Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) Case Study (45 min)
Included In This Lesson
Study Tools For Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) Case Study (45 min)
Outline
Mr. Logan is a 32-year-old male with a history of DM Type I. He presented to the Emergency Department (ED) after being found by his family with decreased LOC, rapid heavy breathing, and fruity breath. His family reports flu-like symptoms for the last few days.

Before even gathering further information - what do you think is going on? Why?
What diagnostic or lab tests would you expect the provider to order?
The nurse draws a Complete Metabolic Panel and notifies the Respiratory Therapist to obtain an Arterial Blood Gas. Upon further assessment, the patient is oriented x 2 and drowsy. He is breathing heavily. Lungs are clear to auscultation, S1/S2 present, bowel sounds active, pulses present and palpable x 4 extremities. A POC glucose reads >450 (meter max).
Vital signs are as follows:
HR 87
RR 32
BP 123/77
SpO2 96%
Mr. Logan’s labs result and show the following:
Glucose 804 mg/dL
K 6.1 mEq/L
BUN 39 mg/dL
pH 7.12
Cr 1.9 mg/dL
pCO2 30
Anion Gap 29 mEq/L
HCO3– 17
Urine = Positive for Ketones
Using these lab results, explain what is going on physiologically with Mr. Logan.
What is the #1 priority for Mr. Logan at this time?
The provider writes an order for an Insulin Lispro infusion IV, titrating to decrease blood glucose per protocol, 1L NS bolus NOW, and a continuous infusion of Normal Saline IV at 250 mL/hr, and to change the fluids to D5 ½ NS at 125 mL/hr once the blood glucose level falls below 250 mg/dL.
The provider adjusts the order to Regular Insulin IV infusion. Orders are also written for hourly POC glucose checks and a q2h BMP. After 4 hours and another 1L bolus of NS, Mr. Logan’s blood glucose level has dropped to 174 mg/dL, but his anion gap is still 19. The nurse changes his fluids to D5 ½ NS per the order and continues the insulin infusion. The most recent BMP showed a K of 3.7, down from 6.1, so the provider orders to give 40 mEq of KCl PO. After another 4 hours, Mr. Logan’s anion gap is now 12, a repeat ABG shows a pH of 7.36 with normal CO2 and HCO3– levels. The nurse begins to transition Mr. Logan off of the IV infusion to SubQ insulin per protocol. He is feeling much better and says he’s embarrassed that he had to be brought to the hospital.
What is the first action you should take after receiving these orders?
Why is it important to check a BMP frequently? What are we monitoring for?
Why is the insulin continued even after the blood glucose decreases?
What education can you provide Mr. Logan to help him understand why this happened and how to prevent it from recurring in the future?
Rina’s NCLEX Study Plan
Concepts Covered:
- Cardiovascular
- Emergency Care of the Cardiac Patient
- Circulatory System
- Cardiac Disorders
- Disorders of the Posterior Pituitary Gland
- Endocrine
- Disorders of Pancreas
- Disorders of the Thyroid & Parathyroid Glands
- Hematology
- Gastrointestinal
- Liver & Gallbladder Disorders
- Lower GI Disorders
- Multisystem
- Neurological
- Nervous System
- Central Nervous System Disorders – Brain
- Renal
- Respiratory
- Urinary System
- Respiratory System
- Noninfectious Respiratory Disorder
- Basics of NCLEX
- Test Taking Strategies
- Respiratory Disorders
- Hematologic Disorders
- EENT Disorders
- Basics of Chemistry
- Adult
- Medication Administration
- Acute & Chronic Renal Disorders
- Emergency Care of the Respiratory Patient
- Respiratory Emergencies
- Studying
- Substance Abuse Disorders
- Disorders of the Adrenal Gland
- Behavior
- Infectious Disease Disorders
- Oncology Disorders
- Female Reproductive Disorders
- Anxiety Disorders
- Renal Disorders
- Prenatal Concepts
- Vascular Disorders
- Gastrointestinal Disorders
- Peripheral Nervous System Disorders
- Integumentary Disorders
- Immunological Disorders
- Sexually Transmitted Infections
- Upper GI Disorders
- Microbiology
- Labor and Delivery
- Communication
- Proteins
- Newborn Care
- Hematologic System
- Urinary Disorders
- Eating Disorders
- Musculoskeletal Disorders
- Bipolar Disorders
- Terminology
- Pregnancy Risks
- Concepts of Population Health
- Factors Influencing Community Health
- Postpartum Complications
- Prioritization
- Psychotic Disorders
- Basics of Human Biology
- Neurologic and Cognitive Disorders
- Labor Complications
- Writing
- Statistics
- Community Health Overview
- Dosage Calculations
- Musculoskeletal Trauma
- Neurological Trauma
- Note Taking
- Cardiovascular Disorders
- Concepts of Mental Health
- Health & Stress
- Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders
- Cognitive Disorders
- Depressive Disorders
- Developmental Considerations
- Shock
- Documentation and Communication
- Legal and Ethical Issues
- EENT Disorders
- Fundamentals of Emergency Nursing
- Emotions and Motivation
- Renal and Urinary Disorders
- Digestive System
- Integumentary Disorders
- Intraoperative Nursing
- Fetal Development
- Basics of Mathematics
- Prenatal and Neonatal Growth and Development
- Childhood Growth and Development
- Preoperative Nursing
- Postoperative Nursing
- Neurological Emergencies
- Understanding Society
- Somatoform Disorders
- Reading
- Emergency Care of the Neurological Patient
- Infectious Respiratory Disorder
- Metabolism
- Oncologic Disorders
- Developmental Theories
- Basics of Sociology
- Emergency Care of the Trauma Patient
- Med Term Basic
- Med Term Whole
- Suffixes
- Central Nervous System Disorders – Spinal Cord
- Muscular System
- Neonatal
- Newborn Complications
- Male Reproductive Disorders
- Adulthood Growth and Development
- Perioperative Nursing Roles
- Concepts of Pharmacology
- Endocrine System
- Postpartum Care
- Trauma-Stress Disorders
- Psychological Disorders
- State of Consciousness
- Shock
- Skeletal System
- Learning Pharmacology
- Hematologic Disorders
- Prefixes
- Delegation
- Tissues and Glands
- Personality Disorders
- Basic
- Musculoskeletal Disorders
- Disorders of Thermoregulation
- Integumentary Important Points
- Reproductive System
- Psychological Emergencies
- Growth & Development
- Intelligence and Language
- Pediatric
- Sensory System