By InvitationNot Applicable

Starvation in the Treatment of Diabetic Ketoacidosis

United States200 participantsStarted 2023-12-27

Plain-language summary

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state (HHS) are common, but serious metabolic disorders are often encountered in intensive care. In the intensive care setting, it is common to withhold food from patients during treatment of DKA. However, there is no evidence or current literature supporting this practice. The following proposed research investigates the initiation of an early diet versus withholding food during the treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 89 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Males and females with the diagnosis of diabetic ketoacidosis (defined as blood glucose greater than 250 mg/dL, arterial pH less than 7.3, serum bicarbonate less than 15 mEq/L, and the presence of ketonemia or ketonuria) * Age between 18-89 * Admission to the Medical Intensive Care Unit * Able to provide informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Pregnant and breast-feeding women * Institutionalized patients or prisoners * Patients unable to eat by mouth, including intubation, presence of any tube used for enteral feeding (nasogastric tube, orogastric tube, PEG tube, etc.), medical conditions requiring parenteral feeding, and a history of a medical condition that prevented oral intake prior to admission, including achalasia, esophageal cancer, stroke with residual deficits preventing oral intake, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or head and neck trauma.

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Resolution of DKA

Timeframe: Typically resolution of DKA is 24-72 hours, may be up to 5 days in some patients

Length of stay in the medical intensive care unit (in days).

Timeframe: Days (Typically 3-5 days in the MICU, may be up to 1 week).

Trial details

NCT IDNCT06186245

SponsorTexas Tech University Health Sciences Center

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2025-11

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Diabetes Mellitus trials