Hypokalemic hypoventilation complicating severe diabetic ketoacidosis

Hypokalemia has been previously reported as a cause for respiratory impairment complicating therapy for diabetic ketoacidosis. A case is presented with a short interval of hypoventilation documented by hypercapnia. A reversal from hypercapnia to hypocapnia occurred when the serum potassium level became normal after potassium replacement. Causes of muscular weakness other than hypokalemia were considered unlikely on the basis of clinical and laboratory data. The present report records the occurrence of hypoventilation associated with hypokalemia in diabetic ketoacidosis and serves to underscore the need for adequate potassium replacement during the treatment of this disorder.