Clinical characteristics and outcomes of care in adult patients with diabetic ketoacidosis: A retrospective study from a tertiary diabetes center in Thailand

One third of cases of new-onset diabetic ketosis in adults are associated with ketosis-prone type 2 diabetes-A systematic review and meta-analysis

AIMS

Ketosis-prone type 2 diabetes was defined by the World Health Organization in 2019. According to the literature, the diagnosis is based on the presence of ketosis, islet autoantibody negativity and preserved insulin secretion. Our meta-analysis assessed the prevalence and clinical characteristics of ketosis-prone type 2 diabetes among patients hospitalised with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) or ketosis.

METHODS

The systematic search was performed in five main databases as of 15 October 2021 without restrictions. We calculated the pooled prevalence of ketosis-prone type 2 diabetes (exposed group) within the diabetic population under examination, patients with ketoacidosis or ketosis, to identify the clinical characteristics, and we compared it to type 1 diabetes (the comparator group). The random effects model provided pooled estimates as prevalence, odds ratio and mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence intervals.

RESULTS

Eleven articles were eligible for meta-analysis, thus incorporating 2010 patients of various ethnic backgrounds. Among patients presenting with DKA or ketosis at the onset of diabetes, 35% (95% CI: 24%-49%) had ketosis-prone type 2 diabetes. These patients were older (MD = 11.55 years; 95% CI: 5.5-17.6) and had a significantly higher body mass index (BMI) (MD = 5.48 kg/m2 ; 95% CI: 3.25-7.72) than those with type 1 diabetes.

CONCLUSIONS

Ketosis-prone type 2 diabetes accounts for one third of DKA or ketosis at the onset of diabetes in adults. These patients are characterised by islet autoantibody negativity and preserved insulin secretion. They are older and have a higher BMI compared with type 1 diabetes. C-peptide and diabetes-related autoantibody measurement is essential to identify this subgroup among patients with ketosis at the onset of diabetes.

DKA/HHS insulin infusion protocol adherence and patient outcomes in Shellharbour Hospital

BACKGROUND

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic state (HHS) are medical emergencies requiring prompt assessment and management to avoid complications.

AIMS

To examine adherence to the hospital DKA/HHS insulin infusion protocol, assess outcomes in patients admitted with DKA or HHS, and determine if improvements have been observed from a similar audit in 2016.

METHODS

An audit was conducted on 40 patients admitted to Shellharbour Hospital with DKA or HHS. Protocol adherence was assessed in the domains of fluid replacement, potassium replacement, use of the correct insulin infusion schedule, timing of commencement of dextrose infusion and appropriate transition to subcutaneous insulin. The outcomes assessed included length of hospital stay, duration of insulin infusion, time to euglycaemia, intensive care unit (ICU) transfer, overlap between insulin infusion and subcutaneous insulin, diabetes team review and incidence and management of hypoglycaemia.

RESULTS

The proportion of cases that adhered to the components of the insulin infusion protocol is as follows: fluid replacement (40%), potassium replacement (72.5%), correct insulin schedule (82.5%), appropriate commencement of intravenous dextrose (80%) and appropriate transition to subcutaneous insulin (87.5%). Appropriate overlap between insulin infusion and subcutaneous insulin occurred in 62.5% of patients. Eighty-five per cent of patients were reviewed by the diabetes team. Three per 40 patients experienced hypoglycaemia, and none of the three patients was treated as per protocol. Compared to the 2016 audit, there was a significant improvement in potassium replacement but a decrease in appropriate fluid replacement.

CONCLUSION

This audit highlights areas in DKA/HHS management requiring improvement. These include fluid and potassium replacement and appropriate overlap between subcutaneous insulin and insulin infusion.

PRECIPITATING FACTORS AND SYMPTOMS IN PATIENTS WITH DIABETIC KETOACIDOSIS

The aim of the study was to determine the most common precipitating factors and symptoms of diabetic ketoacidosis and the possible difference according to age, gender and severity of diabetic ketoacidosis. Medical records from January 1, 2017 until December 31, 2019 were reviewed and patients diagnosed with diabetic ketoacidosis were selected. The study included 52 patients, median age 34 (interquartile range 21-56) years. There was no statistically significant difference between male and female gender. The severity of diabetic ketoacidosis was moderate in the majority of cases (65.4%; p=0.005). The most common precipitating factor was infection (61.7%). In patients with moderate diabetic ketoacidosis, respiratory infections were more common, while gastrointestinal infections were more common in severe diabetic ketoacidosis (33% and 25%, respectively; p=0.03). Nausea (median age 32 years; p=0.004) and vomiting (median age 31 years; p=0.01) were more common in younger age groups, while altered mental status was more common in the older age group (median age 61 years; p=0.001). Infection was the most common precipitating factor. The most common symptoms in younger age groups were nausea and vomiting, and altered mental status in the older age group.

An Audit of Factors Impacting the Time to Resolution of the Metabolic Parameters in Diabetic Ketoacidosis Patients

INTRODUCTION

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a major complication affecting patients with diabetes. It is often the first presentation of type I diabetes and can also occur due to a lack of compliance with insulin therapy or infection, among other causes. Hospitalizations for DKA have increased globally among patients with type I and type II diabetes, which poses a strain on health systems.

