Diabetic Ketdacidosis At The Kenyatta National Hospital.a Prospective Study:1981-1982."presentation,precipitating Factors.mortality And Problems Of Management"
Abstract
30 patients presenting to the Kenyatta National
Hospital in diabetic ketoacidosis were each subjected
to a well tried regimen of therapy, namely "small
dose-intramuscular insulin" regimen. Besides insulin
every patient received intravenous fluids, intravenous
potassium supplementation and a broad
spectrum antibiotic as an adjunct to the general
considerations of a very ill patient. The presentation
of diabetic ketoacidosis at the Kenyatta
National Hospital was found to be similar to that
elsewhere. Infection was the precipitating factor
in the majority of patients (60%). The small dose
intramuscular insulin regimen was found to be
simple, safe and effective. The mortality rate for
diabetic ketoacidotic patients treated was 16.7%
(cf. 29% in 1975 and 33% in 1978-80). At the
Kenyatta National Hospital laboratory backup was
found to be very inadequate, a factor which in
the author's opinion contributed to the high
mortality figure.
Citation
Master of medicine,University of Nairobi,1983.Publisher
University of Nairobi medicine