TABLE 1.
Warning signs and symptoms of clinically apparent cerebral edema
| Signs and symptomsa |
|---|
| Progressively worsening headache or onset of headache after starting DKA treatment |
| Change in mental status (restlessness, irritability, drowsiness, confusion, incontinence) |
| Development of focal neurological signs (cranial nerve palsies, abnormal pupillary responses) |
| Recurrence of emesis |
| Slowing of heart rate (unrelated to sleep or volume resuscitation) |
| Rising blood pressure |
| Irregular respirations with or without hypoxia |
| Appearance of diabetes insipidusb |
Abbreviations: DKA, diabetic ketoacidosis.
a
Adapted from Wolfsdorf et al. (2018).
b
A late sign of cerebral herniation with interruption of blood flow to the pituitary gland, indicative of irreversible brain injury.