A Case Report of a Patient Diagnosed with Diabetic Ketoacidosis Accompanied by Hyperammonemia from Systemic Inflammation

Abstract

A 42-year-old male patient with prolonged throat pain and discomfort, dry mouth, and general weakness and recently diagnosed with tonsillitis, pulmonary embolism, and venous thrombosis was admitted to the internal Korean medicine department. A sudden onset of diabetic ketoacidosis with hyperammonemia was diagnosed on the second day of treatment. During admission, the patient received insulin therapy, hydration, and traditional Korean medicine treatment, including herbal medicine. Subjective symptom change was evaluated daily and blood glucose level checked five times per day. At discharge, the patient’s fasting and postprandial blood sugar levels were adequate. After an additional two weeks of herbal treatment, the symptoms were significantly ameliorated. Thus, having been admitted with dysregulated glucose metabolism leading to a hyperglycemic crisis after a series of inflammatory events, the patient showed symptomatic improvements and decreased blood glucose after 18 days of hospitalization and treatment.