MANAGEMENT OF DIABETIC KETOACIDOSIS ON MEDICAL FLOORS IN A CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019 (COVID-19) PATIENT

ABSTRACT

Case Report Introduction Patients with mild to moderate diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) can be safely treated with subcutaneous, rapidacting insulin analogs on the medical floor or in the emergency department. Here we describe a case of COVID pneumonia with DKA, effectively treated with a subcutaneous insulin regimen with anion gap closure in 4 hours since the presentation on medical floors. Case The patient is a 64-year-old male with no medical history, has not been in follow-up with a primary care physician for the past 20 years presents to the emergency department [ED] with a 2-week history of generalized weakness and fatigue. Reports feeling very thirsty and dehydrated with increased frequency of urination. On arrival he was noted to be saturating at 88 to 89% on room air, was switched to non 2 Litres nasal cannula with improvement in saturation to 94%, sinus tachycardia at 110 beats per minute, blood pressure 110/72 mmHg. Blood glucose was noted to be at 486 mg/dL with anion gap greater than 24 mEq/L, bicarbonate less than 10 mEq/L, creatinine at 1.62 mg/dL. Arterial blood gas analysis showed pH of 7.39, partial pressure of carbon dioxide at 16, partial pressure of oxygen at 61, bicarbonate of 10 suggestive of metabolic acidosis with respiratory compensation. He received a bolus of 0.3 units/kg [21 units] of subcutaneous insulin lispro (rapid-acting). Then was switched to 0.2 units/kg [14 units] subcutaneous insulin every 2 hours, the basic metabolic panel was done every 2 hours. Anion gap was closed in 4 hours. For transition, we calculated 0.5 units/kg [35 units] which was divided into basal - insulin glargine 17 units and bolus - sliding scale insulin lispro before meals and bedtime (insulin naive patient). His anion gap remained closed thereafter. He was treated with remdesivir and dexamethasone for COVID pneumonia. He was discharged after 5 days with improvement in his respiratory status from COVID pneumonia with outpatient follow-up. Discussion Subcutaneous insulin protocols are being used with increasing frequency to treat selected patients with mild to moderate DKA. Especially during this COVID pandemic, this helps to decrease the exposure frequency of staff (health care workers especially doctors and nursing staff) to patients given insulin dosing and lab frequency of 2-4 hours (compared with hourly checks for insulin intravenous drip), decreases the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), decreases the upgrade to intensive care units (ICU) that in turn helps with effective resources management in ICU for more critical patients. This protocol has not been studied in severe DKA yet but has similar efficacy and safety in mild or moderate DKA patients when compared to IV insulin therapy.