AIM

To determine the factors impacting the time to resolution of metabolic parameters in DKA patients.

METHODS

This retrospective study was performed by reviewing the clinical records of hospitalized DKA patients at King Fahad Specialist Hospital, a tertiary-level healthcare center in Buraidah, Al Qassim region, Saudi Arabia. The study included all DKA admissions that met the inclusion criteria between September 2019 and April 2022.

RESULTS

A total of 129 patients with a diagnosis of DKA from January 2019 to April 2022 were identified. Of these, 67 patients met the inclusion criteria. More females experienced DKA (56.7%), and the study population had an improvement rate of 97%. The mean length of stay (LOS) for patients with DKA was 73.19 hours, and the median time for DKA resolution was 15 hours (mean time 21.38 hours). The omission of insulin was the leading precipitating factor for DKA (43%) followed by infection (12%). A high serum bicarbonate (HCO₃₎ level was identified as an independent predictor for a longer time to resolution. Patients with DKA who have high glucose levels on admission, higher body mass index (BMI), older age, and higher weight stayed in the hospital for extended periods. Conversely, patients with a higher serum potential of Hydrogen (pH) had a shorter LOS. Age was the only clinically independent predictor for a minimum LOS for DKA. Patients with comorbidities had a longer hospital LOS than patients without comorbidities; no such relationship has been reported in other studies. Patients in our study population had a longer time of resolution than observed in other studies, although no clear cause was identified.

CONCLUSION

This study contributes to our understanding of DKA in hospitalized patients in Saudi Arabia. This is the first study to link patients with DKA who have comorbidities to a longer hospital stay in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This study also identified multiple clinical and biochemical parameters related to the variability in LOS and time to resolution of DKA in hospitalized patients.

Comparisons of biochemical parameters and diabetic ketoacidosis severity in adult patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to determine the differences in biochemical parameters and diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) severity in adult patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes and utilization of serum BHB as a biomarker for DKA resolution was also evaluated.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This prospective observational study of type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus who were diagnosed with DKA between 01 October 2018 and 30 September 2020. The correlations between serum BHB, measured by the Ranbut assay, and pH, bicarbonate, and anion gap were examined.

RESULTS

A total of 99 diabetes patients were diagnosed with DKA (mean age 39.4 years, 63.4% female, 53.6% T2DM). while infection was the most common precipitating factor in T2DM (43.4%), non-compliance with treatment was the most common precipitating factor in T1DM (43.5%). T1DM patients had more severe DKA more hypokalemia during treatment. However, there was no significant difference in mortality between type1 and type2 diabetes. The initial laboratories evaluation of patients did not significant differ between type1 and type2 diabetes. Serum BHB during treatment of DKA was significantly correlated with changes in serum bicarbonate (r = - 0.64), serum anion gap (r = 0.84), and venous pH (r = - 0.6). The serum BHB levels corresponding to HCO₃ levels for DKA severity were 4.5, 5.7, and 5.9 mmol/L in mild, moderate, and severe DKA, respectively. The serum BHB level of < 1 mmol/L had 73.7% sensitivity and 100% specificity to predict DKA resolution. Median time to resolution of DKA was 12 h with an optimized BHB cut-off value of < 1 mmol/L. There were no significant difference in time to resolution of DKA in the patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

CONCLUSIONS

There are no differences in DKA-related biochemical parameters between type 1 and type 2 diabetes patients. The present findings suggest that DKA should be assessed and treated similarly, regardless of its occurrence in type 1 or type 2 diabetes patients.

Altered nutrient status reprograms host inflammation and metabolic health via gut microbiota

The metabolism of macro- and micronutrients is a complex and highly regulated biological process. An imbalance in the metabolites and their signaling networks can lead to nonresolving inflammation and consequently to the development of chronic inflammatory-associated diseases. Therefore, identifying the accumulated metabolites and altered pathways during inflammatory disorders would not only serve as "real-time" markers but also help in the development of nutritional therapeutics. In this review, we explore recent research that has delved into elucidating the effects of carbohydrate/calorie restriction, protein malnutrition, lipid emulsions and micronutrient deficiencies on metabolic health and inflammation. Moreover, we describe the integrated stress response in terms of amino acid starvation and lipemia and how this modulates new age diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease and atherosclerosis. Lastly, we explain the latest research on metaflammation and inflammaging. This review focuses on multiple signaling pathways, including, but not limited to, the FGF21-β-hydroxybutryate-NLRP3 axis, the GCN2-eIF2α-ATF4 pathway, the von Hippel-Lindau/hypoxia-inducible transcription factor pathway and the TMAO-PERK-FoxO1 axis. Additionally, throughout the review, we explain how the gut microbiota responds to altered nutrient status and also how antimicrobial peptides generated from nutrient-based signaling pathways can modulate the gut microbiota. Collectively, it must be emphasized that metabolic starvation and inflammation are strongly regulated by both environmental (i.e., nutrition, gut microbiome) and nonenvironmental (i.e., genetics) factors, which can influence the susceptibility to inflammatory disorders.