Which laboratory finding supports the diagnosis of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)?

The presence of an elevated blood glucose level is a critical finding when diagnosing diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). In DKA, the body experiences a severe insulin deficiency, which leads to the mobilization of fatty acids and their conversion into ketone bodies. This metabolic derangement results in significant elevation of blood glucose levels, often greater than 250 mg/dL, and can frequently exceed 500 mg/dL in more severe cases.

This high glucose level is compounded by the concurrent presence of ketones in the serum and urine, contributing to the acidosis seen in DKA. The elevated glucose and ketones together create a triad of laboratory findings typically associated with the condition, making the elevated blood glucose level a hallmark indicator of DKA.

While other options may pertain to other metabolic states, they do not characteristically align with the diagnostic criteria for DKA. For example, normal serum pH would indicate a lack of acidosis, which contradicts the acidotic state seen in DKA. Low triglyceride levels are not typically used in the diagnosis of DKA, and decreased respiration is generally a symptom observed during conditions of respiratory distress, not a defining laboratory finding of DKA. Therefore, the elevated blood glucose level is definitive