Author: Kelly Palfrey, RVN, CertVNECC

Kelly qualified as an RVN in 2009 and spent 12 years working in various roles (including head nurse and clinical coach) at a mixed practice, where she treated a wide variety of species, before moving to a first opinion practice specialising in small animals. Kelly continues to coach student veterinary nurses and undertakes a senior nurse role, through which she shares her enthusiasm, experience and knowledge with the next generation of RVNs. She gained her certificate in emergency and critical care in 2021, and is aiming to complete an anaesthesia certificate in the near future.

ABSTRACT Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a severe, potentially life-threatening metabolic disorder that occurs secondary to diabetes mellitus (DM), a commonly managed condition in veterinary patients. DKA can occur when DM has not yet been detected, Then it is diagnosed but poorly controlled, or when a concurrent illness has caused destabilisation. This article will provide an in-depth understanding of the pathophysiology of DKA, how it is diagnosed and what is involved in stabilising these patients.
Keywords diabetic ketoacidosis, insulin, diabetes mellitus, ketones, blood glucose, fluid therapy.

DOI: 10.56496/EITM9063

To cite this article: Palfrey, K. (2023) Understanding diabetic ketoacidosis. VNJ 38(5) pp48-51

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