R.E.B.EL. EM - May 12, 2014 - By Darrel Hughes
"In a prior post, we discussed the use of an initial insulin bolus in the management of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). Today we will address another facet of DKA management, for which there is less than optimal evidence and that is: Any benefit to sodium bicarbonate in DKA? Consensus guidelines for the management of DKA recommended administering sodium bicarbonate to DKA patients who present with an initial blood gas pH of < 7.0. That recommendation was updated and changed in 2009 to limit sodium bicarbonate use to DKA patients with blood gas pH of < 6.9. More recently, Chua et al. published a systematic review of 44 articles discussing bicarbonate administration and Duhon et al. published the largest retrospective review of DKA patient with presenting pH of < 7.0."
http://rebelem.com/benefit-sodium-bicarbonate-dka/