Summary
Definition
History and exam
Key diagnostic factors
- acute cognitive impairment
- presence of risk factors
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
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
Diagnostic investigations
1st investigations to order
- blood glucose
- blood ketones
- venous blood gas
- serum osmolality
- urea, electrolytes, and creatinine
- full blood count
- ECG
Investigations to consider
- urinalysis
- cardiac enzymes
- chest x-ray
- liver function tests
- C-reactive protein
- blood, urine, and sputum cultures
Treatment algorithm
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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