Meta-Analysis

Volume: 1 | Issue: 1 | Published: Dec 30, 2025 | Pages: 1 - 8

Co-administrating Subcutaneous Insulin Glargine in the Management of Diabetic Ketoacidosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis


Authors: Ibraheem Altamimi , Rayyan Altemani , Abdullah Alhumimidi , Mohammed Alfaifi , Abdullah Altamimi


Abstract

Abstract

Background and Objective

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a serious and increasingly common complication of diabetes with high morbidity and mortality. Early use of long-acting basal insulin alongside IV insulin may improve outcomes. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of co-administering insulin glargine with IV insulin in DKA management.

Methods

A literature search was conducted to identify relevant studies. Key outcomes included time to DKA resolution, hospital stay length, and hypoglycemia risk. RCT quality was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool, and retrospective studies with the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Standardized mean differences with 95% CIs were used for continuous outcomes, and risk ratios for dichotomous outcomes. A random-effects model was applied using RevMan (version 5.4).

Results

A total of six studies were included in this meta-analysis comprising of a cumulative sample size of 302 patients with 127 in the intervention group and 175 in the control group, the pooled results showed that co-administration of insulin glargine resulted in significantly reduced time to DKA resolution, along with decreased length of hospital stay as compared to the group receiving IV infusion alone, while the rate of hypoglycemia and hypokalemia were comparable between the two groups.

Conclusion

When treating DKA, a combination of IV insulin infusion and long-acting basal insulin glargine may shorten hospital stays and speed up the time to resolution without increasing the risk of hypoglycemia or hypokalemia.


Keywords: Diabetes Mellitus; Diabetic ketoacidosis; Insulin glargine; IV insulin infusion; Meta-analysis.



Pubmed Style

Ibraheem Altamimi, Rayyan Altemani, Abdullah Alhumimidi, Mohammed Alfaifi, Abdullah Altamimi. Co-administrating Subcutaneous Insulin Glargine in the Management of Diabetic Ketoacidosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. AMEM. 2025; 30 (December 2025): 1-8.

Supplementary Files

Publication History

Received: October 01, 2025

Revised: November 12, 2025

Accepted: November 15, 2025

Published: December 30, 2025


Authors

Ibraheem Altamimi

Department of Clinical Research and Scientific Services, Publication Hub, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Rayyan Altemani

Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Utah, USA

Abdullah Alhumimidi

Department of Radiology, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Mohammed Alfaifi

Associate Professor, College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Abdullah Altamimi

Pediatric Emergency, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia