Controversies Around the Measurement of Blood Ketones to Diagnose and Manage Diabetic Ketoacidosis

Hyperglycemic Crises in Adults With Diabetes: A Consensus Report

The American Diabetes Association (ADA), European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD), Joint British Diabetes Societies for Inpatient Care (JBDS), American Association of Clinical Endocrinology (AACE), and Diabetes Technology Society (DTS) convened a panel of internists and diabetologists to update the ADA consensus statement on hyperglycemic crises in adults with diabetes, published in 2001 and last updated in 2009. The objective of this consensus report is to provide up-to-date knowledge about the epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and recommendations for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and hyperglycemic hyperosmolar state (HHS) in adults. A systematic examination of publications since 2009 informed new recommendations. The target audience is the full spectrum of diabetes health care professionals and individuals with diabetes.

Hyperglycaemic crises in adults with diabetes: a consensus report

The American Diabetes Association (ADA), European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD), Joint British Diabetes Societies for Inpatient Care (JBDS), American Association of Clinical Endocrinology (AACE) and Diabetes Technology Society (DTS) convened a panel of internists and diabetologists to update the ADA consensus statement on hyperglycaemic crises in adults with diabetes, published in 2001 and last updated in 2009. The objective of this consensus report is to provide up-to-date knowledge about the epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and recommendations for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and hyperglycaemic hyperosmolar state (HHS) in adults. A systematic examination of publications since 2009 informed new recommendations. The target audience is the full spectrum of diabetes healthcare professionals and individuals with diabetes.

Update on Measuring Ketones

Ketone bodies are an energy substrate produced by the liver and used during states of low carbohydrate availability, such as fasting or prolonged exercise. High ketone concentrations can be present with insulin insufficiency and are a key finding in diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). During states of insulin deficiency, lipolysis increases and a flood of circulating free fatty acids is converted in the liver into ketone bodies-mainly beta-hydroxybutyrate and acetoacetate. During DKA, beta-hydroxybutyrate is the predominant ketone in blood. As DKA resolves, beta-hydroxybutyrate is oxidized to acetoacetate, which is the predominant ketone in the urine. Because of this lag, a urine ketone test might be increasing even as DKA is resolving. Point-of-care tests are available for self-testing of blood ketones and urine ketones through measurement of beta-hydroxybutyrate and acetoacetate and are cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Acetone forms through spontaneous decarboxylation of acetoacetate and can be measured in exhaled breath, but currently no device is FDA-cleared for this purpose. Recently, technology has been announced for measuring beta-hydroxybutyrate in interstitial fluid. Measurement of ketones can be helpful to assess compliance with low carbohydrate diets; assessment of acidosis associated with alcohol use, in conjunction with SGLT2 inhibitors and immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy, both of which can increase the risk of DKA; and to identify DKA due to insulin deficiency. This article reviews the challenges and shortcomings of ketone testing in diabetes treatment and summarizes emerging trends in the measurement of ketones in the blood, urine, breath, and interstitial fluid.

Alternative Strategies to Provide Actionable Results When a Supply of Urinalysis Strips Is Unavailable

CONTEXT.—

Urinalysis instrument-specific dip strips offer physicians qualitative results for actionable analytes (protein, glucose, leukocyte esterase, nitrates, hemoglobin, and ketones).

OBJECTIVE.—

To explain a strategy implemented to support clinical decision-making by providing urine quantification of protein, glucose, white blood cells (WBCs), and red blood cells because of urine strip shortages.

DESIGN.—

During shortages, we implemented an automated algorithm that triggered sending urine samples to the automation line for quantification of protein and glucose and ensured that urine microscopy was performed to obtain WBC and red blood cell counts. The algorithm printed 2 labels so nursing staff would collect 2 specimens. We monitored the turnaround time from the specimen being received in the laboratory to result verification, ensured that the culture reflex order was triggered, and tracked complaints by physicians regarding not having usual urinalysis results. Prior to implementation, correlation between sample types for protein and glucose measurement was found acceptable.

