Abstract

Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) is a serious and potentially life-threatening complication of diabetes mellitus, primarily affecting individuals with type 1 diabetes but occasionally occurring in those with type 2 diabetes. This abstract provides a concise overview of DKA, including its pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnostic criteria, and management. DKA arises from a profound insulin deficiency, leading to the accumulation of ketones in the blood, resulting in metabolic acidosis. It is characterized by the triad of hyperglycemia, ketosis, and metabolic acidosis. Common clinical manifestations include polyuria, polydipsia, and abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and altered mental status, which can progress to coma if left untreated.