Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic Nonketotic Syndrome causes?

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What kind of labs should I be looking at do discern causes if I suspect HHNS?

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Ooooh, this is not difficult. Look to your pathophys book or just even pick up your A&P book.:up:

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Specializes in Med/Surg/Tele.

Think dehydration, or possibly infection.....

this should get you started

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The patient is def. dehydrated and on lasix. I was thinking blood cultures or urinalysis.

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There exists a rather obvious lab, most likely a point of care test.

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Specializes in Med/Surg/Tele.
There exists a rather obvious lab, most likely a point of care test.

I agree

This one should be a gimme

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Ah the pleasures of Schadenfreude. I hope neither of you are nursing educators ;)

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Specializes in Med/Surg/Tele.
Ah the pleasures of Schadenfreude.

Huh???

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Ah but OP, if you had looked it up yourself you'd have had the answer so quickly as it's quite obvious, instead you sit and wait here for us to give you the answer.

Grasshopper, a wise nurse once said that to survive in nursing you cannot take the long way around the block.

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Ah the pleasures of Schadenfreude. I hope neither of you are nursing educators ;)

I watched avenue Q too, I'm rather fond of the monster Internet song however. :D As a matter of fact, I am an educator. No schadenfreude intended, a push in the proper direction rather. Sometimes the obvious things are often overlooked.

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How weary, stale, flat, and unprofitable seem to me all the 'nurses' of this thread.

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Specializes in ED Nursing, Critical Care Nursing.

Most anything that would/could cause a rise in blood glucose in a type 2 diabetic can lead to HHNKS, with an underlying infection being one of the most common.

1. Infection.

2. Kidney Disorders.

3. Myocardial infarction.

4. diuretics, steroids or beta blockers.

5. Emotional stress

6. Excessive alcohol use.

7. Chronic illness.

8. Bleeding ulcer.

9. Too little insulin or oral anti-diabetic agents or forgot to take medications

10. Recent surgery or other physiologic stressor

So, you would need to look at the CBC w/differential, ESR, blood culture results, UA (especially WBC, leukocyte esterase, nitrites, and specific gravity), BUN, creatinine, and H&H. You also need to take a careful history from the patient and family.

Hope that helped.

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