Plasma lactate and β-hydroxybutyrate concentrations were measured during episodes of
ketoacidosis and lactic acidosis in diabetics. In 39 patients with ketoacidosis, with a mean
plasma μ-hydroxybutyrate concentration of 12.4 millimols/liter, the plasma lactate
concentration was< 3.6 millimols/liter in 28 and moderately elevated in 11. In seven of the
latter, coexisting lactic acidosis had been suspected clinically. In these 39 patients, there
was no correlation between plasma lactate and β-hydroxybutvrate concentrations. In six of …