Pancreas

Question 1

Identify the biochemical triad that defines diabetic ketoacidosis? what are the diagnostic criteria for diabetic ketoacidosis?

Answer 1

ketonemia, hyperglycemia, and acidemia. diagnostic criteria for DKA include: ketonemia or significant ketonurea, blood glucose above 250 or known diabetes mellitus, and serum bicarbonate below 18 or arterial pH less than 7.3

Question 2

it is generally recommended to cancel non urgent or elective surgery in the patient with diabetes mellitus if the serum glucose rises above what value?

Answer 2

it is recommended to postpone non urgent or elective surgery in the diabetic patient if there is an acute rising glucose to above 400

Question 3

describe the individuals fluid and electrolyte status during diabetic ketoacidosis

Answer 3

the clinical syndrome of DKA includes dehydration and hypovolemic shock from hyperglycemic osmotic diuresis, compensatory hyperventilation, life threatening electrolyte depletion (especially hypokalemia and hypophosphatemia), a calculated anion gap greater than 10, and in cases of severe metabolic imbalance, neurologic obtundation and coma. Substantial deficits of water, potassium, and phosphorus exists although laboratory values of these electrolytes may be normal or increased.