A blood glucose level greater than 18 mmol/L typically indicates what condition?

A blood glucose level greater than 18 mmol/L typically indicates Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) because this condition commonly arises in individuals with uncontrolled diabetes, particularly type 1 diabetes. DKA occurs when there is a significant deficiency of insulin, leading to elevated blood glucose levels. The lack of insulin prevents glucose from entering the cells, which forces the body to break down fat for energy instead. This process produces ketones as a byproduct, leading to metabolic acidosis.

In DKA, aside from high blood glucose levels, you may also observe other symptoms such as excessive thirst, frequent urination, nausea, abdominal pain, and possibly fruity-scented breath due to the presence of ketones. Therefore, a reading above 18 mmol/L is a critical indicator that this metabolic derangement may be occurring, necessitating immediate medical attention.

In contrast, the other options relate to different conditions: Insulin Shock refers to a state of hypoglycemia due to excessive insulin with lower glucose levels, Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic Syndrome involves very high blood glucose levels but typically occurs without significant ketone production, and Hypoglycemia represents low blood sugar, which is not consistent with a glucose level above 18 mmol/L.