Diabetes has numerous acute and chronic manifestations, and diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is one such acute complication, commonly encountered in medical emergencies. Apart from hyperglycemia and metabolic acidosis, the entity is diagnosed if ketone levels in the blood or urine are elevated (>3.0 mmol/L). [1] DKA can further lead to many complications such as cerebral injury, acute kidney injury (AKI), large vessel thromboses, pulmonary edema, pancreatitis, cardiac abnormalities, and electrolyte imbalance. Among electrolytes, hypophosphatemia and hypokalemia can develop in DKA, and have an association with muscular symptoms or weakness.
case reportA 34-year-old previously healthy male patient presented to the emergency department of our tertiary care hospital with drowsiness and generalized weakness. Before admission, he suffered several episodes of nonbilious vomiting. There was no history of falls, trauma, or drug abuse, and the patient was a clerk by occupation. He was a known case of type 1 diabetes mellitus for the past 13 years. The accompanying attendant accepted that the patient was irregular with his insulin doses in the preceding week. There was no other significant past history.Physical examination was significant for dehydration, i.e., sunken eyes and dry tongue, with a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 11/15. He was vitally stable with a blood pressure of 102/68 mmHg, pulse of 96/min, respiratory rate of 24/min, and capillary oxygen saturation of 99%. Bilateral pupils were normal in size and reacting to light. The planter response was flexor on both sides, and there was no neck rigidity. The rest of the systemic examination was unremarkable. The patient was managed conservatively with intravenous fluids and antiemetics. Further, his capillary blood glucose was 446 mg/ dl and arterial blood gas was suggestive of metabolic acidosis