Sudden death due to diabetic ketoacidosis

Two obese women not known to be diabetic died suddenly of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). To our knowledge, sudden unexpected death due to DKA has not been reported as the only manifestation of diabetes mellitus. The investigation of sudden death in patients with risk factors for diabetes, especially in the absence of significant disease of the internal organs, should include determination of vitreous glucose and ketones.