Effectiveness of Subcutaneous Glargine On The Time To Closure of The Anion Gap in Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department With Diabetic Keto-acidosis

Number of Participants Admitted to the ICU

The goal was to determine if the amount of patients admitted to the ICU could be reduced by providing more efficient resolution of the critical condition which is the acidosis.

Time frame: Participants followed for the duration of the Emergency Department stay, an expected average of 12 hours

Intensive Care Unit Length of Stay

Determine the amount of time patient is admitted to the intensive care unit with the goal of assessing if more efficient correction of the acidosis results in decreased time in the intensive care unit for the patients.

Time frame: Participants monitored from hospital admission to discharge, an average of 4 days

Hospital Length of Stay

Hospital length of stay was determined to assess whether a more efficient correction of the acidosis will result in decreased time that the patient is admitted to the hospital. Results reported are adjusted for age, hospital site, and etiology of diabetic ketoacidosis.

Time frame: Participants monitored from hospital admission to discharge, an average of 4 days

Number of Participants Who Developed Hypoglycemia

To determine whether it is safe to administer both IV and subcutaneous insulin, it is important to assure that patient's glucose does not drop to critically low level and lead to adverse events. Hypoglycemia was defined as less than or equal to 60mg/dL during 24 hours after anion gap closure. Anion Gap is a measure of acidosis that results from decompensated Diabetes Mellitus. Acidosis is the result of the body being unable to utilize glucose for energy production and instead uses fatty acid metabolism resulting in ketone formation. Anion Gap is a surrogate measure for the level of ketones resulting in the excess acid production.