Contributor: Aaron Lessen, MD

Educational Pearls:

• Hyperglycemic Hyperosmolar State (HHS) is less common than Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) but is associated with a mortality rate up to 10 times greater than that seen in DKA
• Typically seen in elderly patients with severely elevated blood glucose levels (>1000 mg/dL) and an increased plasma osmolality
• • Unlike in DKA, patients with HHS do not have elevated ketones
• Treatment of HHS includes insulin administration along with correcting fluid and electrolyte abnormalities
• When treating HHS, it is important to monitor and follow osmolality regularly because over-rapid correction can result in the development of cerebral edema

References

Fayfman M, Pasquel FJ, Umpierrez GE. Management of Hyperglycemic Crises: Diabetic Ketoacidosis and Hyperglycemic Hyperosmolar State. Med Clin North Am. 2017;101(3):587-606.

Gosmanov AR, Gosmanova EO, Kitabchi AE. Hyperglycemic Crises: Diabetic Ketoacidosis and Hyperglycemic Hyperosmolar State. In: Feingold KR, Anawalt B, Boyce A, et al., eds. Endotext. South Dartmouth (MA): MDText.com, Inc. Copyright © 2000-2022, MDText.com, Inc.; 2000.

Long B, Willis GC, Lentz S, Koyfman A, Gottlieb M. Diagnosis and Management of the Critically Ill Adult Patient with Hyperglycemic Hyperosmolar State. J Emerg Med. 2021;61(4):365-375.

Summarized by Mark O'Brien, MS4 | Edited by John Spartz MS4 & Erik Verzemnieks, MD

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