What is it?

Diabetic ketoacidosis is a serious complication of diabetes that occurs when your body produces high levels of blood acids called ketones. This condition usually happens when your body can't produce enough insulin - a kind of hormone that helps to transfer the glucose in your blood to the cells. Without enough insulin, your body begins to break down fat and use it as fuel. This process produces a buildup of acids in the bloodstream called ketones, eventually leading to diabetic ketoacidosis if left untreated.