Controversies Around the Measurement of Blood Ketones to Diagnose and Manage Diabetic Ketoacidosis

The measurement of blood ketones in preference to urine ketones has become a well-established tool in the diagnosis and management of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). However, there remains considerable disparity between diabetes guidelines regarding if, how, and when this test should be used. While recent guidelines now mainly emphasize blood measurement, several issues nonetheless remain. Many laboratories still measure blood ketones using a semiquantitative test that does not measure the predominant ketone, beta-hydroxybutyrate (BOHB), which may hinder patient management. Even when BOHB is measured, the evidence for cutoffs used in DKA diagnosis or exclusion is limited, while its use in gauging severity, treatment progress, and resolution is not fully clear. Lastly, although employing point-of-care meters instead of a laboratory for BOHB measurement brings undoubted benefits, this approach has its own challenges. This article provides a perspective on these topics to complement current recommendations and to suggest how future research may improve its use in the DKA context.

Automated summary

The measurement of blood ketones has become an important tool in diagnosing and managing diabetic ketoacidosis. However, there is still disparity among guidelines on when and how to use this test, and several issues, such as inconsistent measurement methods and lack of evidence for cutoff values, remain to be addressed.