The
incidence of
type 1 diabetes is increasing worldwide, and the greatest increase has been observed in very young
children under 4 years of age. A case of infantile
diabetic ketoacidosis in a 10-month-old
male infant was encountered by these authors. The
infant's
fasting glucose level was 490 mg/dL, his
PH was 7.13, his pCO₂ was 15 mmHg, and his
bicarbonate level was 5.0 mmol/L. The
glycosylated hemoglobin level had increased to 9.4%.
Ketonuria and glucosuria were detected in the
urinalysis. The
fasting C-peptide and
insulin levels had decreased. The
infant was positive for anti-
insulin and antiglutamic
acid decarboxylase antibodies. Immediately after the
infant's admission,
fluid therapy and intravenous
insulin infusion
therapy were started. On the second day of the
infant's
hospitalization and after
fluid therapy, he recovered from his lethargic condition, and his general condition improved.
Feeding was started on the third day, and he was fed a formula 5 to 7 times a day and ate
rice,
vegetables, and lean
meat. Due to the frequent
feeding, the frequency of
rapid-acting insulin injection was increased from 3 times before
feeding to 5 times, adjusted according to the
feeding frequency. The total
dose of
insulin that was injected was 0.8-1.1 IU/kg/day, and the
infant was discharged on the 12th day of his
hospitalization. The case is presented herein with a brief
review of the relevant
literature.