Risk factors for diabetic ketoacidosis in acute pancreatitis patients with type 2 diabetes

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: In cinical, some acute pancreatitis patients with diabetes may have diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). However, the risk factors for DKA in these patients remain unclear. The purpose of this study is to analyze the risk factors for DKA in acute pancreatitis patients with type 2 diabetes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-five patients were included in this prospective single-centre study to analyze the incidence and risk factors for DKA in acute pancreatitis patients with type 2 diabetes. RESULTS: Seven of the twenty-five patients (28%) developed DKA within 48 h of admission. According to whether they had DKA, the twenty-five AP patients were divided into DKA group and non-DKA group. There were significant differences in age (P = 0.014), BMI (P = 0.034), poor previous blood glucose control (P < 0.001) and uric acid concentration (P = 0.041), but no statistically significant differences in sex (P = 0.597), number of drinkers (P = 0.407), number of smokers (P = 1.000), triglyceride level (P = 0.389) and total cholesterol concentration (P = 0.534) between the two groups. In both groups, 1 patients had severe pancreatitis, and the difference was no statistically significant (P = 0.490). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of DKA in AP patients with diabetes is high. Age, BMI, worse glycemic control and uric acid concentration may be predictors of DKA in AP patients with diabetes. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12876-023-02869-2.