Patient/caregiver were instructed on the pathophysiology of diabetic ketoacidosis as follows:

Diabetic ketoacidosis is a life-threatening complication of diabetes, arising out of acute insulin lack or deficiency.

Insulin plays a key role in glucose metabolism, helping glucose to enter the cells in the body. The glucose is then metabolized by the body cells to produce the needed energy.

With insulin deficiency, this key step in glucose metabolism would suffer and glucose will not enter the cells to get metabolized.

To meet the energy demands of the body, the metabolism will shift from glucose to fats and the liver starts breaking down the fats stored in the adipose tissue for energy requirements.

This breakdown of fats results in production of acids in the body, called Ketones.

Essentially, there are 3 ketone bodies that are produced – acetone, acetoacetic acid, and beta-hydroxy butyric acid.

When this production of ketones becomes unchecked, too many ketones get accumulated in the blood – building up to dangerous levels, leading to diabetic ketoacidosis.