Endocrine & metabolic · UKMLA & AKT

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)

A free high-yield preview for the UKMLA Applied Knowledge Test. Below are the key points to recognise diabetic ketoacidosis (dka) — the full SA Note notes add investigations, management, complications and 10 practice questions.

Key high-yield points

  • ALL THREE must be met (JBDS):
  • Blood glucose >11 mmol/L OR known diabetes mellitus
  • Ketonaemia ≥3 mmol/L OR significant ketonuria (2+ on urine dipstick)
  • Venous pH <7.3 AND/OR bicarbonate <15 mmol/L

Severity graded by pH: mild 7.25-7.30, moderate 7.10-7.24, severe <7.10. In euglycaemic DKA (e.g. SGLT-2 inhibitor-associated), glucose may be near-normal - the other two criteria still apply.

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