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Extreme hyperglycemia readings in DKA or severe diabetes

April 6, 2026r/medicine

In r/medicine, clinicians trade shock-value but clinically real examples of glucose values above 1400 to 1800, raising questions about lab error versus true severe metabolic decompensation and discharge safety.

I just saw a blood glucose of 1642. And I don’t know how that’s even possible.
it was 1431 on admission and got as high as 1642. She left the hospital with it at 802.
I had a patient Kussmaul-ing with a level around 1850.
The lab called to tell me they thought we had sent a sample off the patient's TPN line.
He was not on TPN.
r/medicine
DKAlab values

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