Summary
-
1.
Diabetic acidosis and coma develop through the steps of dehydration and starvation; its severity is proportional to the degree of fluid and electrolyte imbalance.
-
2.
Diabetic acidosis and coma are not precipitated by hyperglycemia itself, but only by that type of hyperglycemia which is due to critical insulin deficiency.
-
3.
Critical insulin deficiency may be caused by various mechanisms; these constitute a vicious cycle leading to coma and acidosis.
-
4.
The need for large doses of insulin, for fluid replacement and judicious use of glucose in coma treatment is emphasized.
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Read at the Clinical Session of the American Medical Association, Cleveland, Ohio, December 5–8, 1950.
Sponsored by the Veterans Administration and published with the approval of the Chief Medical Director. The statements and conclusions published by the author are a result of his own study and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or policy of the Veterans Administration.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Goldner, M.G. Diabetic coma problems of fluid and electrolyte balance. Amer. Jour. Dig. Dis. 18, 235–240 (1951). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02891986
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02891986