PEDIATRIC DIABETIC KETOACIDOSIS

Course overview

DIABETIC KETOACIDOSIS (DKA) IS A SERIOUS COMPLICATION OF RELATIVE INSULIN DEFICIENCY AFFECTING PRIMARILY TYPE-1 DIABETES MELLITUS (DM). DKA CAN OCCUR IN TYPE-2 DM WHEN INSULIN LEVELS FALL FAR BEHIND THE BODY’S NEEDS. DKA IS SO NAMED DUE TO HIGH LEVELS OF WATER-SOLUBLE KETONE BODIES (KBS), LEADING TO AN ACIDOTIC PHYSIOLOGIC STATE. KETONE BODIES, WHILE ALWAYS PRESENT IN THE BLOOD, INCREASE TO PATHOLOGIC LEVELS WHEN THE BODY CANNOT UTILIZE GLUCOSE: LOW BLOOD GLUCOSE LEVELS DURING FASTING, STARVATION, VIGOROUS EXERCISE, OR SECONDARY TO A DEFECT IN INSULIN PRODUCTION. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE ETIOLOGY, PRESENTATION, EVALUATION, AND MANAGEMENT OF DIABETIC KETOACIDOSIS IN THE PEDIATRIC POPULATION AND EXAMINES THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN EVALUATING, DIAGNOSING, AND MANAGING THE CONDITION.