Diagnostic Criteria for Diabetic Ketoacidosis and Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic State


Mild DKA

Moderate DKA

Severe DKA

HHS

Plasma glucose (mg per dL [mmol per L])

> 250 (13.9)

> 250

> 250

> 600 (33.3)

Arterial pH

7.25 to 7.30

7.00 to 7.24

< 7.00

> 7.30

Serum bicarbonate (mEq per L)

15 to 18

10 to < 15

< 10

> 15

Urine ketones

Positive

Positive

Positive

Small

Ketoni u krvi

Positive

Positive

Positive

Small

Beta-hydroxybutyrate

High

High

High

Normal or elevated20

Effective serum osmolality (mOsm per kg)*

Variable

Variable

Variable

> 320

Anion gap†

> 10

> 12

> 12

Variable

Alteration in sensoria or mental obtundation

Alert

Alert/drowsy

Stupor/coma

Stupor/coma


DKA = diabetic ketoacidosis; HHS = hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state.

*—Effective serum osmolality = 2 × measured Na (mEq per L) + (glucose [mg per dL] ÷ 18).

†—Anion gap = Na+ – (Cl– + HCO3– [mEq per L]).

Adapted with permission from Kitabchi AE, Umpierrez GE, Murphy MB, Barrett EJ, Kreisberg RA, Malone JI, et al. Hyperglycemic crises in diabetes. Diabetes Care 2004;27(suppl 1):S95, with additional information from reference 20.