Most often diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) in adults results from insufficient insulin administration and acute infection. It is assumed that this releases proinflammatory cytokines and stress hormones, which stimulate lipolysis and ketogenesis.We aimed to test whether this perception of DKA can be reproduced in an experimental human model utilizing combined insulin deficiency and acute inflammation and which intracellular mediators of lipolysis are affected in adipose tissue.Nine type 1 diabetic subjects were studied twice: (i) insulin controlled euglycemia(CTR) and (ii) insulin deprivation and endotoxin administration(KET).During KET, serum TNF-α, cortisol, glucagon, and growth hormone levels increased; free fatty acids and 3-hydroxybutyrate concentrations and the rate of lipolysis rose markedly. Serum bicarbonate and pH decreased. Adipose tissue mRNA contents of comparative gene identification-58 (CGI-58) increased and G0/G1 switch 2 gene (G0S2) mRNA decreased robustly. Neither protein levels of adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) nor phosphorylations of hormone sensitive lipase were altered.The clinical picture of incipient DKA in adults can be reproduced by combined insulin deficiency and endotoxin induced acute inflammation. The precipitating steps involve release of proinflammatory cytokines and stress hormones, increased lipolysis and decreased G0S2 and increased CGI-58 mRNA contents in adipose tissue, compatible with latent ATGL stimulation.