Background: Diabetic ketoacidosis is an emergency complication of Diabetes Mellitus^[1]. Phosphate depletion is common in DKA. This study was undertaken to find out mainly the use of serum phosphorus in Diabetic ketoacidosis as a prognostic indicator to assess the mortality and morbidity and determine the outcome.

Materials and Methods: 50 consecutive diabetic patients presenting with clinical and biochemical features of DKA admitted to IMCU Thanjavur Medical college hospital from January to August 2014 were studied.

Results: The study shows phosphorus levels at the time of admission can be used as a prognostic indicator in Diabetic Ketoacidosis.

Conclusion: High blood sugar is associated with a low phosphate value. Low serum phosphate was associated with a poor mental status and prolonged hospital stay.

Keywords: Acidosis, chi-square test, hyperglycemia, ketoacidosis, phosphorus.

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Dhananjayan Kannan

Senior Assistant Professor, Department of General Medicine, Government Kilpauk Medical College and Hospital, Chennai 600010, India