Diabetic ketoacidosis - a study of 67 episodes in known type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients

ABSTRACT

Review and describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of Diabetic Ketoacidosis [DKA] in type land type 2 Diabetic patients. We reviewed the medical records of all patients with a diagnosis of DKA in known diabetics and followed their clinical course and outcome. We classified patients as "type 1" and "type 2" diabetes mellitus based on their treatment history. DKA with recent onset of diabetes excluded because of uncertainty of type of diabetes. We compared the groups for precipitating factors, clinical characteristics and outcomes. Sixty-seven patients fulfilled criteria for inclusion in the study. Of 67 patients 44 [65.7%] were male. Twenty [30%] patients had type 2 diabetes. Mean age of type 1 diabetics was 21.6 +/- 6.lyears while type 2 Diabetics were older and had 48.7 +/- 9 years mean age. Body Mass Index [BMI] and duration of diabetes were greater in type 2 Diabetes. A history of prior DKA was noted in 28 patients and all of them were type 1 Diabetics. Infections were the most common precipitating factor in total [41.8%] but in type 2 Diabetes noncompliance was the main precipitating factor. There were 8 deaths in total and mortality rate was apparently higher in type 2 Diabetes. DKA could frequently complicate type 2 Diabetes contrary to belief and carries relatively high mortality