Correlation between potassium administration and resolution in patients with diabetic ketoacidosis

Background: Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a life-threatening complication of acute diabetes mellitus (DM). Insulin is one of the therapies for DKA, which can reduce potassium levels by shifting potassium from extracellular to intracellular. Consequently, early administration of potassium is important in the resolution of DKA. Objective: To determine the correlation between potassium administration and resolution in patients with DKA and the factors affecting such resolution. Methods: An observational study was employed with a retrospective cohort design for inpatients with a diagnosis of DKA during the period of January 2015-August 2020 at Dr. Sardjito Hospital Yogyakarta. Appraisal of the resolution of DKA variable was based on the achievement of blood glucose targets, followed by 2 criteria of serum bicarbonate, pH, and anion gap during 24 hours of therapy. This study involved 55 patients divided into groups with potassium administration and without potassium administration. Data were analyzed using the chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression. Results: The resolution of DKA achieved in less than equal to 24 hours in the group with potassium was 48.5% (16 patients) while it was 18.2% (4 patients) without potassium. Based on the chi-square analysis, there was a relationship between potassium administration and the resolution of DKA (p=0.045; RR=2.667; 95%CI=1.028-6.920). The multivariate analysis showed that the severity and history of DM were positively related to the resolution of DKA (p=0.025; OR: 8.901; 95%CI=1.318-60.123 and p=0.017; OR: 0.090; 95%CI=0.012-0.652). Conclusion: Potassium administration resulted in 48.5% of the DKA patients achieving a resolution in less than equal to 24 hours from the commencement of DKA therapy. The severity and history of DM became the factors that affected the resolution of DKA. Keywords: diabetic ketoacidosis, potassium, resolution

To Assess the Knowledge Regarding Signs and Symptoms of Diabetic Ketoacidosis and Its Prevention among Diabetes Patients in Wardha District, Maharashtra, India

BACKGROUND Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a life-threatening condition of diabetes that is characterized by hyperglycaemia, ketoacidosis, and ketonuria. It happens when glucose's ability to enter cells for use as metabolic fuel is blocked by absolute or relative insulin deficiency. This causes liver to divide fat into ketones as a source of fuel. The purpose of the study was to assess the knowledge regarding prevention of signs and symptoms of diabetic ketoacidosis among diabetes patients in selected hospitals of Wardha district. METHODS A descriptive study was undertaken among 60 purposively selected patients of diabetes with diabetic ketoacidosis in Wardha district. Data was collected by using structured knowledge questionnaire during the month of May 2020. RESULTS The level of awareness among diabetes patients on how to avoid diabetic ketoacidosis was measured. The findings of study show that 49 (80 %) people had poor level of knowledge score and 11 (20 %) people had average level of knowledge score. Mean score was 4.38 ± 2.48 with mean percentage 24.35 ± 13.80. The association of knowledge score with educational status of diabetes patients from selected hospital. The tabulated ‘F’ values were 2.76 (df = 3, 56) which is much less than the calculated ‘F’ i.e., 8.73 at 5 % level of significance. Also, the calculated ‘P’=0.0001 which was much less than the acceptable level of significance i.e., ‘P’=0.05. Hence, it is interpreted that educational status of diabetes patients is statistically associated with their knowledge score. CONCLUSIONS Most patients with diabetes are poorly aware of the preventive measures of diabetic ketoacidosis. This study revealed several preventive gaps relating to an appropriate prevention strategy and acute diabetes complications. This research concluded that most patients with diabetes had insufficient knowledge of the signs and symptoms of diabetic ketoacidosis and its management. KEY WORDS Knowledge, Prevention, Sign, Symptoms, Diabetic Ketoacidosis, Diabetes Patients

Beyond the Fingerstick: Complications of Diabetes in the Acutely Ill Patient with Covid-19 with Lessons from Translation Biology and Therapeutics

The affliction that the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has placed on the infrastructure of healthcare institutions across the globe permeates to the level of the provider, hampering clinical decision-making capacity and capability. Associated with the latter has been unprecedented, sweeping changes in biomedical equipment manufacturing, triage dynamics, and implementation of medical interventions in a landscape replete with clinical literature attempting to characterize features in COVID-19 patients. Preliminary assessments into the elements of the SARS-CoV-2 virus (the strain of coronavirus responsible for COVID-19) in addition to the delineation of patient flux pertaining to COVID-19 has identified diabetes as a prevalent comorbidity with increased mortality and increased disease burden in the acutely ill. The volume of patients with COVID-19 superimposed upon complicated diabetes exemplifies that insight into this association offers an expanded perspective of diabetes mellitus. Moreover, given the extensive organ compromise seen in COVID-19 in addition to the established notion that diabetes is a systemic syndrome of metabolism, an appraisal of the literature of medical management and precursory findings serve as bearings that help render clinical principles into viable treatments. In this review we investigate the array of contemporary literature surrounding COVID-19 with a perspective centered upon the management of acute diabetes complications, namely diabetic ketoacidosis and hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state, with emphases into translational biology and pharmacotherapeutics.

