Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is one of the most common and grave acute complications of diabetes and is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality.
The current available guidelines state that the most effective means of insulin delivery during DKA is a continuous low dose infusion of regular insulin. The patients must be admitted to the ICU for frequent and close monitoring .In addition to insulin infusion, correction of dehydration, and electrolyte and acid base disorders is achieved together with identification and treatment of co-morbid precipitating factors .
"The Joint British Diabetes Societies guideline for the management of diabetic ketoacidosis" recommends continuation of a long-acting insulin analogue such as insulin glargine during the initial management of DKA because it provides background insulin when the intravenous insulin is discontinue.
Administering basal insulin concomitantly with regular insulin infusion was found to be well tolerated, associated with faster resolution of acidosis without any adverse effects; patients required a shorter duration of intravenous insulin infusion and had a lower total dose of intravenous insulin and significantly decreased hyperglycemia after discontinuation of the intravenous insulin .
