Diabetic Ketoacidosis Calculator

DKA management: fluids, insulin, and electrolytes.

Medical Disclaimer

This calculator is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about your health. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of results from this tool.

Inputs

Body Weight (kg)

Blood Glucose (mg/dL)

Sodium (mEq/L)

Chloride (mEq/L)

Bicarbonate (mEq/L)

Tab to move between fields

Results

Anion Gap

Corrected Sodium (mEq/L)137.6

Effective Osmolality (mOsm/kg)289

Initial IV Fluid Bolus (mL)1,400

Est. Fluid Deficit (mL)4,900

Insulin Drip Rate (units/hr)9.8

DKA Severity (0–3)2

How to Use This Calculator

Enter Body Weight (kg), Blood Glucose (mg/dL), and electrolyte values (Sodium, Chloride, Bicarbonate in mEq/L).
Review Anion Gap, Corrected Sodium, and Effective Osmolality.
Check Initial IV Fluid Bolus (mL) and Estimated Fluid Deficit (mL) to plan resuscitation.
Set the Insulin Drip Rate (units/hr) per the calculator output — typically 0.1 units/kg/hr.
Reassess glucose, potassium, and anion gap every 1-2 hours; add dextrose to IV fluids when glucose reaches 200-250 mg/dL.

How the result changes with Sodium (mEq/L)

Sodium (mEq/L)	Anion Gap
108	0
128	20
152	44
172	64

What each input means

Body Weight (kg): Patient body weight in kilograms for fluid and insulin calculations.
Blood Glucose (mg/dL): Current blood glucose level. DKA typically presents with BG >250 mg/dL.
Sodium (mEq/L): Serum sodium level. Often low (pseudohyponatremia) in DKA due to hyperglycemia.
Chloride (mEq/L): Serum chloride level for anion gap calculation.
Bicarbonate (mEq/L): Serum bicarbonate (HCO3). Key DKA severity marker: <10 severe, 10–14 moderate, 15–18 mild.

What each result means

Anion Gap: Na − (Cl + HCO3). Normal 8–12. Elevated (>12) in DKA.
Corrected Sodium (mEq/L): Sodium corrected for hyperglycemia: Na + 1.6 × ((Glucose − 100) / 100).
Effective Osmolality (mOsm/kg): 2 × Na + Glucose/18. >320 suggests hyperosmolar state.
Initial IV Fluid Bolus (mL): Normal saline bolus at 20 mL/kg over the first hour.
Est. Fluid Deficit (mL): Estimated total fluid deficit assuming 7% dehydration.
Insulin Drip Rate (units/hr): Continuous IV insulin at 0.14 units/kg/hr (no-bolus ADA protocol).
DKA Severity (0–3): 0 = Not DKA, 1 = Mild (HCO3 15–18), 2 = Moderate (10–14), 3 = Severe (<10).

How this is calculated

Worked example, using the default values

Identify Input Parameters
4 parameters
Body Weight (kg) = 70, Blood Glucose (mg/dL) = 450, Sodium (mEq/L) = 132, Chloride (mEq/L) = 98 = 5 input(s) provided
Calculate Anion Gap
Anion Gap = sodium - (chloride + bicarb)
24 = 24
Calculate Corrected Sodium
Corrected Sodium = sodium + 1.6 * ((glucose - 100) / 100)
137.6 = 137.6
Calculate Effective Osmolality
Effective Osmolality = 2 * sodium + glucose / 18
289 = 289