According to a study, one third of people who died of diabetic ketoacidosis had undiagnosed Type 1 diabetes. The statistics of this study were gathered over a 6 year period in Maryland.

Diabetic Ketoacidosis is a complication of diabetes, Type 1 and Type 2. However, the researchers reasoned that because the results of the autopsies showed a significant level of blood glucose in the bodies, it is likely that the patients had Type 1 diabetes.

The findings of this study suggest that screening for diabetes needs to be more vigilant. A simple blood glucose test may mitigate the unforeseen cause of death for many. This surprising fact does not apply to the Maryland population alone. It is quite believable that this startling figure may apply nationwide.

In 2010, the number of deaths due to diabetic ketoacidosis in undiagnosed  diabetics nationwide was not cut-and-dried in a Google search. The search results are vague and convoluted. However the Maryland  medical examiners discovered the figure in this study pertained to undiagnosed Type 1 diabetes. Could the other two thirds be undiagnosed Type 2 diabetes?

The full study is available in the September issue of American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Patholog.

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