• W Berger.
• Abteilung Endokrinologie, Kantonsspital Basel.
• Praxis (Bern 1994). 1997 Feb 18; 86 (8): 308-13.

AbstractBased on case reports pathogenesis and treatment of the following diabetic emergencies were discussed: 1. The hyperosmolar non-ketotic coma without or with only modest ketosis occurring mainly in type II diabetics and the severe ketoacidosis with or without disturbed consciousness occurring mainly in type I diabetics are the two forms of severe metabolic decompensation of diabetes mellitus. 2. Severe hypoglycaemia may be caused by treatment with sulfonylureas and insulin. 3. The most dangerous life threatening adverse effect of biguanides is lactic acidosis. The incidence of ketoacidosis is about 1-5% in type I diabetics with a mortality of 3-9%. Mortality rates of hyperosmolar non-ketotic comas are much higher, approaching 20-40%, and are explained by severe concomitant complications and older age. The most important triggering factors of diabetic coma are infections, insulin dispensing errors and non-compliance. Carefully instructing patients about the risks of loosing appetite and vomiting as early signs of ketoacidosis is essential. Adequate replacement of fluid, electrolyte and water are the most important therapeutical aspects of ketoacidosis and hyperosmolar non-ketotic coma. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment of infection by antibiotics are important. Complication of therapy (hypokalemia, hypovolemia and rapid full of oncotic pressure) should be avoided by clinical and laboratory monitoring. Treatment of acidosis with bicarbonate has been found more dangerous than useful. Severe hypoglycaemia is the most important and most dangerous side effect of sulfonylurea and insulin. The incidence of severe hypoglycaemia under glibenclamide ist 3-5 fold higher than under treatment with tolbutamide or glibornurid. Glibenclamide should not be recommended anymore. Longterm experience of the therapeutic security of new sulfonylurea derivates like glimepirid is lacking. Blood-glucose-measurements in the afternoon are important for recognizing disposition to sulfonylurea hypoglycaemia, because at this time the blood-glucose-values tend to be lower than in the morning fasting state. Under insulin treatment the following risk factors for severe hypoglycaemia need to be considered: metabolic control in the near normal range, intensified treatment with rapidly decreasing HbA1c-levels, impaired renal function, unawareness o hypoglycaemia. When the renal function is impaired, biguanide treatment is not indicated because of the risk of lactic acidosis. Most of the diabetic emergency situations are avoidable by proper education of the patients.

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