Diabetic Ketoacidosis in Children and the Role of Outpatient Management

Abstract

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a common complication among children with diabetes, accounting for 14% to 31% of all diabetes-related hospital admissions.1,2 Extrapolation of data from the National Commission on Diabetes3 suggests that there are approximately 160 000 admissions to private hospitals each year in the United States for DKA. The cost of hospitalizations for DKA is over one billion dollars annually. Sixty-five percent of all patients admitted are less than 19 years of age. The incidence of DKA is believed to be declining. However, because the numbers of subjects with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus is increasing, the absolute number of hospitalizations for DKA is still increasing. It is the single most common cause of death in diabetic patients under 24 years of age.2The treatment of DKA has changed in recent years, particularly with the use of low-dose continuous intravenous insulin infusion and with the availability of blood pH levels. Severe DKA has been defined as