Nurses' Performance Regarding Caring of Patient with Diabetic Ketoacidosis

Abstract

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA): is a potentially life-threatening complication in people with diabetes mellitus, results from a shortage of insulin that cause most of the symptoms and complications. DKA is diagnosed with blood and urine tests, treatment involves intravenous fluids to correct dehydration, insulin to suppress the production of ketone bodies, correction acidosis, treatment for any underlying causes such as infection, and close observation to prevent and identify complications. (Onyiriuka and Ifebi, 2013& Nemecek, Hermayer, Arnold & Bohm, 2014). DKA is a medical emergency which require rapid hospital admission and prompt action and treatment to prevent life threatening complications. The healthcare professional should ensure that they have the ability to provide support and education to people at risk of developing DKA and those that have had an episode of DKA. It is important to re-enforce the ongoing education to help reduce both the initial occurrence and recurrence of this often preventable life-threatening condition (Mills and Stamper, 2014).