Latent autoimmune diabetes in an adult male presenting with diabetic ketoacidosis precipitated by sepsis

Latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) is a relatively common form of diabetes, but it remains under-researched. It shares characteristics of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T1D and T2D). While autoimmunity is a recognised underlying cause of LADA, certain environmental factors such as obesity, lack of physical activity, and smoking may also contribute to its development. Due to its overlapping features with T2D, LADA is often misdiagnosed as type 2 diabetes and initially managed with oral hypoglycaemic agents, which can delay the timely initiation of insulin therapy. Although rare, there are reports of patients with LADA presenting for the first time with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). We describe here a case of an adult male with latent autoimmune diabetes and sepsis who presented with DKA at onset.