Hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic state

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Last reviewed: 5 Oct 2024
Last updated: 08 Aug 2024

Summary

Definition

History and exam

Key diagnostic factors

  • acute cognitive impairment
  • presence of risk factors
Full details

Other diagnostic factors

  • polyuria
  • polydipsia
  • weight loss
  • nausea and vomiting
  • weakness
  • dry mucous membranes
  • poor skin turgor
  • tachycardia
  • hypotension
  • hypothermia
  • oliguria
  • abdominal pain
  • focal neurological signs
  • seizures
Full details

Risk factors

  • infection
  • inadequate insulin or oral antidiabetic therapy
  • acute illness in a known patient with diabetes
  • nursing home residents
  • failure to detect hyperglycaemia
  • postoperative state
  • precipitating medications
  • total parenteral nutrition (TPN)
  • Cushing syndrome
  • hyperthyroidism
  • acromegaly
Full details

Diagnostic investigations

1st investigations to order

  • blood glucose
  • blood ketones
  • venous blood gas
  • serum osmolality
  • urea, electrolytes, and creatinine
  • full blood count
  • ECG
Full details

Investigations to consider

  • urinalysis
  • cardiac enzymes
  • chest x-ray
  • liver function tests
  • C-reactive protein
  • blood, urine, and sputum cultures
Full details

Treatment algorithm

ACUTE

serum potassium <3.5 mmol/L (<3.5 mEq/L)

serum potassium 3.5 to 5.5 mmol/L (3.5 to 5.5 mEq/L)

serum potassium >5.5 mmol/L (>5.5 mEq/L)

Contributors

Expert advisers

Edward Jude, MBBS, DNB, MRCP

Honorary Professor of Medicine

University of Manchester

Consultant Physician/Diabetologist/Endocrinologist

Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust

Manchester

UK

Disclosures

EJ declares that he has no competing interests.

Acknowledgements

BMJ Best Practice would like to gratefully acknowledge the previous expert contributors, whose work has been retained in parts of the content:

Natasha Khazai, MD

Endocrinologist

Joslin Diabetes Clinic

Boston

MA

Guillermo Umpierrez, MD

Professor of Medicine

Emory University School of Medicine

Atlanta

GA

Disclosures

NK declares that she has no competing interests. GU is supported by research grants from the American Diabetes Association and the National Institutes of Health, and has received research funds from Sanofi-Aventis, Novo Nordisk, Takeda, and GlaxoSmithKline.

Peer reviewers

Gerry Rayman, MD, FRCP

Consultant Physician and Head of Service

Diabetes and Endocrine Centre and the Diabetes Research Unit

Ipswich Hospitals NHS Trust

Ipswich

UK

Disclosures

GR has been paid for advisory board meetings with the following companies: Sanofi Aventis, Abbott Diabetes UK, Lilly Diabetes, and Bayer. GR has received lecture fees from Sanofi Aventis, Abbott Diabetes UK, Lilly Diabetes, Novo Nordisk, and Napp Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

Editors

Annabel Sidwell

Section Editor, BMJ Best Practice

Disclosures

AS declares that she has no competing interests.

Rachel Wheeler

Lead Section Editor, BMJ Best Practice

Disclosures

RW declares that she has no competing interests.

Julie Costello

Comorbidities Editor, BMJ Best Practice

Disclosures

JC declares that she has no competing interests.

Adam Mitchell

Drug Editor, BMJ Best Practice

Disclosures

AM declares that he has no competing interests.

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