Condition Lookup
Sub-Category:
Acute Complications
Number of Conditions: 3
Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA)
Specialty: Diabetes and Endocrinology
Category: Diabetes Mellitus and Related Disorders
Sub-category: Acute Complications
Symptoms:
excessive thirst; frequent urination; nausea; vomiting; abdominal pain; shortness of breath; fruity-smelling breath; confusion
Root Cause:
Insulin deficiency leads to uncontrolled hyperglycemia, lipolysis, and ketone production, causing metabolic acidosis.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Blood tests showing high blood glucose, ketonemia, low bicarbonate, and arterial blood pH < 7.3; urine tests for ketones.
Treatment:
Intravenous fluids, insulin therapy, electrolyte replacement (potassium), and treating underlying causes (e.g., infection).
Medications:
Regular insulin administered intravenously to reduce blood glucose and ketone levels.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Common in individuals with type 1 diabetes; can occur in type 2 diabetes during severe stress.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Poor diabetes management, infection, trauma, surgery, or missed insulin doses.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Early treatment leads to recovery; delayed treatment may result in coma or death.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Cerebral edema, hypokalemia, arrhythmias, and death.
Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic State (HHS)
Specialty: Diabetes and Endocrinology
Category: Diabetes Mellitus and Related Disorders
Sub-category: Acute Complications
Symptoms:
extreme thirst; frequent urination; dry mouth; weakness; confusion; seizures; coma
Root Cause:
Severe hyperglycemia leads to osmotic diuresis and dehydration without significant ketone production.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Blood tests showing extremely high blood glucose (>600 mg/dL), high plasma osmolality, and absence or low levels of ketones.
Treatment:
Intravenous fluids, insulin therapy, and electrolyte replacement.
Medications:
Regular insulin administered intravenously to control blood glucose levels.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Rare; primarily occurs in elderly individuals with type 2 diabetes.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Dehydration, infections, poorly controlled diabetes, or medications (e.g., steroids).
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
High mortality rate if untreated; early intervention improves outcomes.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Severe dehydration, shock, thromboembolism, and death.
Hypoglycemia (due to diabetes management)
Specialty: Diabetes and Endocrinology
Category: Diabetes Mellitus and Related Disorders
Sub-category: Acute Complications
Symptoms:
sweating; shakiness; dizziness; hunger; confusion; irritability; seizures; loss of consciousness
Root Cause:
Excess insulin or glucose-lowering medications reduce blood sugar levels below normal (<70 mg/dL).
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Blood glucose measurement; symptoms resolve with glucose administration.
Treatment:
Immediate consumption of fast-acting carbohydrates (e.g., glucose tablets, fruit juice); glucagon injection for severe cases.
Medications:
Glucagon injection or glucose gel for emergency treatment of severe hypoglycemia.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Common in individuals on insulin or sulfonylureas; varies by treatment regimen.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Excess insulin, skipping meals, intense physical activity, or alcohol consumption.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good with prompt treatment; repeated episodes can impair awareness and cognitive function.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Seizures, coma, accidents, and death.