Outpatient management of DKA

Outpatient management of diabetic ketoacidosis is inherently limited to early intervention during impending ketosis, as overt DKA with metabolic acidosis and volume depletion mandates emergency evaluation and inpatient intravenous resuscitation. In ambulatory patients with elevated capillary beta-hydroxybutyrate and hyperglycemia, home triage focuses on aggressive subcutaneous rapid-acting insulin administration, oral carbohydrate-electrolyte rehydration, and frequent ketone monitoring. However, persistent hyperketonemia exceeding 3.0 mmol/L, refractory nausea, vomiting, mental status alteration, or hemodynamic instability represent unequivocal failure of outpatient management requiring immediate transfer for intravenous insulin infusion, potassium repletion, and systemic acid-base correction.