DKA is associated with an insulin deficiency (a person is either all or mostly deficient in insulin) and a severely elevated blood glucose level, typically greater than 300 mg/dL, per medical documentation. Individuals can experience DKA even if they have a low/normal blood glucose level, which can occur in the beginning of an illness if a person reduces their insulin in fear of hypoglycemia. The slow progression of DKA can result in a slow increase to the higher blood glucose levels usually seen by the time a person goes to the doctor. DKA is from a severe LACK of insulin, not from the high level of blood glucose.
Read More