DKA & HHS Flashcards
Complication of Type 1 Diabetes; usually due to missed/inadequate doses of Insulin, infection, or other stressor –> insufficient insulin –> high BG and acid formation; unchecked glycogenolysis, gluconeogenesis and ketogenesis; production of ketones resulting in metabolic acidosis and hyperventilation; mortality is highest in YOUNG
Diabetic Ketoacidosis
Diabetic Ketoacidosis is usually seen in type (1/2) diabetics
Type 1
Diabetic Ketoacidosis has a high mortality in the (young/elderly)
Young
What medication requires increased insulin requirement, leading to DKA?
steroids
What drug requires increased insulin requirement, leading to DKA?
Cocaine
What counterregulatory hormones require increased insulin requirement, leading to DKA?
glucagon
cortisol
catecholamines
Symptoms of Diabetic Ketoacidosis
Thirst Polyuria Weakness SOB Abdominal pain Nausea/vomiting
Physical exam findings of Diabetic Ketoacidosis
Tachycardia Hypotension Orthostasis Dry membranes/poor skin turgor Hypothermia ** Kussmaul respirations (fruity breath)
Lab findings of Diabetic Ketoacidosis
- Elevated BG
- Positive serum and urine ketones
- Decreased HCO3, Increased AG
- pCO2 <40
Kussmaul respirations are characterized as (shallow/deep) and (rapid/slow) breaths
Deep and Rapid
*early on, can be shallow
Pathogenesis of Diabetic Ketoacidosis
- Insulin deficiency
- Glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis–> HYPERGLYCEMIA–> osmotic diuresis–> dehydration
- Lipolysis –> Ketogenesis–> anion gap metabolic acidosis
3 MOA of the body against acidosis
- Kidney
- Excretion of ketone bodies
- Buffer ketone bodies - Blood
- Serum bicarbonate, bone, and intracellular proteins buffer hydrogen ions - Lung
- acidosis stimulates hyperventilation, and this blows off CO2
Because of the body’s defenses against acidosis –> ketone bodies are present initially in ____ without high blood levels, then later in higher concentrations in _____ without actual fall of arterial pH (due to serum bicarbonate)
- urine
- blood
When the body’s defenses against acidosis eventually fail, what characteristic picture occurs?
- Low bicarbonate
- Low pCO2
- Low arterial pH
- High anion gap
The sum of measured cations minus measured anions
anion gap
In normal anion gap, what represents unmeasured anions in the blood?
negatively charged phosphates and sulfates
In DKA, anion gap represents what unmeasured anions in the blood?
ketone bodies
The best indicator of SEVERITY of the DKA
Anion gap
Closing or normalization of ______ is the best indicator of successful treatment for DKA
Anion gap
Equation for Anion Gap
Na - (Cl + HCO3)
*should be less than or equal to 12
The Anion Gap should be less than or equal to
12
severity of (acidosis/hyperglycemia) is the best indicator of of the severity or the successful treatment of DKA
acidosis (pH, AG)
pH, HCO3, and Anion gap for MILD DKA
pH: 7.25-7.3
HCO3: 15-18
Anion Gap: >10
pH, HCO3, and Anion gap for MODERATE DKA
pH: 7.0-7.24
HCO3: 10-14
Anion Gap: >12