Thiazides and hypokalaemia in diabetic ketoacidosis

In a series of forty-one episodes of diabetic coma or pre-coma, three patients had plasma potassium values of less than 3.0 mEq/l. All three had been taking thiazide diuretics with only one receiving oral potassium supplements. None was previously known to be diabetic, representing 18% of the new diabetics in the series. The mean plasma potassium for the other new diabetics was 4·7 ± 0·2 mEq/l. These findings emphasize that adequate potassium supplements should be given with thiazide diuretics to diabetic subjects and to those with an increased risk of developing the disease.