Severe ketoacidosis doubled during COVID-19 period in diabetic children: Study

Canada: The researchers in a recent study observed a significant increase in severe diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) among children presenting with new-onset type 1 diabetes during the COVID-19 pandemic period. 

The findings of the study, published in the journal Pediatric Diabetes, stresses the need for educating families and health care professionals of hyperglycemia symptoms and the importance of early diagnosis and treatment even during public health measures for COVID-19. 

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has called for significant public health measures that in turn have decreased acute pediatric care utilization. DKA is a potentially life-threatening, severe presentation of diabetes that can lead to significant morbidity in children but is preventable. Manpreet Doulla, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and colleagues aimed to evaluate whether the rate of severe presentations of new-onset type 1 diabetes, such as diabetic ketoacidosis has changed since the COVID‐19 public health measures were enacted.

For this purpose, the researchers conducted a retrospective chart review of children less than 18 years of age presenting with new-onset type 1 diabetes during the pandemic period of March 17, 2020, to August 31, 2020 at two tertiary care pediatric hospitals in Alberta, Canada. Severe DKA and DKA rates were compared to the same time period in the year 2019 (pre‐pandemic control).