Low-dose intravenous insulin: treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis in children (suitability for use in community hospitals).

A regimen is described to simplify current methods of ketoacidosis therapy by using only standard intravenous equipment and without requiring albumin administration. After an initial intravenous insulin bolus of 2 units, a dose of up to 3 units per hour was sufficient to bring patients out of ketoacidosis. No hypoglycemia, significant hypokalemia, or rapid fall in serum osmolality was detected. Patients showed steady increases in endogenous bicarbonate and were out of metabolic acidosis in 8.4 hours. This modified regimen appears to be a safe and easy method of treating diabetic ketoacidosis in children and is suited for use in community hospitals. Since the method is described for children over the age of three or those not in severe coma, consultation should be sought for any infant and for any child in severe coma or with a significant complication, such as severe infection.