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Tests and diagnosis
By Mayo Clinic staffIf your doctor suspects diabetic ketoacidosis, he or she will do a physical exam and various blood tests. The blood tests will measure:
- Blood sugar level. If there isn't enough insulin in your body to allow sugar to enter your cells, your blood sugar level will rise (hyperglycemia). As your body breaks down fat and protein for energy, your blood sugar level will continue to rise.
- Ketone level. When your body breaks down fat and protein for energy, toxic acids known as ketones enter your bloodstream.
- Blood acidity. If you have excess ketones in your blood, your blood will become acidic (acidosis). This can damage organs throughout your body.
In some cases, additional tests — such as a urinalysis, a chest X-ray or a recording of the electrical activity of the heart (electrocardiogram) — may be needed to help the doctor determine what triggered the episode of diabetic ketoacidosis or what damage the ketoacidosis may have caused.
