Case of the Month #37 Diabetic Ketoacidosis

Some markers of severity which may lead to admission to Critical Care include (but are not limited to): 

• Potassium <3.5 mmol/L on admission 

• Serum bicarbonate <5 mmol/L 

• Blood ketones >6 mmol/L 

• Venous or Arterial pH < 7.0 

• Heart rate <60 or >100 

• GCS <12 

• SaO2 <92 % on room air 

• Anion gap >16