Treatment Outcome and Associated Factors among Type 1 Diabetic Children Admitted with DKA in Bahir Dar City Public Referral Hospital, Northwest, Ethiopia: A Cross-sectional Study

Background. Outcomes that should be measured during diabetic ketoacidosis management is crucial. However, data associated to this was limited in Ethiopia. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted among children with diabetic keto acidosis between 2016 and 2021.Data were stored in Epi-data version 4.6 and exported into STATA 14.0 software for analysis. The association between independent variables and length of hospital stay was assessed using binary logistic regression. Finally, variables with P-value <.05 were considered statistically significant. Result. Median length of hospital stay was 8 ± 6.2 days. Majority of patients (97.5%) improved and discharged. Factors that affected longer hospital stay were Residence(aOR = 4.31;95% CI = 1.25-14.80),family history of diabetes (aOR = 0.12; 95% CI = 0.02-0.64), glycemia at admission (aOR = 1.01; 95% CI = 1.00-1.02),insulin skipping (aOR = 0.08; 95% CI = 0.01-0.98), abdominal pain (aOR = 4.28; 95% CI = 1.11-15.52) and time in which the patient get out of diabetic ketoacidosis(aOR = 6.39; 95% CI = 1.09-37.50). Conclusion. Majority of patients showed improvement and discharged to homes after a long hospital stay. Majority of patients resolved from diabetic ketoacidosis between 24 and 48 hours.

Re-visiting pH-adjusted potassium to avoid hypokalemic crisis during management of diabetic ketoacidosis: A conceptual framework

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) treatment guidelines recommend to initiate potassium-replacement when serum potassium (S_K) drops within normal range, and to withhold insulin if S_K is below normal. Despite strict recommendations, hypokalemia is frequently observed in DKA.

METHODS

Scientific literature was thoroughly searched to find 1) DKA treatment guidelines, 2) studies reporting hypokalemia in DKA, 3) and literature elaborating mechanisms involved in hypokalemia.

RESULTS

Acidosis affects S_K and its regulators including insulin, catecholamines and aldosterone. Current conceptual framework is an argument to gauge the degree of hypokalemia before it strikes DKA patients utilizing S_K level after adjusting it with pH. Suggested approach will reduce hypokalemia risk and its associated complications. The nomogram calculates pH-adjusted potassium and expected potassium loss. It also ranks hypokalemia associated risk, and proposes the potassium-replacement rate over given time period. The differences between current DKA treatment guidelines and proposed strategy are also discussed. Moreover, reasons and risk of hyperkalemia due to early initiation of potassium replacement and remedial actions are debated.

CONCLUSION

In light of proposed strategy, utilizing the nomogram ensures reduced incidence of hypokalemia in DKA resulting in improved clinical and patient outcomes. Pharmacoeconomic benefits can also be expected when avoiding hypokalemia ensures early discharge.

Is Age a Risk Factor for Cerebral Edema in Children With Diabetic Ketoacidosis? A Literature Review

Cerebral edema (CE) is a rare but potentially fatal complication of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) in children with type 1 diabetes. CE is frequently mentioned as being more common in young children. The primary objective of this study was to review the evidence suggesting that younger age is a risk factor for the development of CE during DKA. The secondary objective was to assess if younger children are at a higher risk of DKA and severe DKA. A literature review was performed, and studies which reported the frequency of CE, DKA and severe DKA in children <3 and 3 to 5 years of age were included. Among the 6 studies reporting the frequency of CE that were identified, 5 good-quality studies found no significant association between younger age and higher risk of CE. Twenty-seven studies (DKA frequency: 11.3% to 54%) reported DKA frequency as a function of age. Most published studies found a higher frequency of DKA in children <5 years of age (20/25 studies), and in particular in those in the first 2 to 3 years of life (8/8 studies). There was inconclusive evidence to determine whether the severity of DKA was influenced by age. In conclusion, the commonly held view that CE is more common in younger children is not supported by the existing literature. Published data suggest that DKA (and possibly severe DKA) is more common in very young children. Regardless of age, all children with DKA should be monitored carefully for the development of CE.

Comparison of subcutaneous insulin aspart and intravenous regular insulin for the treatment of mild and moderate diabetic ketoacidosis in pediatric patients

PURPOSE

To compare the safety/efficacy of intermittent subcutaneous rapid-acting insulin aspart with the standard low-dose intravenous infusion protocol of regular insulin for treatment of pediatric diabetic-ketoacidosis.

METHODS

For a prospective randomized-controlled clinical trial on 50 children/adolescents with mild/moderate diabetic-ketoacidosis, the diagnostic criteria for ketoacidosis included: blood glucose level >250 mg/dl, ketonuria>++, venous pH <7.3 and/or bicarbonate <15 mEq/l.

DATA COLLECTED

age, sex, clinical/laboratory parameters including blood sugar, arterial blood gases, urine ketones, severity of diabetic-ketoacidosis, amount of insulin administered to correct acidosis, time to recover from diabetic-ketoacidosis, number of days of hospitalization, and complications. Patients were randomly assigned to intervention (subcutaneous) and control (intravenous) groups. Controls received 0.05-0.1 unit/kg/hour intravenous regular insulin infusion until resolution of diabetic-ketoacidosis and stayed in the intensive care unit. Interventions received 0.15 unit/kg subcutaneous insulin aspart every two hours and stayed in regular medical ward.

RESULTS

From 50 children (age 2-17 years), 56% (28) were females, and 48% (24) had established-type I diabetes. Intervention and control groups had similar baseline clinical/laboratory findings. Average age (years) was 8.6 ± 0.8 for intervention and 8.86 ± 0.7 for control group (p = 0.4) with 64% having moderate diabetic-ketoacidosis. The mean total-dose of insulin units needed for treatment of diabetic-ketoacidosis in intervention (subcutaneous insulin aspart) was lower than controls (intravenous regular insulin) (p < 0.001). No mortality/serious events happened. Three diabetic-ketoacidosis recurrences among interventions and one among controls occurred.

CONCLUSIONS

To manage mild/moderate diabetic-ketoacidosis in children/adolescents, subcutaneous rapid-acting insulin aspart is an alternative to intravenous infusion of regular insulin. Subcutaneous insulin treated moderate DKA with faster recovery/shorter hospital stay.