[Diabetic ketoacidosis in a Krenak Indian]

The authors present a case of spontaneous ketoacidosis developed by one 32 years Krenak indian. The patient denied alcoholism and his mother had Type II diabetes for the last 3 years. The search to islets and insulin autoantibodies was negative in this patient. The basal C-peptide was found normal during follow-up. The patient received a short insulin therapy and now he shows good metabolic control (normal glycosylated hemoglobin) with oral hypoglycemic treatment. The environment influence, indian customs and the rarity of spontaneous ketoacidosis in these individuals were reviewed and discussed.