This almost happened to us 4 years ago with our then 8 year old daughter. She was showing signs, which we found out later, of heading into a ketoacidotic coma. The thankfully empty emergency room immediately diagnosed her and she spent four days in the hospital. Reading this story makes my gut ache.
And to us, with our son. DKA is a VERY frightening thing.... Nothing worse than hearing that Kussmaul breathing.