Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 25, 2025

Improving IV Insulin Administration in a Community Hospital
12:08

Improving IV Insulin Administration in a Community Hospital

Published on: June 11, 2012

18.9K

A series of patients with hospital-acquired diabetic ketoacidosis (HADKA): a descriptive analysis

David M Williams1, Sofia Taverner2, Rebecca Watson2

  • 1Morriston Hospital, Swansea, UK david.williams@doctors.org.uk.

Clinical Medicine (London, England)
|October 14, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Hospital-acquired diabetic ketoacidosis (HADKA) affects patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Key causes include insulin errors, infection, and surgery, leading to significant mortality and prolonged hospital stays.

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Diabetes Management
  • Hospital Medicine

Background:

  • Hospital-acquired diabetic ketoacidosis (HADKA) is a serious complication for individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D).
  • Understanding the factors contributing to HADKA is crucial for improving patient care and outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the characteristics of patients who develop HADKA during hospitalization.
  • To identify the primary reasons and precipitating factors for hospital-acquired diabetic ketoacidosis.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of patients admitted to Morriston Hospital between January 2016 and January 2022.
  • Inclusion criteria: adults (≥18 years) admitted without diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) who subsequently developed DKA.

Main Results:

  • Twenty-five patients were analyzed (mean age 65.2 years), with T1D (52.0%) and T2D (48.0%).
  • Common causes included erroneous insulin administration (36.0%), infection (28.0%), and surgery (20.0%).
  • Significant outcomes included intensive care admission (20.0%), a mean hospital stay of 42.6 days, and a 12.0% mortality rate.

Conclusions:

  • HADKA represents a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in hospitalized diabetic patients.
  • Early detection of ketonaemia and careful management of medications are vital for preventing HADKA and improving patient prognosis.
Abstract

Keywords:
complicationsdiabetic ketoacidosisinpatient

More Related Videos

Glycemic Impact on Knee Osteoarthritis Symptoms on Physical, Radiographic, and Inflammatory Markers among Individuals Aged 50 and Over with Diabetes07:22

Glycemic Impact on Knee Osteoarthritis Symptoms on Physical, Radiographic, and Inflammatory Markers among Individuals Aged 50 and Over with Diabetes

Published on: March 7, 2025

348
Identification and Quantification of Deranged Metabolites in Critically Ill Patients Using NMR-Based Metabolomics11:02

Identification and Quantification of Deranged Metabolites in Critically Ill Patients Using NMR-Based Metabolomics

Published on: November 29, 2024

621

Related Concept Videos

SBAR II: Application of SBAR01:14

SBAR II: Application of SBAR

SBAR is an effective communication tool used by healthcare professionals to communicate patient information accurately. SBAR stands for Situation, Background, Assessment, and Recommendation. For a better understanding, an example is given below.
SBAR Report from a Nurse to a Health Care Provider
S: "Hello, Dr. Smith. This is Jane, RN, from the Med Surg unit. I am calling to tell you about Ms. White in Room 210, who is experiencing increased pain and redness at her incision site. Her recent...
4.6K
Diagnosing Acidosis and Alkalosis01:24

Diagnosing Acidosis and Alkalosis

Diagnosing acid-base imbalances involves systematically analyzing arterial blood samples, focusing on three key measurements: pH, bicarbonate (HCO3−) concentration, and carbon dioxide partial pressure (PCO2). This analysis follows a four-step process that helps identify the imbalance's underlying cause and nature.
First, the pH level is assessed to determine whether the blood pH is normal (7.35–7.45), low (acidosis), or high (alkalosis).
Next, the PCO2  and...
469
Diabetes: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Complications01:15

Diabetes: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Complications

For most patients, experiencing several weeks of polyuria, polydipsia, fatigue, and significant weight loss may indicate the presence of diabetes. Furthermore, adults displaying the phenotypic appearance of type 2 diabetes (particularly those who are obese and not initially insulin-requiring), may have islet cell autoantibodies, suggesting autoimmune-mediated β cell destruction and a diagnosis of latent autoimmune diabetes of adults (LADA). The categorization of glucose homeostasis is...
657
Pathophysiology of Diabetes01:20

Pathophysiology of Diabetes

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia. The four categories of diabetes are type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, other specific types of diabetes, and gestational diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes is characterized by autoimmune-mediated destruction of pancreatic β cells, with environmental factors potentially triggering this process in genetically susceptible individuals. Despite many not having a family history, certain genes increase susceptibility,...
1.1K
Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational01:22

Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational

Type 2 diabetes, characterized by insulin resistance, arises when the insulin receptors on cells lose responsiveness to insulin, diminishing the cell's capacity to take up glucose, resulting in elevated blood glucose levels. To receive a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes, a series of blood glucose tests are necessary to assess whether the blood glucose falls within normal parameters. If the result is out of the normal range, a patient may be diagnosed as prediabetic or diabetic, depending on the...
2.7K
Acute Kidney Injury I: Introduction01:22

Acute Kidney Injury I: Introduction

Introduction:Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) describes a swift decrease in kidney function occurring over hours to days, characterized by the kidneys' failure to remove waste products from the bloodstream. This leads to dangerous complications like metabolic acidosis, fluid overload, and electrolyte imbalances, such as hyperkalemia, which can cause life-threatening arrhythmias. AKI is common in both hospital and outpatient settings, often triggered by dehydration, sepsis, or exposure to nephrotoxic...
59