DEFINITION

• Acute changes in medical condition that can cause either hyperglycemia (including diabetic ketoacidosis [DKA] and hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state [HHS]) or hypoglycemia.
• Hyperglycemia may be due to stress of illness, failure to take adequate insulin or other diabetic medication, dehydration or excess sweet liquid intake.
• Hypoglycemia may be caused by: decreased oral caloric intake, decreased endogenous glucose production (e.g., adrenal crisis or liver failure), increased glucose utilization (e.g., infection), decreased insulin clearance (e.g., renal failure).