Nutritional Management of Severe Diabetic Ketoacidosis in a Newly Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes: A Case Report
Abstract: Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a life-threatening metabolic emergency characterised by hyperglycaemia, ketosis, and metabolic acidosis. While acute management primarily focuses on fluid replacement, insulin therapy, and electrolyte correction, the nutritional consequences of DKA are often underrecognized. Prolonged inadequate intake, infection-related catabolism, and severe hyperglycaemia place patients at considerable risk of malnutrition and muscle loss. This case report describes the nutritional management of a 53-year-old female admitted with seizure-like activity and severe hyperglycemia (>800 mg/dL) who was subsequently diagnosed with diabetic ketoacidosis and de novo diabetes mellitus. A structured nutrition care process was implemented throughout her hospital stay, involving nutrition assessment, enteral nutrition support, followed by transition to oral diabetic diets with oral nutritional supplementation (ONS), through glycaemic monitoring, and intensive nutrition education, because of which recovery was achievable. Following multidisciplinary management, glycemic control improved significantly with HbA1c reducing from 17.6% at diagnosis to 10.4% at one month and 5.9% at two months. Nutritional intervention facilitated recovery, improved dietary intake, supported weight maintenance, and contributed to successful transition from insulin therapy to oral hypoglycaemic agents. This case highlights the critical role of clinical dietitians in DKA management and demonstrates how early, individualised nutrition intervention can improve both short-term recovery and long-term metabolic outcomes.
Keywords: Diabetic ketoacidosis, Medical nutrition therapy, Clinical dietitian, Enteral nutrition, Hyperglycaemia, Diabetes mellitus, Case report
How to Cite?: Radha Sista, Aiswarya Raj PR, "Nutritional Management of Severe Diabetic Ketoacidosis in a Newly Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes: A Case Report", Volume 15 Issue 10, October 2026, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 1215-1218, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR261018193637, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR261018193637