Fluid Administration in Ketoacidosis (DRINK)
Comparison of Saline and Ringer Lactate in Patients With Severe Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DRINK) : a Double-blind Randomized Controlled Trial
Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice
300 participants
Nov 26, 2025
INTERVENTIONAL
Conditions
Summary
Management of severe diabetic ketoacidosis is based on insulin therapy, correction of metabolic disorders and fluid resuscitation. Current recommendations recommend the first-line use of isotonic saline, whose composition is unbalanced, rich in chloride and sodium compared with plasma. Administration of large volumes of isotonic saline is associated with a risk of hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis and acute renal failure. Balanced solutions (e.g. Ringer Lactate) are solutions with a more balanced electrolyte composition close to that of plasma. They could therefore enable diabetic ketoacidosis to be resolved more quickly than isotonic saline, due to a lower risk of hyperchloremic acidosis. Preliminary data suggest a potential benefit of balanced solutions for fluid resuscitation of patients with severe diabetic ketoacidosis in terms of resolution of diabetic ketoacidosis, but no randomized controlled double-blind study to date has compared balanced solution vs. isotonic saline in this context.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria6
- Admission to emergency department or direct admission to ICU
- Diagnosis of severe diabetic ketoacidosis requiring all the following criteria:
- Blood or capillary glucose > 11 mmol/L
- Ketonemia or ketonuria > 0
- Venous or arterial pH < 7.30 or venous or arterial bicarbonate < 15 mmol/L
- Volume of fluid administered before inclusion <1L
Exclusion Criteria6
- Patients <18 years
- Pregnant women
- Patients under protection
- Patients with a decision to withdraw life-sustaining therapy
- Contraindication to isotonic saline or Ringer Lactate
- Non-affiliation to social security
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Interventions
Isotonic saline only will be used for fluid resuscitation in the first 48 hours of treatment, according to the protocol of English guidelines: * During the first hour of treatment: * In the event of systolic arterial hypotension (SAP\<90mmHg): administration of 500 mL over 15 minutes, renewable once, then administration of 1L over 1 hour. * In the absence of systolic arterial hypotension (SAP\>90mmHg): administration of 1L over 1 hour. * Between 60 minutes and 8 hours of treatment : * 1L over 2 hours, repeated once, then 1L over 4 hours * Adjust fluid resuscitation according to clinical tolerance * After the first 8 hours: * 1L over 4h then 1L over 6h * Clinical re-evaluation according to standard of care in participating centers
Ringer Lactate only will be used for fluid resuscitation in the first 48 hours of treatment, according to the protocol of English guidelines: * During the first hour of treatment: * In the event of systolic arterial hypotension (SAP\<90mmHg): administration of 500 mL over 15 minutes, renewable once, then administration of 1L over 1 hour. * In the absence of systolic arterial hypotension (SAP\>90mmHg): administration of 1L over 1 hour. * Between 60 minutes and 8 hours of treatment : * 1L over 2 hours, repeated once, then 1L over 4 hours * Adjust fluid resuscitation according to clinical tolerance * After the first 8 hours: * 1L over 4h then 1L over 6h * Clinical re-evaluation according to standard of care in participating centers
Locations(1)
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NCT06541535