Risk Factors

Fig 4: Young people who use insulin pumps to control their diabetes are at greater risk of DKA

The risk factos for DKA include [4,5]:

  • New diagnosis in children of young age
  • Delayed diagnosis
  • Poor diabetic control/previous DKA
  • Peri-pubertal or adolescent girls
  • Patients with psychiatric morbidity (including eating disorders)
  • Patients with unstable family circumstances
  • Patients who omit insulin (deliberate or unintentional)
  • Patients with limited access to medical services
  • Patients who use an insulin pump[1,27]:
    • Such devices only utilise rapid acting insulin (i.e. Novorapid®)
    • Hence, any interruption in supply can lead to rapid ketosis