RESULTS.—

The algorithm was put in place twice during 2022. The turnaround time of urine microscopic study was identical to that obtained when the urinalysis was done with the strips; however, the quantification of glucose and protein took approximately 30 minutes more. Urine reflex cultures were triggered correctly with the algorithm, as they were derived entirely from a WBC count higher than 10 per high-power field. During the shortage period we had only 1 complaint, by a physician wanting to have results of nitrates.

CONCLUSIONS.—

During urine strip shortages, we successfully implemented a diversion algorithm that provided actionable urinalysis analytes in a timely manner with minimal provider complaints.

Does Treatment with Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitors Affect Adherence to International Society Criteria for Diabetic Ketoacidosis in Adult Patients with Type 2 Diabetes? A Retrospective Cohort Analysis

Design

Retrospective observational study. Setting. Inpatients at two teaching hospitals in Queensland, Australia. Primary Outcome Measure(s). The number of patients meeting the Joint British Diabetes Society (JBDS) and American Association of Clinical Endocrinology/American College of Endocrinology (AACE/ACE) diagnostic criteria for DKA. Patients were divided into two groups by treatment with SGLT2i at the time of diagnosis. Participants. Adult patients (>18 years old) with type 2 diabetes diagnosed with DKA from April 2015 to January 2022. Patients without type 2 diabetes were excluded.

Results

One hundred and sixty-five patients were included in this study-comprising 94 patients in the SGLT2i cohort and 70 in the non-SGLT2i cohort. A significantly smaller proportion of patients in the SGLT2i vs. non-SGLT2i cohorts met both JBDS (56% vs. 72%, p = 0.035) and AACE/ACE (63% vs. 82%, p = 0.009) criteria for diagnosis of DKA.

Conclusion

Patients with type 2 diabetes treated with SGLT2i may be more likely to be diagnosed with DKA despite not meeting the criteria. Despite recent adjustments to account the physiological effects of SGLT2i, significant variation in criteria between major society guidelines presents ongoing challenges to clinicians. The proportion of patients diagnosed using both JDBS and AACE/ACE were comparable, suggesting a reasonable degree of agreement.

New advances in type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition resulting in insulin deficiency and eventual loss of pancreatic β cell function requiring lifelong insulin therapy. Since the discovery of insulin more than 100 years ago, vast advances in treatments have improved care for many people with type 1 diabetes. Ongoing research on the genetics and immunology of type 1 diabetes and on interventions to modify disease course and preserve β cell function have expanded our broad understanding of this condition. Biomarkers of type 1 diabetes are detectable months to years before development of overt disease, and three stages of diabetes are now recognized. The advent of continuous glucose monitoring and the newer automated insulin delivery systems have changed the landscape of type 1 diabetes management and are associated with improved glycated hemoglobin and decreased hypoglycemia. Adjunctive therapies such as sodium glucose cotransporter-1 inhibitors and glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists may find use in management in the future. Despite these rapid advances in the field, people living in under-resourced parts of the world struggle to obtain necessities such as insulin, syringes, and blood glucose monitoring essential for managing this condition. This review covers recent developments in diagnosis and treatment and future directions in the broad field of type 1 diabetes.

Perioperative Management of Patients Receiving Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors: Development of a Clinical Guideline at a Large Academic Medical Center

The use of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) is increasing rapidly for patients with diabetes, heart failure, and chronic kidney disease. These medications can cause euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis in the perioperative period, and the Food and Drug Administration recently updated their recommendations that they be held for at least 3-to-4 days preoperatively. There is a paucity of guidelines for the perioperative management of patients taking SGLT2i who present for emergent surgery or elective surgery having not held the medications per Food and Drug Administration guidelines. At the University of Pennsylvania, a multidisciplinary team from the Departments of Anesthesiology, Endocrinology, and Pharmacy has developed comprehensive guidelines detailing preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative management for patients using these medications. In this article, the authors present these guidelines and discuss challenges encountered while implementing them at a large academic medical center with satellite hospitals and surgery centers with varying resources and patient populations.

The effectiveness of blood glucose and blood ketone measurement in identifying significant acidosis in diabetic ketoacidosis patients

BACKGROUND

Patients with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a potentially fatal complication of type 1 diabetes, have hyperglycemia, ketonemia and metabolic acidosis. Blood glucose and blood ketone results are often used to triage patients with suspected DKA. This study aimed to establish how effective blood glucose and blood ketone (beta-hydroxybutyrate, BOHB) measurements are in identifying patients with significant acidosis and sought to validate existing diagnostic BOHB thresholds.

