Evidence-based On-call

Diabetic ketoacidosis

Prevalence
Causes
Clinical features
Investigations
Therapy
Prevention
Prognosis

Prevalence

Roughly one in seven patients with hyperglycaemia who feel unwell have diabetic ketoacidosis. ^c

Note:

8.9% of patients with diabetes have an episode of diabetic ketoacidosis in one year (8.9%: 95% CI: 7.7% to 10%) ^b
42% of patients with DKA have another episode (42%: 95% CI: 32% to 52%) ^b
14% of patients with a blood glucose > 11 mmol/l and any complaint of illness have DKA (14%: 95% CI: 12% to 17%) ^c