Documento de posición sobre complicaciones agudas en el niño y adolescente con diabetes mellitus tipo 1: hipoglucemia y cetoacidosis

Abstract

Acute complications of type 1 diabetes mellitus in children and adolescents are hypoglycemia and ketoacidosis. The first, the most common, constitutes the most important psychological barrier of good metabolic control. The patient and his parents are affected psycho-emotionally by these episodes and, therefore, avoid carrying out glycemic values at normal levels. Currently, the education and use of continuous blood glucose sensors, insulin analogues and different insulin infusers have reduced the frequency and severity of this decompensation. Despite all the efforts made to disseminate knowledge about the signs and symptoms of diabetes mellitus, the prevalence of the diagnosis of the disease in ketoacidosis is 20% to 40% of cases. The morbidity and mortality secondary to treatment has decreased due to the dissemination of the various protocols issued by international pediatric societies. These are according to the pathophysiology, and the differences between them are insignificant. The optimal protocol is the one that best adapts to professional training and the environment in which it is used. The attitude of parents and the doctor in the treatment of these situations is determinant of success.