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Comparison of a Low Dose to a Standard Dose of Insulin in Adult DKA in ICU to Reduce Metabolic Complications

Comparison of a Low Dose to a Standard Dose of Insulin in Adult Diabetic Ketoacidosis in ICU to Reduce Metabolic Complications : a Randomized, Controlled Study

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05443802
Acronym
LOSTINDIAB
Enrollment
150
Registered
2022-07-05
Start date
2022-08-16
Completion date
2025-03-31
Last updated
2025-05-29

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Diabetic Ketoacidosis

Keywords

Diabetic ketoacidosis, Insulin deficiency, Hypoglycemia, Hypokalemia, Metabolic complications

Brief summary

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a frequent complication of diabetes, is the consequence of a profound insulin deficiency responsible for osmotic polyuria and thus major losses of water, glucose, sodium and potassium as well as a metabolic acidosis due to the uncontrolled production of ketonic acids. Management includes fluid replacement, insulin therapy and correction of metabolic disorders (including potassium loss). Initially described in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D), it is now often observed in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) in whom it is more a matter of insulin resistance than an absolute deficiency. However, international guidelines recommend a similar dose of intravenous insulin (0.10 IU/kg/hour) regardless of the type of diabetes. During treatment, metabolic complications are frequent and potentially serious, especially in T2D due to cardiovascular comorbidities. The research hypothesis is that decreasing the insulin dose will reduce metabolic complications without influencing time to resolution in adult patients, regardless of diabetes type.

Detailed description

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a frequent complication of diabetes, is the consequence of a profound insulin deficiency responsible for osmotic polyuria which leads to major losses of water, sodium and potassium as well as the generation of metabolic acidosis due to the uncontrolled production of ketonic acids. Management includes fluid replacement, insulin therapy and correction of metabolic disorders (including potassium loss and acidosis). Initially described in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D), it is now often observed in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) in whom it is more insulin resistance than absolute deficiency. However, international guidelines recommend a similar dosage of intravenous insulin (0.10 IU/kg/hour) regardless of the type of diabetes. During treatment, metabolic complications are frequent and potentially serious, especially in T2D due to cardiovascular comorbidities. A British study reported 27.6% hypoglycaemia and 55% hypokalemia during the first 24 hours of treatment. Comparable figures were observed by conducting a multicenter retrospective study of 122 patients: hypokalaemia and hypoglycaemia were observed in nearly two thirds of cases. A pediatric study showed that a lower dose of insulin (0.05 IU/kg/h) reduced the rate of hypoglycaemia (20% vs 4%) and hypokalaemia (48% vs 20%) compared to at the standard dose (0.10 IU/kg/h) without modifying the time to resolution. But the very small number (25 children per arm), the questionable statistical analysis and the pediatric population (T1D only) do not make it possible to anticipate the potential benefit in a much more heterogeneous adult population. The hypothesis of the research is that decreasing the insulin dose will reduce metabolic complications without influencing time to resolution in adult patients, regardless of diabetes type.

Interventions

DRUGInsulin 0.05 IU/kg/h

In the experimental arm, the patients will be given an insulin dose of 0.05 IU/kg/h.

DRUGInsulin 0.10 IU/kg/h

In the control arm, patients will receive an insulin dose of 0.10 IU/kg/h.

Sponsors

Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Investigator)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Patient aged 18 years or above * Admission in Intense/Intermediate Care Unit * Severe DKA due to all types of diabetes (T1D, T2D and secondary diabetes and inaugural ketoacidosis) defined by association of the following 3 parameters: * glucose \> 11 mmol/L or affirmation of having diabetes * ketonemia \> 3mmol/L or ketonuria ≥ 2 * bicarbonate \< 15 mmol/L and/or venous pH \< or=7.3 * Randomization possible before 15UI of insulin administrated in total * Informed and written consent. In the absence of parent/ relative/ person of trust, the patient may be included via the emergency procedure and consent will be obtained as soon as possible

Exclusion criteria

* Non-diabetic ketoacidosis (fasting or alcoholic) * Patient weighing less than 30 kg * Hypokalemia \< 3.5 mmol/L at the time of inclusion * Hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state (defined as efficient plasma osmolarity \> 320 mosmol/L) * Absence of social security coverage * Pregnant or breastfeeding patient * Patient under tutelage or curators * Patient deprived of liberty due to a judicial or administrative decision * Patient with a renal disease requiring dialysis * Acute or chronic liver failure with Factor V \< 50% * Patient receiving a high dose of corticosteroids (≥ 0.5 mg/kg) daily * Patient included in another interventional study

