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The authors discussed the results of the treatment of 50 patients who had been admitted to hospital with diabetic ketoacidosis. The purpose of the investigation was to prove the effectiveness and reliability of therapy of diabetic ketoacidosis using small doses of insulin in combination with the administration of a sufficient amount of liquid, potassium and, when indicated, sodium bicarbonate. The authors presented a detailed scheme of therapy of diabetic ketoacidosis and assessed the effectiveness of its use based on analysis of clinical and laboratory findings. The results obtained permitted its recommendation for a wide clinical use.

The clinical and biochemical data obtained in 85 patients with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) are presented. DKA is an acute exacerbation of diabetes, a characteristic clinico-biochemical syndrome including increasing thirst, polyuria, adynamia, dryness of the skin and mucous membranes, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, occasionally abdominal pain, Kussmaul's breath, acetone odour in the exhaled air, circulatory collapse, prerenal azotemia, stupor, coma. Glycemia level exceeds 19 mmol/l, blood pH over 7.3. The disease is marked by neutrophilic leukocytosis, blood count shift to the left, elevated blood content of creatinine and urea. It was established that the degree of consciousness abnormality does not always correlate with the degree of the clinico-biochemical manifestations of DKA. During DKA, coma occurs relatively seldom (5.9%). It is suggested to use the term "diabetic ketoacidosis", incipient or marked, indicating the degree of consciousness abnormality (stupor, coma).