1 ml), com- sider reasons for impaired response to insulin,
mencing usually after the first hour of fluid for example, infection;
repletion;
Where continuous iv. infusion is not possible,
Preferred route of administration is iv. Note injections every 1–2 h subcutaneously or
than an iv. bolus is unnecessary and may, in intramuscularly of a short- or rapid-acting
fact, increase the risk of cerebral edema and insulin analog (insulin lispro or insulin
should not be used at the initiation of therapy; aspart) is safe and may be as effective as iv.
The infusion of insulin should usually remain regular insulin infusion, but should not be
at 0.1 unit/kg/h until resolution of DKA used in subjects whose peripheral circulation
(pH >7.30; bicarbonate >15 mmol/l), which is impaired.
invariably takes longer than normalization of
blood glucose concentrations; Complications of DKA and/or its
treatment
Occasionally, a patient may demonstrate The following complications may occur during
marked sensitivity to insulin. In such situa- DKA treatment
tions the dose can be decreased to Inadequate rehydration will lead to prolonga-
0.05 unit/kg/h or less, provided that the aci- tion of the acidosis and hyperglycemia;
dosis continues to resolve. Conversely, occa-
sional patients may show evidence of severe Hypoglycemia is common where close
insulin resistance and require higher infusion monitoring of plasma/capillary glucose
rates to correct the hyperglycemia. concentrations is not performed;
modified by the authors based on additional lower the risk of DKA at disease onset from
available information [11] . In certain countries more than 70% to below 15% and perhaps even
(Saudi Arabia, Taiwan and France) DKA rates to 0% [15,16] .
at diagnosis exceed 50% (anecdotal information
from some developing countries suggest few, if DKA in those with established T1D
any, children present without DKA), while in Studies over the last 30 years or more report
others (Sweden, Canada and Finland) rates rates of DKA in those children and youth with
below 20% have been reported. Furthermore, established T1D of between one and ten epi-
some countries (e.g., Poland, Germany, Ireland, sodes/100 patient years. Of note, the lowest
UK and USA) have reported either declining rate of one per 100 patient years was reported
rates over time or fluctuations from one time to from Germany at a time when most children
another. This is more than a fivefold difference with T1D were admitted annually on a routine
between countries and suggests a definite oppor- basis for assessment and education. When this
tunity to lower risk by understanding the factors practice stopped, DKA rates rose to four per
associated with higher versus lower frequencies. 100 patient years [17] . Our data from the prov-
While some of these are medical (e.g., younger ince of Ontario, Canada reveals a 3.7-fold dif-
age at onset, diagnostic error at first presentation ference between regions of the province with
to healthcare system, lower background risk of respect to episodes of DKA per unit popula-
T1D in that country and amount of residual tion, as well as a small but significant increase as
insulin secretion), most can be related to the these youth transition from a pediatric to adult
social determinants of health and healthcare diabetes healthcare team [6,18] .
provision, including lower socioeconomic or Rewers et al. reported their experience as
ethnic minority status, lower parental educa- follows: those children and youth experienc-
tion, lack of adequate health insurance and ing one, two or more episodes of DKA after
lack of effective pediatric diabetes healthcare diagnosis, were more likely to be older, female,
teams [11–14] . In a recent report analyzing only have longer duration diabetes, higher A1c levels,
the data from the countries listed as ‘wealthy’ higher prescribed insulin dosage, more evidence
by the Organization of Economic Cooperation of psychosocial distress and less healthcare
and Development, we found a very close corre- insurance than the majority experiencing no
lation between DKA risk at diabetes onset and episodes of DKA [19] .
income inequality, defined as the gap between In the small group with frequently recurrent
each countries highest and lowest 20% income episodes of DKA, Golden et al. demonstrated a
earners [13] . This analysis shows that more than major reduction in the number of episodes, not
40% of the variability in DKA rates in these by educational or psychosocial interventions,
countries can be explained by income inequal- but by simply ensuring insulin injection by a
ity. In those countries with the lowest income responsible adult [20] . In our studies of eating
inequality (e.g., Scandinavia) DKA rates are and weight psychopathology, we have dem-
lowest, while rates are highest in the USA, where onstrated insulin omission to increase rapidly
income inequality is greatest. We have postu- with increasing age, from 2% of those in the
lated that income inequality is associated with 9–14 years age group to 12% in the 12–19 years
progressive porosity of the social security net age group, and 34% in the 16–23 years age
providing poorer resources for public health and group [21,22] .
primary care initiatives and more for high-end In some developing countries, access to insu-
diagnosis and care. lin is poor or intermittent and death from DKA
We, and others, have also demonstrated is much more frequent. Unavailability of insulin
clearly that many of the children in frank DKA is scandalous given our ability to produce the
when diabetes is diagnosed, have seen a health- hormone in limitless quantities by biosynthetic
care professional on one or more occasion in technologies.
the days or weeks previously, at which time the Finally, two other situations warrant men-
diagnosis of diabetes has been missed [12] . In tion in which the occurrence of DKA is entirely
doing so, an opportunity to prevent DKA has preventable. First, in those with an intercur-
been lost. A landmark study in Parma, Italy has rent illness severe enough to produce a stress
demonstrated that a low-cost campaign target- hormone response, failure to provide sufficient
ing schools and primary care pediatricians can insulin and fluids (in the face of vomiting) will
inevitably lead to the development of ketosis and during the course of their disorder. It is the most
then frank DKA. Adherence to ‘sick day rules’ common cause of mortality and the most signifi-
will prevent such occurrences [23] . Second, in cant cause of hospitalization for diabetes in this
the increasing percentage of children and youth age group. The only sure way to prevent DKA-
using continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion related morbidity and mortality is through pre-
pumps (pump treatment), interruption of the vention of the episode in the first place. Public
infusion of fast-acting insulin will lead to rapid education, primary healthcare provider educa-
insulinopenia and eventual DKA, also an easily tion and then support for the child and family
preventable situation [24] . will help prevent the breakdowns (‘failures’) that
Thus, the major causes of DKA in children are the root causes of DKA.
and youth with established T1D can be clas-
sified as being the result of poor education or Future perspective
psychosocial difficulties, once again shedding Application of the available knowledge should
the spotlight on the social determinants of be sufficient to prevent many episodes of DKA,
health. both at disease onset and in those with estab-
lished diabetes. This application will require
Summary regarding prevention both public health and primary care physician
The data provided above concerning the epide- involvement. Similarly, attention to therapeutic
miology and prevention of DKA have lead to guidelines will ensure best care for those with
the enunciation of what one of us (Daneman) established DKA and limit complications.
has termed the ‘failure hypothesis’, which states
very simply that almost all, if not all, episodes Financial & competing interests disclosure
of DKA are preventable by public health and The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial
primary care provider education and suspicion involvement with any organization or entity with a finan-
at first diagnosis, then by family and diabetes cial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter
team education, support once the diagnosis has or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes
been established. employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or
options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or
Conclusion pending, or royalties.
DKA remains a significant complication of T1D No writing assistance was utilized in the production of
in children and youth, both at diagnosis and this manuscript.
4 Savage MW, Dhatariya KK, Kilvert A et al. cerebral edema in children with diabetic
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