What lab finding is most indicative of diabetic ketoacidosis in a patient?

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is characterized by a triad of symptoms: hyperglycemia, metabolic acidosis, and ketonemia. In this context, the lab finding that is most indicative of DKA is high blood glucose. In patients with DKA, blood glucose levels often exceed 250 mg/dL, and they can be significantly higher in severe cases.

The presence of hyperglycemia leads to osmotic diuresis, resulting in dehydration and further compounding the metabolic derangements. While low blood pH, indicative of metabolic acidosis, is also a critical lab finding in DKA, the hallmark presentation includes the extreme elevations in blood glucose levels.

High blood pressure and increased potassium, while potentially relevant in the clinical management of DKA, are not definitive laboratory indicators of the condition itself. Therefore, high blood glucose is the most direct and indicative laboratory finding in diagnosing diabetic ketoacidosis.