Summary
Definition
History and exam
Key diagnostic factors
- trastorno cognitivo agudo
- presencia de factores de riesgo
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
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
Diagnostic tests
1st tests to order
- glucemia
- Cetonas en sangre
- Gasometría venosa
- osmolalidad sérica
- urea, electrolitos y creatinina
- hemograma completo
- electrocardiograma (ECG)
Tests to consider
- análisis de orina
- enzimas cardíacas
- radiografía de tórax
- pruebas de función hepática
- proteína C-reactiva
- hemocultivo, urocultivo y cultivo de esputo
Treatment algorithm
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
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.
Differentials
- Cetoacidosis diabética (CAD)
- Acidosis láctica
- Cetoacidosis alcohólica
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- Diabetes at the front door: a guideline for dealing with glucose related emergencies at the time of acute hospital admission
- The management of hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state in adults with diabetes
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