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New Patient Guidelines Developed to Help Prevent Deaths From Diabetic Ketoacidosis Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a complication of diabetes resulting from insufficient insulin, can lead to coma and eventually death if it is not controlled. Minimising the likelihood of developing DKA is the first priority for the newly set up Diabetes Monitoring Forum, which has created new blood ketone monitoring advice for patients. Today at the annual Professional Conference of Diabetes UK in Glasgow the Forum presented the evidence-base supporting the development of this new advice card. The catalyst for the card's creation stems from a recent advance in monitoring technology, which enables patients to measure both blood glucose and blood ketones using the same device. The new advice card was necessitated (is this really a word?) by a recent advance, whereby people with diabetes can now monitor blood ketones, with a meter that measures both blood glucose and blood ketones, the Optium Meter from MediSense, a division of Abbott Laboratories. Previously the only way for patients to assess for DKA was to measure ketones in the urine.Previously when it was suspected that DKA was developing, ketones could only be measured in urine Although this method is helpful, it can be inconvenient, but more importantly, it is not the most accurate method as it is not as accurate as the new measure,does not measure which uses â-OHB, the major acid in ketoacidosis. Also, patients can find measuring urinary ketones inconvenientNow with the So the recent and important advance for people with diabetes is the development of a dual glucose/ketone meter (Optium forom MediSense, Abbott Laboratories) people with diabetes, who are used to monitoring their blood glucose on a regular basis, can also use this meter and second reagent strip to measure ketones (via detection of â-OHB) on the same fingerprick sample. The majority of people with diabetes will be used to monitoring their blood glucose on a regular basis. Now by using this meter and a second reagent strip, ketones and glucose can be measured rapidly on the same fingerprick sample. Although ketones do not need to be measured very often, when a person with diabetes has suspected DKA, knowledge of blood ketone levels, combined with appropriate advice, can help the patient and healthcare professional reduce the risk of developing DKA 3-4% of people die as a result of DKA (Really!!!). It is difficult to obtain accurate figures on deaths attributed to diabetic ketoacidosis but there is evidence to suggest that 4-5% of cases of DKA are fatal. It is a medical emergency and speed is essential in treating it successfully. Therefore, early recognition of the warning signs can allow treatment to be started immediately and stop the condition developing into full-blown DKA. Being able to measure blood levels of â-OHB not only gives a sensitive test of when treatment is needed, but it can also shows if that treatment is working, or whether treatment needs to be increased. It can also be a good indicator of when the person needs to go to hospital. The new advice card, which will be made available through the healthcare team and launched later this year, provides a simple set of instructions for people with diabetes. It helps them to adjust their treatment according to the level of blood ketones detected by their monitor Previously, the only way for people to keep a check on diabetic ketoacidosis was by measuring urinary ketones. The pocket-sized ready reference guide has been specifically designed to fit a wallet or handbag to ensure people keep it with them and can refer to it easily at any time. This card is part of the overall mission of the Diabetes Monitoring Forum, which is to optimise the role of blood glucose and blood ketone monitoring in the management of diabetes. The Forum aims to achieve this by creating and evaluating advice and practical materials for both people with diabetes and healthcare professionals. The Forum's work is supported through a partnership between healthcare professionals, people with diabetes and MediSense. For more information on the work of the Diabetes Monitoring Forum or the advice card please contact: Dr Neil Bindemann at PRiMED Communications 07885 664261 Ian Yeeles at MediSense on 01628 678900. |
