[Diabetic ketoacidosis at an internal medicine service]

Ketoacidosis as usual inaugural manifestation and the high frequency of infectious precipating events have been reported in our department on 1986. These same aspects were found in other African series. In this retrospective study of 34 patients presenting an ketoacidosis and managed from, July 1st 2001 to December 31st 2001, we have evaluated the precipating events, and analysed the evolution in comparison with our previous study. Age range was 15 to 74 years with a mean of 43.9. Sex ratio was 2.4. Ketoacidosis inaugurated the disease in 41.17% of cases. Diabetic type 2 was the most frequent one, with an evolution mean duration of 8.1 years. The presenting picture of admission was varied. In addition to the disturbance of consciousness, dehydratation and compensatory hyperventilation were common. With 82.3% in our series versus 43.22% in previous one, infection remain the main precipating cause in our internal medicine department and in tropical area. The disease course was favorable under therapy in 32 patients (94.1%) versus 64.32% on 1986. This might be explained by the lack of hypoglycemic episodes in this present series. The average hospitalisation duration was 20 days. This fact point out the importance of diabetic patients education and screening programs.