ED information by treatment group
| ED information | Ringer’s lactate (n=25) | Normal saline (n=27) | Total (n=52) |
| Arrival mode, n (%) | |||
| Self | 15 (60.0) | 11 (40.7) | 26 (50.0) |
| EMS | 10 (40.0) | 16 (59.3) | 26 (50.0) |
| CTAS, n (%) | |||
| 1 | 3 (12.0) | 0 (0.0) | 3 (5.8) |
| 2 | 13 (52.0) | 21 (77.8) | 34 (65.4) |
| 3 | 9 (36.0) | 6 (22.2) | 15 (28.8) |
| Vital signs (mean±SD) | |||
| Systolic BP (mm Hg) | 130.9±24.4 | 140.8±27.7 | 136.0±26.4 |
| Diastolic BP (mm Hg) | 74.7±18.9 | 80.5±15.7 | 77.7±17.4 |
| HR (beats/min) | 112.8±26.8 | 106.6±22.9 | 109.6±24.8 |
| RR (breaths/min) | 19.9±5.7 | 20.5±5.0 | 20.2±5.3 |
| Temperature (°C) | 36.4±0.9 | 36.8±0.7 | 36.6±0.9 |
| O2 saturation (%) | 97.1±2.1 | 97.2±2.7 | 97.1±2.4 |
| On O2 supplement at arrival, n (%) | 3 (12.0) | 3 (11.1) | 6 (11.5) |
| Blood glucose readings (mean±SD) | |||
| Most recent home glucose (mmol/L) | 26.2±16.0 | 25.0±8.0 | 25.6±12.0 |
| EMS glucose, if arrival by EMS (mmol/L) | 27.2±8.3 | 22.5±7.5 | 24.1±7.7 |
| Initial point-of-care glucose (mmol/L) | 23.1±6.3 | 22.8±7.2 | 22.9±6.7 |
| Likely precipitants of DKA, n (%) | |||
| Poor glycaemic control | 10 (40.0) | 12 (44.4) | 22 (42.3) |
| Non-adherence to prescribed medication regimen | 6 (24.0) | 8 (29.6) | 14 (26.9) |
| Unknown cause | 6 (24.0) | 8 (29.6) | 14 (26.9) |
| New diagnosis | 4 (16.0) | 1 (3.7) | 5 (9.6) |
| Alcohol related | 2 (8.0) | 3 (11.1) | 5 (9.6) |
| Infection induced | 4 (16.0) | 0 (0.0) | 4 (7.7) |
| Co-diagnoses to DKA, n (%) | |||
| Pneumonia | 5 (20.0) | 0 (0.0) | 5 (9.6) |
| Urinary tract infection | 2 (8.0) | 0 (0.0) | 2 (3.8) |
| COVID-19 | 1 (4.0) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (1.9) |
| Sarcoidosis | 1 (4.0) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (1.9) |
| Bowel perforation | 1 (4.0) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (1.9) |
| Supraventricular tachycardia | 1 (4.0) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (1.9) |
| Bacteraemia | 0 (0.0) | 1 (3.7) | 1 (1.9) |
SD (not included if n≤1).
CTAS, Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale; DKA, diabetic ketoacidosis; EMS, emergency medical services.