METHODS

Initial Emergency Department results on 161 presumptive DKA episodes in 95 patients (42 F, 53 M, age range 14-89 years) containing a complete dataset of D (glucose), K (BOHB) and A (Bicarbonate [HCO3] and pH) results.

RESULTS

Blood glucose correlated poorly with BOHB (r = 0.28 p = 0.0003), pH (r= -0.25, p = 0.002) and HCO3 (r= -0.17, p = 0.04). BOHB, though better, was still limited in predicting pH (r = -0.44, p < 0.0001) and HCO3 (r = -0.49, p < 0.0001). A HCO3 of 18mmol/L equated to a BOHB concentration of 4.3mmol/L, whilst a HCO3 of 15mmol/L equated to a BOHB of 4.7mmol/L. Of the 133 of 161 events with HCO3 < 18mmol/L, 22 were not hyperglycemic (> 13.9mmol/L, n = 8), ketonemic (≤ 3mmol/L, n = 9) or either (n = 5).

CONCLUSIONS

The commonly employed BOHB diagnostic cutoff of 3mmol/L could not be verified. Since acid-base status was poorly predicted by both glucose and BOHB, this highlights that, regardless of their results, pH and/or HCO3 should also be tested in any patient suspected of DKA.

Guidelines and Recommendations for Laboratory Analysis in the Diagnosis and Management of Diabetes Mellitus

BACKGROUND

Numerous laboratory tests are used in the diagnosis and management of diabetes mellitus. The quality of the scientific evidence supporting the use of these assays varies substantially.

APPROACH

An expert committee compiled evidence-based recommendations for laboratory analysis in screening, diagnosis, or monitoring of diabetes. The overall quality of the evidence and the strength of the recommendations were evaluated. The draft consensus recommendations were evaluated by invited reviewers and presented for public comment. Suggestions were incorporated as deemed appropriate by the authors (see Acknowledgments). The guidelines were reviewed by the Evidence Based Laboratory Medicine Committee and the Board of Directors of the American Association for Clinical Chemistry and by the Professional Practice Committee of the American Diabetes Association.

CONTENT

Diabetes can be diagnosed by demonstrating increased concentrations of glucose in venous plasma or increased hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) in the blood. Glycemic control is monitored by the people with diabetes measuring their own blood glucose with meters and/or with continuous interstitial glucose monitoring (CGM) devices and also by laboratory analysis of HbA1c. The potential roles of noninvasive glucose monitoring, genetic testing, and measurement of ketones, autoantibodies, urine albumin, insulin, proinsulin, and C-peptide are addressed.

SUMMARY

The guidelines provide specific recommendations based on published data or derived from expert consensus. Several analytes are found to have minimal clinical value at the present time, and measurement of them is not recommended.

Guidelines and Recommendations for Laboratory Analysis in the Diagnosis and Management of Diabetes Mellitus

BACKGROUND

Numerous laboratory tests are used in the diagnosis and management of diabetes mellitus. The quality of the scientific evidence supporting the use of these assays varies substantially.

APPROACH

An expert committee compiled evidence-based recommendations for laboratory analysis in screening, diagnosis, or monitoring of diabetes. The overall quality of the evidence and the strength of the recommendations were evaluated. The draft consensus recommendations were evaluated by invited reviewers and presented for public comment. Suggestions were incorporated as deemed appropriate by the authors (see Acknowledgments). The guidelines were reviewed by the Evidence Based Laboratory Medicine Committee and the Board of Directors of the American Association of Clinical Chemistry and by the Professional Practice Committee of the American Diabetes Association.

CONTENT

Diabetes can be diagnosed by demonstrating increased concentrations of glucose in venous plasma or increased hemoglobin A1c (Hb A1c) in the blood. Glycemic control is monitored by the people with diabetes measuring their own blood glucose with meters and/or with continuous interstitial glucose monitoring (CGM) devices and also by laboratory analysis of Hb A1c. The potential roles of noninvasive glucose monitoring, genetic testing, and measurement of ketones, autoantibodies, urine albumin, insulin, proinsulin, and C-peptide are addressed.

