Abstract

Diabetes Mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease whose prevalence is rapidly increasing in the world and in our country. The aim of the treatment of diabetes is to keep the blood glucose level under control. Uncontrolled blood glucose levels lead to acute complications and even if it does not take immediate action when it occurs, it can be a cause of mortality and morbidity despite all the developments in follow-up and treatment. Diabetic ketoacidosis is a metabolic condition characterized by hyperglycemia due to insulin deficiency. Although it is common in patients with type 1 diabetes, it can also be seen in cases of acute disease causing catabolic stress in patients with Type 2 diabetes. Diabetic ketacidosis with insulin deficiency in the body together with the increased glucagon, cortisol, catecholamines, growth hormone contregulator hormones, which result of hyperglycemia, hypercetonemia and acidosis occurs. The aim of the treatment is to provide maintenance of diabetes after the provision of liquid electrolyte balance, insulin therapy, potassium replacement, bicarbonate treatment and correction of diabetic ketoacidosis.The prevention of diabetic ketoacidosis in diabetic patients and the follow-up of an experienced, trained health care team are important in the treatment and care of patients. For this reason, it is very important that the health care team and the nurse in this team follow the diabetic ketoacidosis in the early period, to start the treatment on time and to plan the nursing care and to educate the patient and his / her family.In this review, the definition, epidemiology, risk factors, symptom-finding, current therapy and nursing approaches of diabetic ketoacidosis are discussed.