KUMJ | VOL. 19 | NO. 4 | ISSUE 76 | OCT.-DEC. 2021
Clinical Dilemma of Diabetic Ketoacidosis and COVID-19 Infection
Sapkota P, Chalise S, Shrestha P
Abstract: The COVID-19 Pneumonia with diabetic ketoacidosis is a dreadful health condition.
Diabetic ketoacidosis is one of the severe metabolic complications and it can
be precipitated by infection. We presented a case of 48 years female with no
known comorbidities who presented with COVID-19 symptoms and with Diabetic
Ketoacidosis. The case presented with elevated inflammatory markers, high anion
gap metabolic acidosis with type I respiratory failure. During admission, the oxygen
saturation had marked drop, later her improvement was steady followed by gradual
tapering of the oxygenation. Marked improvement was noticed in the subsequent
follow-up. COVID-19 infection can be precipitated by preexisting diabetes or newly
diagnosed diabetes and the severity of COVID-19 infection is more pronounced in
patients with diabetes mellitus, thus should be managed timely and accordingly.
The scarce studies among the COVID-19 cases with diabetic ketoacidosis reflect the
need for further studies for the availability of a wider range of information.
Keyword : Diabetic ketoacidosis, Metabolic complications, Severe COVID-19 pneumonia