Primary Care Reports – August 1, 2015
August 1, 2015
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Diabetic Ketoacidosis
Diabetic ketoacidosis is an acute metabolic disorder characterized by markedly increased circulating ketone bodies leading to ketoacidosis in the presence of prolonged hyperglycemia due to an absence of insulin. Diabetic ketoacidosis may present in subjects with Type 1 diabetes mellitus with an absolute or relative insulin deficiency or in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus due to relative insulin deficiency. Diabetic ketoacidosis commonly occurs at the onset of Type 1 diabetes mellitus but also may occur from withdrawal or omission of insulin therapy due to psychiatric, social, or economic reasons or due to increased insulin requirements during an acute illness.