InCheat Sheets / Emergencies / Endocrinology / Internal MedicineAcute Complications of Diabetes Mellitus Knowledge Check Exam-style MCQs aligned with these notes. Available to Hyperexcision Scholar members. Log in to access Last updated: March 18, 2026Bookmark Acute complications of diabetes Hyperglycemic crises Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic State (HHS) Euglycemic DKA Hypoglycaemia DKA vs HHS vs EDKA DKAHHSEKDAPredominant featureKetonemia and high anion gap metabolic acidosisVery high glucose and serum osmolalityKetonemia and high anion gap metabolic acidosisGlucose>13.9>33.3Normal (<11)Ketones> 3 mmol/L in blood, 2+ in urineNormal> 3 mmol/L in blood, 2+ in urineSerum osmolalityRaised> 320RaisedPredominant diabetesT1DM, Less frequently T2DM and GDMT2DM, Less frequently T1DM, T2DM in children and 6q24 genotype transient neonatal diabetesT1DM, LADA, T2DM on SGLT2i, with pregnancy, glycogen storage disease, alcoholism, very low-calorie diet, severe liver diseaseAgeYoungOlderMostly youngPhenotypeLeanObeseLean to obeseComplicationsCerebral edema, Iatrogenic hypoglycemia, Hypokalemia, ARDS, Arterial or venous thromboembolismIatrogenic hypoglycemia, hypokalemia, Myocardial infarction, disseminated intravascular coagulation, pulmonary, arterial or venous thromboembolismSame as DKA Reference Intervals › Biochemistry ACTHP: <80 ng/L ALTP: 5–35 U/L AlbuminP: 35–50 g/L AldosteroneP: 100–500 pmol/L Alk. phosphataseP: 30–130 U/L α-AmylaseP: 0–180 IU/dL α-FetoproteinS: <10 kU/L Angiotensin IIP: 5–35 pmol/L ADHP: 0.9–4.6 pmol/L ASTP: 5–35 U/L BicarbonateP: 24–30 mmol/L BilirubinP: 3–17 μmol/L BNPP: <50 ng/L CRPP: <10 mg/L CalcitoninP: <0.1 mcg/L Calcium (ionized)P: 1.0–1.25 mmol/L Calcium (total)P: 2.12–2.60 mmol/L ChlorideP: 95–105 mmol/L CholesterolP: <5.0 mmol/L VLDLP: 0.128–0.645 mmol/L LDLP: <2.0 mmol/L HDLP: 0.9–1.93 mmol/L Cortisol AMP: 450–700 nmol/L Cortisol MidnightP: 80–280 nmol/L CK ♂P: 25–195 U/L CK ♀P: 25–170 U/L CreatinineP: 70–100 μmol/L FerritinP: 12–200 mcg/L FolateS: 2.1 mcg/L FSHP: 2–8 U/L ♂; >25 menopause GGT ♂P: 11–51 U/L GGT ♀P: 7–33 U/L Glucose (fasting)P: 3.5–5.5 mmol/L Growth hormoneP: <20 mu/L HbA1C (DCCT)B: 4–6% HbA1C (IFCC)B: 20–42 mmol/mol Iron ♂S: 14–31 μmol/L Iron ♀S: 11–30 μmol/L Lactate (venous)P: 0.6–2.4 mmol/L Lactate (arterial)P: 0.6–1.8 mmol/L LDHP: 70–250 U/L LHP: 3–16 U/L MagnesiumP: 0.75–1.05 mmol/L OsmolalityP: 278–305 mosmol/kg PTHP: 0.8–8.5 pmol/L PotassiumP: 3.5–5.3 mmol/L Prolactin ♂P: <450 U/L Prolactin ♀P: <600 U/L PSAP: 0–4 mcg/mL Protein (total)P: 60–80 g/L Red cell folateB: 0.36–1.44 μmol/L Renin (erect)P: 2.8–4.5 pmol/mL/h Renin (recumbent)P: 1.1–2.7 pmol/mL/h SodiumP: 135–145 mmol/L TBGP: 7–17 mg/L TSHP: 0.5–4.2 mU/L T4P: 70–140 nmol/L Free T4P: 9–22 pmol/L TIBCS: 54–75 μmol/L TriglyceridesP: 0.50–2.3 mmol/L T3P: 1.2–3.0 nmol/L Troponin TP: <0.1 mcg/L Urate ♂P: 210–480 μmol/L Urate ♀P: 150–390 μmol/L UreaP: 2.5–6.7 mmol/L Vitamin B12S: 0.13–0.68 nmol/L Vitamin DS: 50 nmol/L Arterial Blood Gases pH7.35–7.45 PaCO₂4.7–6.0 kPa PaO₂>10.6 kPa Base excess±2 mmol/L Urine Cortisol (free)<280 nmol/24h Hydroxyindole acetic acid16–73 μmol/24h Hydroxymethylmandelic acid16–48 μmol/24h Metanephrines0.03–0.69 μmol/mmol cr. Osmolality350–1000 mosmol/kg 17-Oxogenic steroids ♂28–30 μmol/24h 17-Oxogenic steroids ♀21–66 μmol/24h 17-Oxosteroids ♂17–76 μmol/24h 17-Oxosteroids ♀14–59 μmol/24h Phosphate (inorganic)15–50 mmol/24h Potassium14–120 mmol/24h Protein<150 mg/24h Protein/creatinine ratio<3 mg/mmol Sodium100–250 mmol/24h Haematology WCC4.0–11.0 ×10⁹/L RBC ♂4.5–6.5 ×10¹²/L RBC ♀3.9–5.6 ×10¹²/L Hb ♂130–180 g/L Hb ♀115–160 g/L PCV ♂0.4–0.54 L/L PCV ♀0.37–0.47 L/L MCV76–96 fL MCH27–32 pg MCHC300–360 g/L RDW11.6–14.6% Neutrophils2.0–7.5 ×10⁹/L (40–75%) Lymphocytes1.0–4.5 ×10⁹/L (20–45%) Eosinophils0.04–0.44 ×10⁹/L (1–6%) Basophils0–0.10 ×10⁹/L (0–1%) Monocytes0.2–0.8 ×10⁹/L (2–10%) Platelets150–400 ×10⁹/L Reticulocytes0.8–2.0% / 25–100 ×10⁹/L Prothrombin time10–14 s APTT35–45 s Paediatric Pulse Rate (bpm) Neonate140–160 Infant <1yr120–140 1–5 years110–130 5–12 years80–120 >12 years70–100 Respiratory Rate (tachypnoea) 0–2 months≥60/min 2–12 months≥50/min 1–5 years≥40/min >5 years≥30/min Blood Pressure (mmHg) Term65/45 1 year75/50 4 years85/60 8 years95/65 10 years100/70 Weight Formulas 3–12 months(a + 9)/2 kg 1–6 years2a + 8 kg >6 years(7a − 5)/2 kg Haemoglobin (g/dL) Term newborn13–20 1 month11–18 2 months10–15 1–2 years10–13 >2 years11–14 MUAC (6 months–5 years) Obese>17.5 cm Normal13.5–17.4 cm At risk12.5–13.4 cm Moderate malnutrition11.5–12.4 cm Severe malnutrition<11.5 cm Developmental Milestones Social smile1.5 months Head control4 months Sits unsupported7 months Crawls10 months Stands unsupported10–12 months Walks12–13 months Talks18 months CSF WBC (/mm³) Term newborn0–25 >2 weeks0–5 Calculator › C ⌫ % ÷ 7 8 9 × 4 5 6 − 1 2 3 + 0 . = Leave a ReplyCancel ReplyYou must be logged in to post a comment.