A Case of Possible SARS-COV-2 Induced Beta-Cell Failure

Background: There are several known viral triggers of ketosis-prone diabetes, including SARS-1 and HHV-81,2. SARS-COV-2 can bind ACE-2 receptors on the beta-cell causing destruction and acute impairment of insulin secretion3. There is accruing evidence to suggest that COVID-19 infection can worsen preexisting diabetes or induce new disease4. Clinical Case: A 40-year-old Hispanic male presented to the ER complaining of fatigue, polyuria, and polydipsia. A screening COVID-19 PCR was positive but he denied URI symptoms. His admission labs were notable for hyperglycemia (434 mg/dL; n 71–99), metabolic acidosis (pH 7.1 [n 7.35–7.45]; HCO3 3 mmoL/L [n 21–32]), increased anion gap (27 mmoL/L; n < 12) and elevated HbA1c (7.9%; n < 5.7%). The patient’s fructosamine was also high (464 umol/L; n 200–285) and discordant from his HbA1c. There was no evidence of pancreatitis, lactic acidosis, renal impairment or hepatic dysfunction. The patient had no known medical problems, did not drink alcohol to excess, and reported good access to nutrition. He had a strong family history of T2DM, but his BMI (23.3 kg/m2) and lipid panel were normal. The DKA was managed in the medical ICU using fluids and IV insulin per protocol. The patient required 180 units of IV insulin/24-hours (2.5 units/kg/day) to maintain blood glucose 180–250 mg/dL. After 48-hours of IV insulin, he was transitioned to subcutaneous insulin and prescribed multiple daily injections at discharge. There were concerns about possible T1DM and/or glucose toxicity leading to further diagnostics. His GAD-65 (<5 [IU]/mL; n 0–5 [IU]/mL) and IA-2 (<5.4 U/mL; n <5.4 U/mL) antibodies were negative but his c-peptide was suppressed (0.64 ng/mL; n 0.8–3.85). The patient was reevaluated at three months post-discharge. His glycemic control and insulin requirements had improved but repeat c-peptide level was undetectable. He was thought to have beta-cell failure and referred to a diabetologist. Conclusion: This is a case of absolute insulin deficiency persisting for at least three months most likely attributable to acute COVID-19 infection. References: 1. Yang JK, Lin SS, Ji XJ, Guo LM. Binding of SARS coronavirus to its receptor damages islets and causes acute diabetes. Acta Diabetol. 2010;47(3):193–199.2. Sobngwi E, Choukem SP, Agbalika F, et al. Ketosis-prone type 2 diabetes mellitus and human herpesvirus 8 infection in sub-saharan africans. Jama. 2008;299(23):2770–2776.3. Hamming I, Timens W, Bulthuis M, Lely A, Navis G, van Goor H. Tissue distribution of ACE2 protein, the functional receptor for SARS coronavirus. A first step in understanding SARS pathogenesis. J Pathol. 2004;203(2):631–637.4. Bornstein SR, Rubino F, Khunti K, et al. Practical recommendations for the management of diabetes in patients with COVID-19. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2020;8(6):546–550.

Important Drop Rate of Acute Diabetes Complications in People With Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes After Initiation of Flash Glucose Monitoring in France: The RELIEF Study

<b>Objective</b> <p>The RELIEF study assessed rates of hospitalization for acute diabetes complications in France, before and after initiating the FreeStyle Libre system. </p> <p><b>Research Design and Methods</b></p> <p>74,011 patients with type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes who initiated the FreeStyle Libre system were identified from the French national claim database (SNDS) using ICD-10 codes, from hospitalizations with diabetes as a contributing diagnosis, or the prescription of insulin. Patients were sub-classified based on SMBG strip-acquisition prior to starting FreeStyle Libre. Hospitalizations for DKA, severe hypoglycemia, diabetes-related coma and hyperglycemia were recorded for the 12 months before and after initiation. </p> <p><b>Results</b></p> <p>Hospitalizations for acute diabetes complications fell in type 1 diabetes (-49.0%) and in type 2 diabetes (-39.4%) following FreeStyle Libre initiation. DKA fell in type 1 diabetes (-56.2%,) and in type 2 diabetes (-52.1%), as did diabetes-related comas in type 1 diabetes (-39.6%) and in type 2 diabetes (-31.9%). Hospitalizations for hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia decreased in type 2 diabetes (-10.8% and -26.5%, respectively). Before initiation, hospitalizations were most marked for people non-compliant with SMBG and for those with highest acquisition of SMBG, which fell by -54.0% and 51.2% respectively following FreeStyle Libre initiation. Persistence with FreeStyle Libre at 12 months was 98.1%.</p> <p><b>Conclusions</b></p> <p>This large retrospective study on hospitalizations for acute diabetes complication shows that a significantly lower incidence of admissions for DKA and for diabetes-related coma is associated with use of flash glucose monitoring. This study has significant implications for patient-centered diabetes care and potentially for long-term health economic outcomes.</p> <br> <p> </p>