SUMMARY

The guidelines provide specific recommendations based on published data or derived from expert consensus. Several analytes are found to have minimal clinical value at the present time, and measurement of them is not recommended.

Utility of plasma beta-hydroxybutyrate to define resolution of diabetic ketoacidosis

BACKGROUND

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a common, life-threatening complication of type 1 diabetes (T1D) characterized by unregulated ketogenesis caused by relative or absolute insulin deficiency. DKA management requires frequent biochemical monitoring. Plasma ß-hydroxybutyrate (BOHB) has not been included in traditional definitions of DKA resolution.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to determine a cut-point level of BOHB to define DKA resolution in patients with T1D treated with intravenous (IV) insulin.

SUBJECTS

We identified patients with T1D receiving IV insulin for DKA treatment at a quaternary children's hospital from January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2020 who had plasma measurements of BOHB after DKA onset and whose DKA resolved by traditional laboratory criteria (venous pH (vpH) ≥ 7.3, serum bicarbonate (HCO3 ) ≥ 15 mmol/L, and/or anion gap (AG) ≤ 14 mmol/L).

METHODS

Associations between plasma BOHB and vpH, HCO3 , and AG were evaluated via scatterplots. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and area under the curve (AUC) were used to evaluate BOHB cut-points to predict DKA resolution.

RESULTS

We analyzed 403 patients with 471 unique encounters. Plasma BOHB showed the most robust relationship with AG. The ROC curve comparing plasma BOHB to the accepted definition of DKA resolution, AG ≤14 mmol/L, had an AUC of 0.92. A BOHB value of <1.5 mmol/L had a sensitivity of 83% and specificity of 87%; this cut-point correctly classified 86% of the observations.

CONCLUSIONS

A plasma BOHB value of <1.5 mmol/L can be used to define resolution of DKA.

Hospital Diabetes Meeting 2022

The annual Virtual Hospital Diabetes Meeting was hosted by Diabetes Technology Society on April 1 and April 2, 2022. This meeting brought together experts in diabetes technology to discuss various new developments in the field of managing diabetes in hospitalized patients. Meeting topics included (1) digital health and the hospital, (2) blood glucose targets, (3) software for inpatient diabetes, (4) surgery, (5) transitions, (6) coronavirus disease and diabetes in the hospital, (7) drugs for diabetes, (8) continuous glucose monitoring, (9) quality improvement, (10) diabetes care and educatinon, and (11) uniting people, process, and technology to achieve optimal glycemic management. This meeting covered new technology that will enable better care of people with diabetes if they are hospitalized.

Exogenous Ketone Supplements in Athletic Contexts: Past, Present, and Future

The ketone bodies acetoacetate (AcAc) and β-hydroxybutyrate (βHB) have pleiotropic effects in multiple organs including brain, heart, and skeletal muscle by serving as an alternative substrate for energy provision, and by modulating inflammation, oxidative stress, catabolic processes, and gene expression. Of particular relevance to athletes are the metabolic actions of ketone bodies to alter substrate utilisation through attenuating glucose utilisation in peripheral tissues, anti-lipolytic effects on adipose tissue, and attenuation of proteolysis in skeletal muscle. There has been long-standing interest in the development of ingestible forms of ketone bodies that has recently resulted in the commercial availability of exogenous ketone supplements (EKS). These supplements in the form of ketone salts and ketone esters, in addition to ketogenic compounds such as 1,3-butanediol and medium chain triglycerides, facilitate an acute transient increase in circulating AcAc and βHB concentrations, which has been termed 'acute nutritional ketosis' or 'intermittent exogenous ketosis'. Some studies have suggested beneficial effects of EKS to endurance performance, recovery, and overreaching, although many studies have failed to observe benefits of acute nutritional ketosis on performance or recovery. The present review explores the rationale and historical development of EKS, the mechanistic basis for their proposed effects, both positive and negative, and evidence to date for their effects on exercise performance and recovery outcomes before concluding with a discussion of methodological considerations and future directions in this field.