Estado hiperglucémico hiperosmolar

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Last reviewed: 13 Jan 2026
Last updated: 08 Aug 2024

Summary

Definition

History and exam

Key diagnostic factors

  • trastorno cognitivo agudo
  • presencia de factores de riesgo
Full details

Other diagnostic factors

  • poliuria
  • polidipsia
  • pérdida de peso
  • náuseas y vómitos
  • debilidad
  • sequedad de mucosas
  • turgencia cutánea reducida
  • taquicardia
  • hipotensión
  • hipotermia
  • oliguria
  • dolor abdominal
  • signos neurológicos focales
  • convulsiones
Full details

Risk factors

  • infección
  • tratamiento inadecuado con insulina o antidiabéticos orales
  • enfermedad aguda en un paciente con diabetes conocida
  • residentes de residencias de ancianos
  • incapacidad para detectar la hiperglucemia
  • estado postoperatorio
  • medicamentos desencadenantes
  • nutrición parenteral total (NPT)
  • Síndrome de Cushing
  • hipertiroidismo
  • acromegalia
Full details

Diagnostic tests

1st tests to order

  • glucemia
  • Cetonas en sangre
  • Gasometría venosa
  • osmolalidad sérica
  • urea, electrolitos y creatinina
  • hemograma completo
  • electrocardiograma (ECG)
Full details

Tests to consider

  • análisis de orina
  • enzimas cardíacas
  • radiografía de tórax
  • pruebas de función hepática
  • proteína C-reactiva
  • hemocultivo, urocultivo y cultivo de esputo
Full details

Treatment algorithm

ACUTE

potasio sérico <3.5 mmol/L (<3.5 mEq/L)

potasio sérico 3.5 a 5.5 mmol/L (3.5 a 5.5 mEq/L)

potasio sérico >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.

Peer reviewer acknowledgements

BMJ Best Practice topics are updated on a rolling basis in line with developments in evidence and guidance. The peer reviewers listed here have reviewed the content at least once during the history of the topic.

Disclosures

Peer reviewer affiliations and disclosures pertain to the time of the review.

References

Our in-house evidence and editorial teams collaborate with international expert contributors and peer reviewers to ensure that we provide access to the most clinically relevant information possible.

Key articles

Joint British Diabetes Societies for Inpatient Care Group. Diabetes at the front door: a guideline for dealing with glucose related emergencies at the time of acute hospital admission. May 2023 [internet publication].Full text

Joint British Diabetes Societies for Inpatient Care Group. The management of the hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic state (HHS) in adults with diabetes. Feb 2022 [internet publication].Full text

Reference articles

A full list of sources referenced in this topic is available to users with access to all of BMJ Best Practice.
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    • The management of hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state in adults with diabetes
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