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You are working a shift at Clerkship General when the charge nurse comes and grabs you to see a 24yo male who appears to be in respiratory distress.

Critical Actions:

  1. Diagnose DKA
  2. Replete potassium
  3. Start insulin AFTER potassium repletion
  4. EITHER place central line for faster K repletion OR initiate bipap to allow time for potassium repletion via existing peripheral line
  5. Admit to ICU

Further Reading:

EMCrit – DKA