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Standardisation of the management of diabetic ketoacidosis in children, including an algorithm for intravenous fluid administration.
Children with known or newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus.
Medical and nursing staff that encounter this patient group.
NB: There is no difference in the management of DKA in a new or established patient
AND
NB Urine output may remain fair because of osmotic diuresis
NB These features usually present a few hours after commencing treatment but can occur very early
All new diabetes patients
for DKA
All patients
for DKA
Repeat biochemistry frequently (~2hrly) until patient stable
Weigh the child and compare with previous known weights and centile charts - access the electronic medical record for existing patients.
Hourly Rate (ml) = | [48h MAINTENANCE (C x E) + DEFICIT (D x 1000)] - Volume used to treat shock 48 |
Treat shock (resuscitate) with Normal Saline
Sodium Bicarbonate is very rarely indicated and may be harmful - only consider in Intensive Care Unit after discussion with consultant - dose would be 0.5mmol/kg over 30 minutes
Potassium can usually be added to bags immediately after resuscitation (assuming urine output) - 20 mmol/500ml. Monitor T waves and adjust KCl according to electrolyte results. Insulin makes K fall.
Phosphate - it is normal for patients in DKA to have a low phosphate level as this is a plasma buffer. There is no evidence to support adding additional phosphate.
Initially use 0.9% saline
Generally, once the blood glucose has fallen to 14 mmol/l add glucose to the fluid.
If this occurs within the first 6 hours, the child may still be sodium depleted. It may be preferable therefore to continue with NORMAL saline and added dextrose until the biochemistry is more stable.
If this occurs after the first 6 hours and the child’s plasma sodium level is stable, change the fl uid type to 0.45% saline/5% dextrose.
After 1st 12h, and assuming that the patient is improving, if they have already changed to 0.5N Saline + 5% Dextrose, there is no need to change back to Normal Saline if glucose > 14mmol/L - ADJUST the INSULIN
Insulin is essential to switch off ketogenesis
Make up a solution of 1 unit per ml. of human soluble insulin (e.g. Actrapid) by adding 50 units (0.5 ml) insulin to 49.5 ml 0.9% saline in a syringe pump. Attach this using a Y-connector to the IV fluids already running.
|
Do not add insulin directly to the fluid bags
Run at 0.1 units/kg/hour (0.1ml/kg/hour).
If the rate of blood glucose fall exceeds 5 mmol/l per hour, or falls to around 14 mmol/l, add dextrose (5-10% equivalent) to the IV fluids running (see “fluids” above). The insulin dose needs to be maintained at 0.1 units/kg/hour to switch off ketogenesis.
Do not stop the insulin infusion while dextrose is being infused, as insulin is required to switch off ketone production. If the blood glucose falls below 4 mmol/l, give a bolus of 2 ml/kg of 10% dextrose and increase the dextrose concentration of the infusion.
10% dextrose with 0.45% saline can be made up by adding 7.5ml NaCl 30% to 500ml 10% Dextrose. (remember to consider if KCl required) |
Once the pH is above 7.3, the blood glucose is down to 14-17 mmol/l, and a dextrose-containing fluid has been started, consider reducing the insulin infusion rate, but to no less than 0.05 units/kg/hour.
Blood glucose rises out of control, or the pH level is not improving after 4-6 hours consult senior medical staff, re-evaluate (possible sepsis, insulin errors or other condition), and consider starting the whole protocol again.
Highest risk 12-18h after beginning rehydration Inform senior staff immediately Treat in ICU Document carefully |
Exclude hypoglycaemia as a possible cause of any behaviour change
Give Mannitol 1 g/kg stat (= 5 ml/kg Mannitol 20% over 20 minutes) or hypertonic saline (5-10 mls/kg over 30 mins). This needs to be given as soon as possible if warning signs occur.
Restrict IV fluids to 2/3 maintenance and replace deficit over 72 rather than 48 hours
Discuss with PICU consultant (if assisted ventilation is required maintain pCO2 above 3.5 kPa)
Once the child is stable, exclude other diagnoses by CT scan - other intracerebral events may occur (thrombosis, haemorrhage or infarction) and present similarly
A repeated dose of Mannitol should be given after 2 hours if no response
This document has been taken from the Greater Glasgow & Clyde Children's Diabetes Service website: www.diabetes-scotland.org/ggc. Diabetes Scotland accept no responsibility for the use of the document outside of the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Glasgow and RAH Paisley.
Please follow link to a pdf version for ONLINE completion - Recommended (NB Has to be loaded into Acrobat Reader or Acrobat Full Software - won't work automatically in all browsers): http://www.diabetes-scotland.org/ggc/documents/pdf_files/DKA%20Calc%20v%202011_1.pdf
A pdf version for printing only can be found here: http://www.diabetes-scotland.org/ggc/documents/pdf_files/DKA%20Calc%20v%202011_1_print.pdf
Last reviewed: 01 September 2016
Next review: 01 September 2019
Author(s): Kenneth Robertson / Ian Craigie