Continuous glucose monitors improve diabetic ketoacidosis management

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a serious complication of diabetes. It happens when the body doesn’t make enough insulin, leading to high acid levels in the bloodstream. Common symptoms include thirst, weakness, nausea, and confusion. DKA results in over 500,000 hospital days every year, mainly in intensive care units (ICUs), costing around $2.4 billion. Researchers from the University of Michigan studied how continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) can help manage DKA. These devices could reduce the need for frequent blood tests and might help keep ICUs from becoming overcrowded. Dr. Nate Haas, a researcher involved in the study, pointed out that many patients with DKA end up in the ICU despite having a low risk of death. This is mostly due to the need for regular glucose checks, which are uncomfortable for patients and burdensome for nursing staff. Currently, managing DKA involves hourly fingerstick tests to monitor glucose levels. In contrast, CGMs are placed on the skin and provide continuous readings. Previously, there were doubts about the accuracy of CGMs during DKA since they rely on fluid surrounding cells, and patients with DKA are often dehydrated. The study ran from March to August 2023 and included 20 patients. Researchers compared readings from CGMs and traditional fingerstick tests. They found that CGMs were accurate and could detect drops in blood glucose more quickly. This research is seen as a promising first step in improving care for DKA patients. It could reduce the number of fingersticks and help prevent ICU admissions in the future. Dr. Haas plans to conduct further trials to continue exploring this approach in DKA management. He emphasized the importance of a teamwork approach involving multiple medical fields to enhance patient outcomes and ease ICU pressures.