Patients with type I DM may developed diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) if left untreated. Can you suggest how we could diagnose them early and treat faster.
Hi,
Your question: How we can know if diabetic patients developed DKA?
http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/complications/ketoacidosis-dka.html
For treatment:
http://www.webmd.com/diabetes/tc/diabetic-ketoacidosis-dka-topic-overview
DKA may be the first DM presentation and diabetes will be discovered to be the cause of hyperventilation, acidosis, intractable vomiting, abd pain, confusion, or other DKA symptoms and signs. in already diabetic patient i may suspect if patient missing dose , has stress like infection, eat more sugar , complaining of polydypsia, polyuria, chest tightness, air hunger, for my own experience i rapidly correct patient dehydration to avoid going to DKA or its complication along with insulin and other known protocols.good hydration is essential.
the gold standard test could be the urine dipsticks, however the clinical symtoms of hyperglycemia could indicate as well. however some times it could be without any clinical manifestation especially in children and young adults.
A patient missing his insulin dose or has received less insulin, new onset type 1DM, acute illiness like infections, MI, Drugs like Clozapine, cocain Lithium, trauma or Surgery are Precipitating Factors for DKA. And if there are signs of dehydration, shallow rapid breathing, acetone odor of breath, altered sensorium....should raise ur suspicion of patient being in DKA and pt. should be sent to ER for management after laboratory confirmation and work up...
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