In this section
Diabetes Mellitus
Diabetic Ketoacidosis
Electrolyte abnormalities
Hyponatraemia is defined as serum sodium <135 mmol/L.
Hyponatraemia and rapid fluid shifts can result in cerebral oedema causing neurological symptoms.
Rapid correction of hyponatraemia can result in osmotic demyelination syndrome which manifests as irreversible neurologic features (dysarthria, confusion, obtundation and coma) which often present days after sodium correction.
Causes (common causes in bold)
Fluid Overloaded
Euvolaemic
Dehydrated
*Notes
For emergency advice and paediatric or neonatal ICU transfers, call the Paediatric Infant Perinatal Emergency Retrieval (PIPER) Service: 1300 137 650.
Consider discussion with ICU and/or Endocrinology team if Na <125 mmol/L
Last revised August 2018