Study of the Management of Diabetic Metabolic Emergency in the National Teaching Hospital HKM of Cotonou

Objective: To study the epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic profile of diabetic metabolic emergencies. Patients and methods: This was a prospective study in descriptive and analytical referred conducted over a period of 6 months in the National Teaching Hosptial HKM of Cotonou December 1, 2011 to May 31, 2012. The patients included in the case of our study were those who, conscious or comatose, had submitted a diabetic hypoglycemia or abnormal blood sugar (2.5 g/l), with a positive glycosuria and ketonuria positive or not. All patients gave their consent for this study. Results: 2786 patients were admitted to the emergency room, 57 (2%) of acute metabolic decompensation of diabetes. DKA accounted for 1.1%, hyperosmolar hyperglycemic syndrome 0.5% and 0.4% hypoglycemia. For hyperglycemic decompensation, sex ratio was 0.8 for females with a mean age of 50.7 ± 16.9 (16-84). For hypoglycemia, male gender was predominant. As decompensation factors for hyperglycemia, infection was found in 54% (n = 30) of cases and stroke by 29% hypertension (n = 15). As for hypoglycemia triggers were dominated by dietary error (50%) and therapeutic errors (25%). 63% (n = 36) of patients underwent resuscitation. More than 3 out of 4 patients were resuscitated to insulin. 98% of patients were rehydrated. The outcome was favorable in 56% of cases. The death rate was 25 % (n = 14). Conclusion: Diabetes mellitus is a serious condition and its severity is mainly due to complications which can be acute or chronic.