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Sick day management using blood 3-hydroxybutyrate (3-OHB) compared with urine ketone monitoring reduces hospital visits in young people with T1DM: a randomized clinical trial
Article first published online: 24 NOV 2005
DOI: 10.1111/j.1464-5491.2005.01771.x
Additional Information
How to Cite
Laffel, L. M. B., Wentzell, K., Loughlin, C., Tovar, A., Moltz, K. and Brink, S. (2006), Sick day management using blood 3-hydroxybutyrate (3-OHB) compared with urine ketone monitoring reduces hospital visits in young people with T1DM: a randomized clinical trial. Diabetic Medicine, 23: 278–284. doi: 10.1111/j.1464-5491.2005.01771.x
Publication History
- Issue published online: 16 FEB 2006
- Article first published online: 24 NOV 2005
- Accepted 4 May 2005 Final Acceptance 3 August 2005
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Keywords:
- Type 1 diabetes;
- diabetic ketoacidosis;
- β-hydroxybutyrate;
- urine ketones;
- sick day management
Abstract
Aims Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a life-threatening acute complication of Type 1 diabetes, may be preventable with frequent monitoring of glycaemia and ketosis along with timely supplemental insulin. This prospective, two-centre study assessed sick day management using blood 3-hydroxybutyrate (3-OHB) monitoring compared with traditional urine ketone testing, aimed at averting emergency assessment and hospitalization.
Methods One hundred and twenty-three children, adolescents and young adults, aged 3–22 years, and their families received sick day education. Participants were randomized to receive either a blood glucose monitor that also measures blood 3-OHB (blood ketone group, n = 62) or a monitor plus urine ketone strips (urine ketone group, n = 61). All were encouraged to check glucose levels ≥ 3 times daily and to check ketones during acute illness or stress, when glucose levels were consistently elevated (≥ 13.9 mmol/l on two consecutive readings), or when symptoms of DKA were present. Frequency of sick days, hyperglycaemia, ketosis, and hospitalization/emergency assessment were ascertained prospectively for 6 months.
Results There were 578 sick days during 21 548 days of follow-up. Participants in the blood ketone group checked ketones significantly more during sick days (276 of 304 episodes, 90.8%) than participants in the urine ketone group (168 of 274 episodes, 61.3%) (P < 0.001). The incidence of hospitalization/emergency assessment was significantly lower in the blood ketone group (38/100 patient-years) compared with the urine ketone group (75/100 patient-years) (P = 0.05).
Conclusions Blood ketone monitoring during sick days appears acceptable to and preferred by young people with Type 1 diabetes. Routine implementation of blood 3-OHB monitoring for the management of sick days and impending DKA can potentially reduce hospitalization/emergency assessment compared with urine ketone testing and offers potential cost savings.