Profile of precipitating factors in Diabetic Ketoacidosis: Data from a rural teaching hospital

Background: Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a known presenting clinical feature of type 1 Diabetes mellitus (T1DM). It is a common acute medical complication in already known patients of all types DM, especially after altering / stopping the therapy and any infective etiology. Objective: To describe the profile of precipitating factors of DKA. Methods: This retrospective descriptive study was done in Department of Medicine, of a rural teaching hospital. Precipitating factors were identified by clinical examination & laboratory investigation in hospitalized & diagnosed cases of DKA. Results: Among 50 patients, 22 were males. The mean age was 38.3 ± 15.7 years. 10 patients (20%) were diagnosed as DM for the first time during hospitalization and rest were already known diabetic. Severe DKA was not common. A Major precipitating factor was an infection (40%) and next was noncompliance (28%). Less common factors included acute pancreatitis, myocardial infarction, surgery and stroke. No definite factor could be found in 14% patients. Conclusion: Commonest precipitants of DKA were infection &non-compliance. Hence, it may be stated that with appropriate patient counselling about compliance to therapy and management of any illness, many cases of DKA may be avoidable.