Early and Intensive Potassium Replacement in Diabetic Acidosis

A patient with diabetic acidosis is described who nearly died from potassium deficiency developing ninety minutes after starting therapy with insulin. The patient received 715 mEq. of potassium chloride intravenously during the first twenty-four hours of treatment, 364 mEq. being given in the first nine hours to maintain life. Attention is drawn to the limitations of current recommendations regarding potassium repletion in diabetic acidosis.