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Metabolic complications48 hoursProportion of patients with metabolic complications (hypokalaemia \<3.5 mmol/L and/or hypoglycemia \<3.9 mmol/L) treated with a reduced dose of insulin (0.05 IU/kg/h) compared with the control group receiving the 0.10 IU/kg/h dose.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Episode of hypokalaemia48 hoursProportion of patients with at least one episode of hypokalaemia \< 3.5 mmol/L between randomization and resolution of DKA
Episode of hypoglycemia48 hoursProportion of patients with at least one episode of hypoglycemia \< 3.9 mmol/L between randomization and resolution of DKA
Episode of severe hypoglycemia48 hoursProportion of patients with at least one episode of hypoglycemia \< 2.9 mmol/L between randomization and resolution of DKA
Cardiac arrythmia diagnosed by EKG48 hoursProportion of patients with onset of new cardiac arrhythmia diagnosed by EKG analysis (atrial fibrillation and ventricular arrhythmia) and scopic monitoring between randomization and resolution of DKA
Glucose infusion 1000mL48 hoursProportion of patients who received more than 1000 mL of 10% glucose solution (indicating tendency of hypoglycemia) between randomization and resolution of DKA or 48h after inclusion if DKA is unresolved
Glucose infusion of 30% glucose solution48 hoursProportion of patients who received one perfusion of 30% glucose solution between randomization and resolution of DKA or 48h after inclusion if DKA is unresolved
Amount of glucose perfused48 hoursAmount of glucose perfused (in grams) (glucose 5%, 10% and 30%) between randomization and resolution of the DKA or 48 hours after inclusion if the DKA is not resolved
Potassium intake48 hoursPotassium intake (in grams) orally and intravenously between patient randomization and resolution of DKA or 48 hours after inclusion if DKA is not resolved
Length of stay in ICU48 hoursDuration of stay (in hours) in ICU
Time between patient randomization and resolution of DKA in T1D population48 hoursTime in hours between patient randomization and resolution of DKA in T1D population
Resolution of diabetic ketoacidosis48 hoursTime in hours between randomisation and resolution of diabetic ketoacidosis (defined by ph\>7.3 and ketonemia \< 3 mmol/L and bicarbonates\> 15 mmol/L)
Time between patient randomization and resolution of DKA in patients suffering from first ketoacidosis episode48 hoursTime in hours between patient randomization and resolution of DKA in patients suffering from ketoacidosis
Episode of hypokalaemia in T1D population48 hoursProportion of patients with at least one episode of hypokalaemia \< 3.5 mmol/L between randomisation and resolution of DKA or 48 hours after inclusion if DKA is not resolved within T1D population
Episode of hypokalaemia in T2D population48 hoursProportion of patients with at least one episode of hypokalaemia \< 3.5 mmol/L between randomisation and resolution of DKA or 48 hours after inclusion if DKA is not resolved within T2D population
Episode of hypokalaemia in patients suffering from first ketoacidosis episode48 hoursProportion of patients with at least one episode of hypokalaemia \< 3.5 mmol/L between randomisation and resolution of DKA or 48 hours after inclusion if DKA is not resolved within inaugural ketoacidosis population
Episode of hypoglycaemia in T1D population48 hoursProportion of patients with at least one episode of hypoglycaemia \< 3.9 mmol/L between randomization and resolution of DKA or 48 hours after inclusion if DKA is not resolved within T1D population
Episode of hypoglycaemia in T2D population48 hoursProportion of patients with at least one episode of hypoglycaemia \< 3.9 mmol/L between randomization and resolution of DKA or 48 hours after inclusion if DKA is not resolved within T2D population
Episode of hypoglycaemia in patients suffering from first ketoacidosis episode48 hoursProportion of patients with at least one episode of hypoglycaemia \< 3.9 mmol/L between randomization and resolution of DKA or 48 hours after inclusion if DKA is not resolved within inaugural ketoacidosis population
Episode of severe hypoglycaemia in T1D population48 hoursProportion of patients with at least one episode of severe hypoglycaemia \< 2.9 mmol/L between randomization and resolution of DKA or 48 hours after inclusion if DKA is not resolved within T1D population
Episode of severe hypoglycaemia in T2D population48 hoursProportion of patients with at least one episode of severe hypoglycaemia \< 2.9 mmol/L between randomization and resolution of DKA or 48 hours after inclusion if DKA is not resolved within T2D population
Episode of severe hypoglycaemia in patients suffering from first ketoacidosis episode48 hoursProportion of patients with at least one episode of severe hypoglycaemia \< 2.9 mmol/L between randomization and resolution of DKA or 48 hours after inclusion if DKA is not resolved within inaugural ketoacidosis population
Time between patient randomization and resolution of DKA in T2D population48 hoursTime in hours between patient randomization and resolution of DKA in T2D population

Countries

France

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026