The American Diabetes Association requires a plasma glucose concentration greater than 250 mg/dL to diagnose diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). However, with the new diabetic agents this is not always the case. With the introduction of SGLT2 inhibitors (canagliflozin [Invokana], dapagliflozin [Farxiga], empagliflozin [Jardiance]) there have been reported cases of DKA and patients being euglycemic.
Take Home Point
Patients with a low/normal blood glucose can still have DKA. Especially if they are taking newer medications, such as the SGLT2 inhibitors.
References
AE Kitabchi, GE Umpierrez, JM Miles, JN Fisher. Hyperglycemic Crises in Adult Patients With Diabetes. Diabetes Care 2009;32:1335-1343.
U.S Food and Drug Administration. FDA warns that SGLT2 inhibitors for diabetes may result in a serious condition of too much acid in the blood. https://www.fda.gov/media/92185/download. Accessed August 3, 2019.
