Patients suffering from diabetic ketoacidosis typically show increased levels of what substance?

In diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), patients exhibit significantly elevated levels of ketones. This condition arises due to a shortage of insulin, which leads the body to utilize fat as the primary source of energy instead of glucose. As fat is metabolized, ketones are produced as byproducts. These ketones can accumulate to high levels in the bloodstream, leading to an acidic environment, which is a hallmark of DKA.

While glucose levels are also high in DKA due to insufficient insulin to facilitate its entry into cells, the defining characteristic of this condition is the presence of ketones. Insulin levels are typically low in DKA, which is why it cannot be the correct answer. Adrenaline may be released in response to stress, such as an episode of DKA, but it does not play a direct role in the biochemical changes that define the condition. Therefore, the increased levels of ketones directly indicate the metabolic derangement present in diabetic ketoacidosis.