Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA)

Definition

A life-threatening emergency where uncontrolled diabetes causes blood to become dangerously acidic. Your blood pH drops, your breathing gets weird, and without emergency treatment, you're done.

Example Usage

The type 1 diabetic presented in diabetic ketoacidosis with venous pH of 7.15 and required ICU admission.

Origin

From 'diabetes' and Greek 'ketone' (body) and 'acidosis'

Fun Fact

DKA mortality is still 1-5% despite modern treatment, and it remains the leading cause of death in type 1 diabetics under 25.

Source: Endocrinology; Critical care medicine standards

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