Transform Your Future: Ace the 2026 Certified Diabetes Educator Exam!

The plasma glucose level that is often associated with the diagnosis of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is typically greater than 300 mg/dL. In DKA, patients experience a profound deficiency of insulin, which leads to increased lipolysis, ketogenesis, and ultimately results in elevated levels of ketones in the blood. This metabolic derangement is often accompanied by hyperglycemia, usually with plasma glucose levels significantly exceeding the normal range.

While DKA can occur with varying glucose levels, a threshold of 300 mg/dL is commonly recognized in clinical guidelines for diagnosis because at this level, the risk of severe complications increases, and it reflects a substantial state of metabolic disturbance characteristic of DKA. This understanding is crucial for diabetes educators and healthcare providers to appropriately identify and manage patients experiencing this urgent medical condition.