Pediatric Endocrinology Flashcards
Presentation of DKA
- Tachycardia
- Hypotension
- Hypothermia
- Confusion or obtundation
- Kussmaul’s respirations
When do you start giving potassium to your patient with DKA?
When they start putting out urine again
This is how they are going to lose potassium. If you give it before this time, you are just adding to the hyperkalemia
Why DON’T we give bicarbonate to people in DKA?
- It may precipitate hypokalemia by proton-potassium exchange
- It will shift the oxygen dissociation curve to the left and worsen end-organ oxygen delivery
- It may overcorrect the acidosis
- It may result in worsening cerebral acidosis while the plasma pH is being corrected
Signs of cerebral edema in DKA and treatment
- Headache
- Personality change
- Vomiting
- Decreased reflexes
- Treat w/ IV fluids, IV mannitol, and hyperventilation
You must always check for ___ in someone who presents in DKA
You must always check for infection in someone who presents in DKA
Infection may precipitate DKA in an otherwise compensated diabetic
Somogyi phenomenon
- In diabetes mellitus
- When a patient has nocturnal hypoglycemic episodes manfiesting as night terrors, headaches, or early morning sweating, then, a few hours later, experiences with hyperglycemia, ketonuria, and glucosuria.
- Caused by counter-regulatory hormonal response to hypoglycemia, resulting in hyperglycemia.
Diabetes “honeymoon” phase
- A few months after diagnosis, there is a progressive decrease in the daily insulin requirement
- However, this usually lasts only a few months, and virtually all of these patients will again require insulin
Signs that a patient in DKA may be developing cerebral edema
- Change in mental status
- Anisochoria
- Decorticate posturing
- Seizures
Diagnosing diabetes in kids
HbA1c is not typially used. So, we stick to the other three:
- Random glucose > 200
- 2 hour challenge glucose > 200
- Fasting glucose > 126
Target rate of glucose reduction in DKA
50-100 mg/dL/hr
Any more than this and there is a greater risk of precipitating cerebral edema. After all, glucose is an osmole, and it takes time for sodium to shift and make up for the difference in Osm.
When should you start buffering your insulin titrating by adding fluids with dextrose when treating a patient in DKA or HHS?
When the glucose hits 250-300 mg/dL
To prevent hypoglycemia
“Critical sample” in hypoglycemia
A serum sample during a time when blood glucose < 50 mg/dL. Critical for determining the etiology of the hypoglycemia. It should include:
- Bicarbonate
- Insulin
- c-peptide
- Cortisol
- GH
- Free fatty acids
- Ketones (betahydroxybutyrate, acetoacetate)
- Lactate
- Ammonia
How to handle hypoglycemia in patients that cannot take PO glucose due to 1) vomiting or 2) seizure
- Vomiting: Buccal glucose gel or cake icing
- IV glucose OR IM glucagon (to mobilize glucose from the liver)
Non-fasting labs to assess hypoglycemia
- Total carnatine
- Free carnatine
- Acyl carnatine
- Serum amino acids
Normal infants become hypoglycemic after ___ hours of fasting
Normal infants become hypoglycemic after ~6 hours of fasting
Acute management of hypoglycemia
- IV glucose bolus
- Maintenance IV dextrose drip
Diagnosing diabetes insipidus
Generally, it is a clinical diagnosis made based on history and exam. However, if the diagnosis is in question, the criteria are based on dilute urine in the context of serum hypertonicity:
- Urine specific gravity < 1.010
- Urine Osm < 300 mOsm/kg
- Hypernatremia
- Plasma Osm > 295 mOsm/kg
Symptoms of CNS involvement in hyponatremia
Headache, lethargy, confusion, seizures
Begin at ~125 mEq/L Na
This is an indication for hypertonic saline to correct until symptoms resolve. These patients would NOT be managed conservatively with water restriction.
SIADH is a diagnosis of exclusion. What five things need to be ruled-out to presume a diagnosis of SIADH?
- Hyperglycemia
- Hyperlipidemia
- Hyperproteinemia
- Hypothyroidism
- Adrenal insufficiency