Guideline decision tool · Critical Care
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DKA / HHS Diagnosis and Initial Management — free guideline decision tool

Discriminate DKA from HHS by glucose, blood gas, ketones and osmolality, and grade DKA severity, with the fluid/insulin/potassium plan. Instant, browser-side.

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Computed locally — no data uploaded. For licensed clinicians.
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Guideline-based

Implements the decision logic from published clinical guidelines.

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Runs in your browser

No installation. Enter the patient's values and get a guideline recommendation instantly.

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Data stays local

Nothing is uploaded. Results are for licensed clinicians only.

Worked calculation

The values below come from this tool's own example placeholders and are computed server-side with the formula shown on this page, so the arithmetic can be checked quickly. It demonstrates how to substitute values only — it is not clinical advice and not a real case.

Glucose28 mmol/L
Arterial pH7.15
HCO₃⁻12 mmol/L
Blood ketones ≥ 3 or urine ketones moderate-largeYes
Effective plasma osmolality (optional)330 mOsm/kg

→AssessmentDKA with hyperosmolarity (mixed)

  • Diagnostic points:DKA: glucose > 13.9 + blood/urine ketones positive + pH < 7.3 or HCO₃⁻ < 18; HHS: glucose ≥ 33.3 + effective osmolality > 320 + pH > 7.3, HCO₃⁻ > 18, no significant ketosis
  • Fluids:HHS has greater water deficit and needs larger volumes
  • Insulin:when glucose reaches [pending update](DKA)/[pending update] (HHS) switch to dextrose-containing fluid and reduce to 0.02–0.05
Glucose28 mmol/L
Arterial pH7.15
HCO₃⁻12 mmol/L
Blood ketones ≥ 3 or urine ketones moderate-largeNo/weak
Effective plasma osmolality (optional)330 mOsm/kg

→AssessmentDoes not meet typical DKA/HHS criteria — re-evaluate clinically

  • Diagnostic points:DKA: glucose > 13.9 + blood/urine ketones positive + pH < 7.3 or HCO₃⁻ < 18; HHS: glucose ≥ 33.3 + effective osmolality > 320 + pH > 7.3, HCO₃⁻ > 18, no significant ketosis
  • Fluids:HHS has greater water deficit and needs larger volumes
  • Insulin:when glucose reaches [pending update](DKA)/[pending update] (HHS) switch to dextrose-containing fluid and reduce to 0.02–0.05

Common questions

What is DKA / HHS Diagnosis and Initial Management?

Discriminate DKA from HHS by glucose, blood gas, ketones and osmolality, and grade DKA severity, with the fluid/insulin/potassium plan. Instant, browser-side.

How is DKA / HHS Diagnosis and Initial Management calculated? What is the core formula?

DKA: glucose > 13.9 + ketones positive + pH < 7.3 or HCO₃⁻ < 18; severity by pH/HCO₃⁻ (mild 7.25–7.30 / 15–18, moderate 7.0–7.24 / 10–15, severe < 7.0 / < 10). HHS: glucose ≥ 33.3 + effective osmolality > 320 + no significant acidosis/ketosis. The two can coexist.

When is DKA / HHS Diagnosis and Initial Management used?

Initial assessment and management framing of diabetic ketoacidosis and the hyperglycemic hyperosmolar state.

What are the key clinical points for DKA / HHS Diagnosis and Initial Management?

HHS needs larger volumes. add dextrose and reduce the rate once glucose reaches [pending update](DKA) / [pending update](HHS). Potassium: replace if K < 5.2 with adequate urine output; if K < 3.3 give potassium first and withhold insulin until ≥ 3.3. Bicarbonate generally not given (consider only pH < 7.0); always find and treat the trigger (infection most common).

What are the limits and cautions when using DKA / HHS Diagnosis and Initial Management?

For licensed clinicians and clinical researchers. Interpret results with history, investigations and local protocols; not a diagnosis or prescription, and not a substitute for multidisciplinary decision-making or local guidelines.

Does DKA / HHS Diagnosis and Initial Management upload patient data? Where is it calculated?

Calculation runs locally in the browser; inputs and results are not uploaded. For licensed clinicians only; interpret with history, investigations and local protocols — not a diagnosis or prescription.

How is DKA / HHS Diagnosis and Initial Management calculated in practice? Can you show a worked example?

Inputs: Glucose 28 mmol/L, Arterial pH 7.15, HCO₃⁻ 12 mmol/L, Blood ketones ≥ 3 or urine ketones moderate-large Yes, Effective plasma osmolality (optional) 330 mOsm/kg → Result: Assessment DKA with hyperosmolarity (mixed)(Diagnostic points: DKA: glucose > 13.9 + blood/urine ketones positive + pH < 7.3 or HCO₃⁻ < 18; HHS: glucose ≥ 33.3 + effective osmolality > 320 + pH > 7.3, HCO₃⁻ > 18, no significant ketosis, Fluids: HHS has greater water deficit and needs larger volumes, Insulin: when glucose reaches [pending update](DKA)/[pending update] (HHS) switch to dextrose-containing fluid and reduce to 0.02–0.05) Inputs: Glucose 28 mmol/L, Arterial pH 7.15, HCO₃⁻ 12 mmol/L, Blood ketones ≥ 3 or urine ketones moderate-large No/weak, Effective plasma osmolality (optional) 330 mOsm/kg → Result: Assessment Does not meet typical DKA/HHS criteria — re-evaluate clinically(Diagnostic points: DKA: glucose > 13.9 + blood/urine ketones positive + pH < 7.3 or HCO₃⁻ < 18; HHS: glucose ≥ 33.3 + effective osmolality > 320 + pH > 7.3, HCO₃⁻ > 18, no significant ketosis, Fluids: HHS has greater water deficit and needs larger volumes, Insulin: when glucose reaches [pending update](DKA)/[pending update] (HHS) switch to dextrose-containing fluid and reduce to 0.02–0.05)

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Discriminate DKA from HHS by glucose, blood gas, ketones and osmolality, and grade DKA severity, with the fluid/insulin/potassium plan. Instant, browser-side.

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For licensed clinicians. Not a substitute for clinical judgement.

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