Symptoms To Severity:
Ketoacidosis,
It's Not A Laughing Matter
Although ketoacidosis is a complication usually of type 1 diabetes, it is also statistically showing that up to 1/3 of the new patients are type 2 diabetics. With this condition, severe complications can lead to a fatality in as little as 24 hours. What Is DKAKetoacidosis, also known as DKA, starts with a lack of the hormone insulin. Insulin is vital to the transportation of glucose into the cells of our body. Glucose is our body's source of energy. No glucose in the cells = no energy.Once the conditions of low insulin to glucose ratio has been set up, the liver will start releasing even more stored quantities of glucose because the cells are "starving" without having any available glucose getting in to them. Your blood sugars are therefore pushed even higher again because there is still no insulin to push the glucose into the cells. By now, extremely large percentages of blood glucose is in your system and your body is trying strenuously to flush it (through urination). Dehydration becomes very common. Coinciding with these events, your cells still can not find its needed energy source. As a last resort, they will start breaking down the fat deposits in your body. Although this may sound advantageous, it is actually very dangerous. Acidic by-products of this breakdown of fats has now made your bloodstream full of waste products known as ketones. This increase in acidic waste products is known as ketoacidosis. Conditions Which Lead To The Onset Of DKAAlthough a shortage of insulin in your body is the controlling factor in DKA, some of the common reasons for that shortage may include:- insufficient amounts of insulin (usually because the patient is "shorting" their medications because of the expense)
- inadequate amounts of food is being eaten
- continuous physical or mental stress will cause the body to need extra energy. This ultimately leads to energy being pulled from your fat stores which will raise ketone levels
- continuous hard strenuous exercise leads to shrinkage of fat cells which again raises your ketone levels
Symptoms Of DKAMost of the following symptoms will be noticeable if you are going into a state of raised ketone levels. Remember the severity of this condition can go from getting sick to death all in the same day. Do not sit around and wonder if you give it enough time, you may begin to feel better. In this situation, you won't.- excessive thirst and "arid" dry mouth
- continuous urination, always seem to have the urge
- very high blood glucose levels
- high ketone levels in your urine
- body feels so weak and fatigued
- mental confusion
- dehydration
- nausea and vomiting
- abdominal pain
- shortness of breath (breath will start to smell very fruity)
Treatments Of KetoacidosisThe typical onset of these symptoms to a severe condition is usually 24 hours or less. Since the whole problem originated because of the lack of insulin- the treatment- get insulin into the patient. Therefore a controlled schedule of insulin and fluids will bring a person back usually within 24 hours.Remember, ketoacidosis is nothing to play around with. With an onset of symptoms to death being possible within 24 hours, prevention of this type of kidney disease for your own diabetic health is mandatory. Talk to your doctor if you are having any kind of financial or other problems which do not allow you to follow your prescribed treatment plan.
Return to "Symptoms Of Diabetes" from "Ketoacidosis".
*Disclaimer*
This site is not intended to replace the advice and supervision of your professional medical treatment plan. Although all of the information is true and accurate to the best of our knowledge, we still recommend you carefully check all food labels before consuming any food product. We can not assume any legal responsibility for any illness obtained while following the advice contained on this site.
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