Causes

• infection
• treatment error
• new-onset diabetes
• other medical illness

but is often of unknown aetiology

The cause of many cases of DKA is unknown

causes b c	prevalence
unknown	19% to 38%
infection	27% to 38%
treatment error	12% to 28%
other medical illness	11%
- pancreatitis	2% to 3%
- myocardial infarction	1% to 7%
- heart failure	2%
- GI bleed	1%
affected by drugs or alcohol	9%
newly diagnosed diabetes	10% to 27%