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. 2019 Jul;37(3):276-281.
doi: 10.2337/cd18-0088.

Misdiagnosis and Diabetic Ketoacidosis at Diagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes: Patient and Caregiver Perspectives

Cynthia Muñoz  1   2 , Anna Floreen  3 , Colleen Garey  4 , Tom Karlya  5 , David Jelley  6 , G Todd Alonso  7 , Alicia McAuliffe-Fogarty  4
Affiliations

Misdiagnosis and Diabetic Ketoacidosis at Diagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes: Patient and Caregiver Perspectives

Cynthia Muñoz et al. Clin Diabetes. 2019 Jul.

Abstract

IN BRIEF Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a life-threatening complication that frequently occurs at diagnosis of type 1 diabetes, occurs more commonly when a patient is misdiagnosed, is the leading cause of death in children with type 1 diabetes, and is associated with worse long-term outcomes. Our retrospective online survey found that 25% of all participants were misdiagnosed and that misdiagnosis was associated with an 18% increased risk for DKA compared to those correctly diagnosed. Adult providers should consider type 1 diabetes when diagnosing type 2 diabetes, and pediatric providers should rule out type 1 diabetes when a patient reports nonspecific viral symptoms.

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Figures

FIGURE 1.
FIGURE 1.
Percentage of patients misdiagnosed, by age-group.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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