This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Go to /pro/cpd-dashboard page

This page is worth 0.05 CPD credits. CPD dashboard

Go to /account/subscription-details page

This page is worth 0.05 CPD credits. Upgrade to Pro

Diagnostic criteria and classification of DKA

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

diagnostic criteria

The diagnostic criteria for diabetic ketoacidosis are:

  • ketonaemia 3 mmol /l and over or significant ketonuria (more than 2 + on standard urine sticks)
  • blood glucose over 11 mmol /l or known diabetes mellitus
  • venous bicarbonate (HCO3 ) ) below 15 mmol /l and /or venous pH less than 7.3 (1)

The American Diabetes Association diagnostic criteria for DKA are as follows:

  • elevated serum glucose level (greater than 250 mg per dL [13.88 mmol per L])
  • an elevated serum ketone level
  • a pH less than 7.3 and
  • a serum bicarbonate level less than 18 mEq per L (18 mmol per L) (2)

classification of diabetic ketoacidosis

DKA can be classified according to the severity into mild, moderate and severe (2)


criterion

mild (serum glucose > 250 mg/dL [13.88 mmol/L])

moderate (serum glucose > 250 mg/dL)

severe (serum glucose > 250 mg/dL)

anion gap

> 10 mEq/L (10 mmol/L)

> 12 mEq/L (12 mmol/L)

> 12 mEq/L (12 mmol/L)

arterial pH

7.24 to 7.30

7.00 to < 7.24

< 7.00

effective serum osmolality

variable

variable

variable

mental status

alert

alert/drowsy

stupor/coma

serum bicarbonate

15 to 18 mEq/L (15 to 18 mmol/L)

10 to < 15 mEq/L (10 to < 15 mmol/L)

< 10 mEq/L (10 mmol/L)

serum ketone

positive

positive

positive

urine ketone

positive

positive

positive

Reference:


Related pages

Create an account to add page annotations

Annotations allow you to add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation. E.g. a website or number. This information will always show when you visit this page.