Diabetes screening
Diabetes screening using a blood test as part of newborn screening: by detecting multiple beta cell autoantibodies in the blood, type 1 diabetes can be detected at a very early, still asymptomatic stage with a sensitivity of almost 90%, thus preventing ketoacidosis.
To prevent diabetic coma, attention must be paid to reducing individual risk factors.
Ketoacidotic coma
Behavioral risk factors
- Dietary errors
Medication
- Insufficient insulin therapy
- Medication error
- Therapy with glucocorticoids, diuretics (drugs that promote the excretion of water from the body with urine).
Hyperosmolar coma
Behavioral risk factors
- Nutrition:
- Intake of excessive amounts of glucose-containing beverages (fruit juices, cola, etc.).
Disease-related risk factors
Infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99).
- Infections – lead to increased insulin requirements; they are the most common trigger, accounting for circa 40%.
Symptoms and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings not classified elsewhere (R00-R99)
- Impaired thirst sensation
- Large fluid losses during heavy sweating or fever
Medication
- Inadequate uncontrolled intravenous administration of isotonic or hypertonic solutions (e.g., hyperalimentation)
- Therapy with diuretics* , certain psychotropic drugs* , glucocorticoids.
* See Drug side effects/Diabetogenic effect due to drugs.