Farooq Ahmed, Sultan Zafar, Hamza Khan, Farooq Ahmed.
Precipitating factors for Diabetic Ketoacidosis.
Med Channel Jan ;10(3):48-50.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to identify the precipitating factors of diabetic ketoacidosis in patients admitted to Khyber Teaching Hospital and Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar over a period of 5 years. DESIGN: This was an observational study on 136 patients of diabetic ketoacidosis. SETTING: Department of medicine, Khyber Teaching Hospital and Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar PATIENTS: This study was conducted on 136 patients admitted to the medical units of K.T.H. and L.R.H. Peshawar during a period of 5 years (January 1996 to December 2001) with a mean age of 22 years. There were 80 male patients and 56 females. RESULTS: The mean age was 22 years, with a male to female ratio of 1.4:1. The most common precipitating factors were poor compliance and infections, which were responsible for 54% and 28% of cases respectively. A low mortality rate of about 5% compared favorably with other studies was observed. CONCLUSIONS: In order to prevent diabetic ketoacidosis, patient education programs should be implemented and, in addition, the relevant authorities should ensure that the insulin is available to all patients.

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