RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Diabetic Ketoacidosis And Pregnancy JF The Journal of the American Board of Family Practice JO J Am Board Fam Med FD American Board of Family Medicine SP 207 OP 215 DO 10.3122/jabfm.3.3.207 VO 3 IS 3 A1 John G. Bertolino YR 1990 UL http://www.jabfm.org/content/3/3/207.abstract AB This paper describes the clinical course of a young diabetic primigravida who presented to her physician with vomiting and abdominal pain. Despite the conventional doses of intravenous fluid and insulin that were used to treat her suspected diabetic ketoacidosis, she remained severely acidotic and developed increasing abdominal pain. Two hundred twenty units of regular insulin over a 5-hour period were required to reverse the lipolysis, acidemia, and abdominal pain, which characterized her severe episode of diabetic ketoacidosis. This discussion emphasizes the importance of insulin in the reversal of the hyperglycemia and acidosis that accompany a diabetic crisis. The roles of bicarbonate, phosphorous, magnesium, insulin, potassium, and fluids are discussed along with conditions such as pregnancy, infection, pancreatitis, and abdominal pain, which can complicate the management of diabetic ketoacidosis.