Diabetes Care | Care of People with Metabolic Problems: Diabetes | Diabetic Emergencies in Primary Care

Diabetic emergencies in primary care
Session overview
Description
This session describes the pathogenesis, initial clinical assessment and first aid treatment for common and less common diabetic emergencies, including diabetic ketoacidosis, hyperosmolar hyperglycaemia syndrome and hypoglycaemia.

This session was reviewed by Khyati Bakhai and last updated in September 2022.

Learning objectives
By the end of this session you will be able to:

• describe the pathogenesis of diabetic ketoacidosis and hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic syndrome
• explain how to recognise diabetic ketoacidosis
• identify patients with suspected hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic syndrome
• describe how to recognise and treat hypoglycaemic coma
• recognise how to manage diabetic ketoacidosis and hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic syndrome whilst awaiting transfer to hospital

There are 2 types of hyperglycaemic diabetic emergency:

• diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)
• hyperglycaemic hyperosmolar syndrome (HHS)

Both DKA and HHS are medical emergencies that require rapid transfer to secondary care as soon as the diagnosis is suspected.

This session describes the pathogenesis, initial clinical assessment and first aid treatment of hyperglycaemic diabetic emergencies.