ABSTRACT
Hypoglycaemia rapidly produces coma in people with diabetes, compared with the slower onset of altered consciousness in diabetic ketoacidosis and hyperosmolar, hyperglycaemic state (HHS).
DIABETIC KETOACIDOSIS
DIAGNOSIS
1 Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) may occur in a known diabetic person precipitated by infection, surgery, trauma, pancreatitis, myocardial infarction, cerebral infarction or inadequate insulin therapy, e.g. insulin stopped in an unwell diabetic patient ‘because he/she was not eating’!
