Final answer:
DKA in Type 1 diabetes is mainly caused by insufficient insulin, resulting from missed insulin doses or increased insulin resistance due to stress hormones. Missing insulin doses leads to excessive ketone production as the body turns to fat for energy, which can increase susceptibility to DKA.
Step-by-step explanation:
Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a serious complication that can occur in patients with Type 1 diabetes when their body starts to run out of insulin, leading to a buildup of ketones in the bloodstream. The main causes of DKA include a deficiency of insulin, an excess of insulin antagonists, and sometimes a stressed state that increases the levels of counter-regulatory hormones such as glucagon and epinephrine.
One common cause of DKA is simply missing an insulin dose, which is crucial for glucose to enter the cells and for the regulation of metabolism in the body. In the absence of sufficient insulin, the body starts to break down fat as an alternative energy source, leading to the production of ketone bodies.
Ethnic background can also influence the susceptibility to DKA notably, patients of Hispanic and African-American descent with type 2 diabetes are reported to have higher incidences of DKA, although the reasons for this disparity are not well understood.