Acute Hyperglycemic Complications Exam 2 Flashcards
Pathyphysiology for DKA and HHS
- Decreased insulin causes hyperglycemia because cells cannot take up glucose
- This causes the body to think that it doesn’t have enough glucose
- Which activates counter-regulatory hormones
- Glucagon, catecholamines, cortisol, growth hormone
What is the cause of hyperglycemia?
- increased gluconeogenesis
- accelerated glycogenolysis
- impaired glucose utilization
Explain the ketoacidosis in DKA
- Release of free fatty acids (lipolysis) - Hepatic fatty acid oxidation (ketones) - Metabolic acidosis and Ketonemia
What are the ketones?
- Beta-hydroxybutyrate - main metabolic product (esp when testing for ketones)
- Acetoacetate
- Acetone
Endogenous insulin role in HHS
Adequate enough to prevent lipolysis and ketogenesis
Clinical presentation of DKA and HHS
- Hyperglycemia
- Polyuria
- Polydipsia
- Polyphagia
- Weight loss
- Nausea / Vomiting
- Dehydration
- Poor skin turgor
- Weakness
- Mental status changes
- Tachycardia
- Hypotension
Clinical presentation of DKA only
- Rapid onset
- High ketones
- Kussmaul respirations
- Fruity breath odor (acetone)
- Abdominal pain
Clinical presentation of HHS only
- Onset over several days to weeks
- Mild or no ketones
- Seizures
Glucose lab findings for DKA
> 250 mg/dL
Serum bicarbonate lab findings for DKA
- Mild: 15-18
- Moderate: 10 - 14
- Severe: < 10
pH for DKA
- Mild: 7.25 – 7.30
- Moderate: 7.00 - 7.24
- Severe: < 7.00
Glucose lab findings for HHS
> 600 mg/dL
Serum bicarbonatelab findings for HHS
> 15
Sodium
- Correct sodium first and then assess for sodium or water deficit severity
- Typically will be low in DKA
- Normal to high in HHS
- Normal sodium is 135-145 mEq/L
Potassium
- Most patients will have elevated levels due to the acidotic condition
- Normal 3.5 – 5.2 mEq/L
- Low < 3.3mEq/L
- High > 5.2mEq/L
Phosphate
- Normal or elevated due to intracellular phosphate moving to extracellular space during insulin deficiency and hypertonicity
- Normal values 2.1-4.3mg/dL
Osmolality
- Normal values 270-290 mOsm/kg
- Low = higher amount of water in relation to dissolved particles and you have overhydration
- High = deficient fluid volume and dehydration
Effective serum osmolality for DKA
- Typically normal
- Normal values 270-290 mOsm/kg
pH for HHS
> 7.30
ketone lab finding for HHS
Small or negative
Effective serum osmolality for HHS
> 320 mOsm/kg
Mental status for HHS
Stupor / coma
Anion gap
- Normal is between 7 – 9 mEq/L
- The larger the anion gap the more severe the acidosis
Anion gap values for DKA
- Mild: >10
- Moderate: >12
- Severe: >12