title: Biochemically unmonitored treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis for the first eight hours using the low dose intra-muscular insulin regimen: preliminary report.
abstract: The clinical efficacy of frequent low dose intra-muscular insulin in treating diabetic ketoacidosis was tested in eight patients who presented over a period of nine months. Blood sugar, urea and electrolytes were estimated only at presentation and eight hours after commencing insulin therapy instead of the initial one to two hourly estimations usually advocated. All the patients responded satisfactorily by eight hours despite the infrequent monitoring of blood sugars, urea and electrolytes. No hypoglycaemic episodes or clinical evidence of hypokalaemia were encountered. It is suggested that where facilities and staffing are inadequate, as in some developing countries, the first eight hours of treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis can be safely carried out using the frequent intramuscular low dose insulin regimen without much emphasis laid on monitoring the blood sugar, urea and electrolytes, provided there are no contraindicating cardio-pulmonary or renal diseases.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D016883:Diabetic Ketoacidosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin