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Hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state

Last reviewed: 21 Oct 2024
Last updated: 14 Nov 2024

Summary

Definition

History and exam

Key diagnostic factors

  • altered mental status
Full details

Other diagnostic factors

  • polyuria
  • polydipsia
  • weight loss
  • weakness
  • dry mucous membranes
  • poor skin turgor
  • tachycardia
  • hypotension
  • seizures
  • hypothermia
  • shock
  • abdominal pain
  • focal neurologic signs
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 hyperglycemia
  • post-operative state
  • precipitating medications
  • total parenteral nutrition (TPN)
  • Cushing syndrome
  • hyperthyroidism
  • acromegaly
Full details

Diagnostic tests

1st tests to order

  • plasma glucose level
  • serum or urinary ketone level
  • serum BUN level
  • serum creatinine level
  • serum sodium level
  • serum potassium level
  • serum chloride level
  • serum magnesium level
  • serum calcium level
  • serum phosphate level
  • serum osmolality
  • anion gap calculation
  • serum lactate level
  • blood gas
  • urinalysis
  • liver function tests
  • CBC
Full details

Tests to consider

  • chest x-ray
  • ECG
  • cardiac biomarkers
  • blood, urine, or sputum cultures
Full details

Treatment algorithm

ACUTE

all patients

ONGOING

HHS resolved and patient able to tolerate oral intake

Contributors

Authors

Guillermo Umpierrez, MD

Professor of Medicine

Emory University School of Medicine

Atlanta

GA

Disclosures

GU has received research grants from Astra Zeneca, Dexcom, and Bayer. GU is an author of a number of references cited in this topic.

Peer reviewers

William B. Horton, MD, MSc, FACP

Assistant Professor of Medicine

University of Virginia School of Medicine

Charlottesville

VA

Disclosures

WBH has been a principal investigator for several grants from nonprofit funding sources including the National Institutes of Health, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, and the American Heart Association. WBH was a contributor to the Diabetes Textbook: Clinical principles, patient management and public health issues, Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2019, having written a chapter about inpatient management of diabetes and hyperglycemia for which he received no fee.

  • Differentials

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  • Guidelines

    • Hyperglycemic crises in adult patients with diabetes: a consensus report
    • Standards of care in diabetes - 2024
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  • Patient information

    Diabetes: what is it?

    Diabetes type 2: should I take insulin?

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  • Calculators

    Osmolality Estimator (serum)

    More Calculators
  • Videos

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    Bag-valve-mask ventilation: animated demonstration

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