DKA vs HHS Classification + DKA Severity (ADA)

DKA / HHS classifier (ADA 2009): grades diabetic ketoacidosis by pH / bicarbonate and screens for the hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state, reporting the anion gap and effective serum osmolality.

Open the calculator → Runs in your browser. Data leaves only if you deliberately send a problem report from the interactive tool.

Example

Serum glucose
520 mg/dL
Arterial / venous pH
6.95
Serum bicarbonate
6 mEq/L
β-hydroxybutyrate
6 mmol/L
Mental status
Stupor / coma
Serum sodium
130 mEq/L
Serum chloride
95 mEq/L

Result: DKA, severe grade; anion gap 29 mEq/L, effective osmolality 289 mOsm/kg.

The tool opens with these values already filled in. Replace them with your own.

What the result means

DKA
Hyperglycemia (glucose ≥ 250) + acidosis (pH < 7.30, HCO3 < 18) + ketosis. Graded mild (pH 7.25–7.30, HCO3 15–18), moderate (pH 7.00–7.24, HCO3 10–14), severe (pH < 7.00, HCO3 < 10).
HHS
Glucose > 600, effective osmolality > 320 mOsm/kg, pH > 7.30, HCO3 > 18, minimal ketosis.
Mixed
Both the ketoacidosis and the hyperosmolar criteria are met together.

What you enter

  • Serum glucose
  • Arterial / venous pH
  • Serum bicarbonate
  • β-hydroxybutyrate
  • Mental status
  • Serum sodium
  • Serum chloride
How this is calculated

Kitabchi AE, Umpierrez GE, Miles JM, Fisher JN. Hyperglycemic crises in adult patients with diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2009;32(7):1335-1343. Diagnostic thresholds reconciled to the 2024 ADA/EASD hyperglycemic-crises consensus (Umpierrez GE, et al. Diabetes Care. 2024). Read the source ↗

A reference and educational tool. Not medical, legal, or financial advice, and not a substitute for clinician judgment.

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Built by Clay Good. Source on GitHub.