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Published on: June 11, 2012
Does Management of Diabetic Ketoacidosis with Subcutaneous Rapid-acting Insulin Reduce the Need for Intensive Care
Brian G Cohn1, Samuel M Keim2, Joseph W Watkins1
1Division of Emergency Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri.
Background:
In the last 20 years, rapid-acting insulin analogs have emerged on the market, including aspart and lispro, which may be efficacious in the management of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) when administered by non-intravenous (i.v.) routes.
Clinical Question:
In patients with mild-to-moderate DKA without another reason for intensive care unit (ICU) admission, is the administration of a subcutaneous (s.c.) rapid-acting insulin analog a safe and effective alternative to a continuous infusion of i.v. regular insulin, and would such a strategy eliminate the need for ICU admission?
Evidence Review:
Five randomized controlled trials were identified and critically appraised.
Results:
The outcomes suggest that there is no difference in the duration of therapy required to resolve DKA with either strategy.
Conclusion:
Current evidence supports DKA management with s.c. rapid-acting insulin analogs in a non-ICU setting in carefully selected patients.
