How this calculator works
The 2024 international consensus requires all three groups: diabetes or hyperglycaemia, ketosis, and metabolic acidosis. Known diabetes can satisfy the first group even with glucose below 200 mg/dL. The unit selector reinterprets the entered glucose number. This checklist does not grade severity, estimate mortality, recommend treatment or replace clinical assessment. The result is an estimate for information only and is not medical advice.
Formula
D: glucose >=200 mg/dL (>=11.1 mmol/L) OR prior diabetes. K: blood beta-hydroxybutyrate >=3.0 mmol/L OR urine ketones >=2+. A: pH <7.3 OR bicarbonate <18 mmol/L. D, K and A must all be present.
Worked example
A person with known diabetes, glucose 180 mg/dL, blood ketones 3.0 mmol/L and pH 7.25 meets all three groups even though glucose is below 200 mg/dL. With no diabetes history, glucose 250, ketones 1.0 and pH 7.4, all three are not met.
Advertisement
Frequently asked questions
Can DKA occur with lower glucose?
Yes. A prior diabetes diagnosis satisfies the first group regardless of presenting glucose. Do not use glucose alone to exclude DKA.
Is the anion gap required here?
The 2024 consensus does not recommend it as a first-line criterion when ketone measurement is available.
Why is there no mortality percentage?
No mortality model is implemented. The older score in the catalogue was not verified from its primary publication.