B2.048 Diabetic Ketoacidosis

Question 1

why may a normal potassium value in the serum of a DKA patient be misleading? why is this important?

Answer 1

cells are pumping K into the serum, but cells themselves are depleted of K
K levels need to be closely monitored and restored when glucose levels are brought down to avoid K depletion

Question 2

what is pseudohyponutremia?

Answer 2

low Na levels in DKA patients may just be due to increased glucose concentrations which artificially make Na concentrations seem lower