Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA)
الوصف
Diabetic ketoacidosis is a life-threatening condition that affects people with diabetes as a complication of the disease. Diabetic ketoacidosis occurs when your body does not have enough insulin to use glucose (the normal source of energy) which prevent your cells from getting the glucose they need for energy. Accordingly, your body starts burning fats into ketones to get the energy it needs. Increasing the ketone levels in your blood makes it more acidic. When ketones level increase, you can develop diabetic ketoacidosis. Diabetic ketoacidosis is more frequent in patients with type 1 diabetes than in patients with type 2 diabetes. Treating diabetic ketoacidosis is usually done in the hospital but you can prevent it by understanding the warning signs and doing regular check-ups for your urine and blood.
الأعراض
Learning the symptoms of diabetic ketoacidosis is crucial. Diabetic ketoacidosis usually develops slowly with early symptoms like:
- Being very thirsty
- Frequent urination
- Dehydration
- Headache
- High number of ketones in your urine or blood (when evaluated at home)
- Blood sugar level is more than 250 mg/dL
If left untreated, diabetic ketoacidosis may cause more severe symptoms like:
- Abdominal pain
- Shortness of breath
- Fruity-smelling breath
- Feeling very tired or weak
- Feeling disoriented or confused
- Decreased alertness or confusion
Diabetic ketoacidosis is a dangerous and serious condition. If you have any of these symptoms, contact your Diabetes and Endocrinology doctor IMMEDIATELY, or go to the nearest hospital’s emergency room.
دكاترة مرشحين
عرض المزيدالأسباب
- Infections like flu or urinary tract infections
- Missing doses of diabetes medications
- Physical injury
- Surgery
- Certain medicines like steroids and diuretics
- Pregnancy
- Heart attack or stroke
- Alcohol or drug abuse
التشخيص
Diabetic ketoacidosis is diagnosed if you have the following four conditions after having some tests (like blood glucose test, ketone testing):
- Your blood glucose level is above 250 mg/dL.
- Your blood pH is less than 7.3.
- You have ketones in your urine and/or blood.
- Your blood bicarbonate level is less than 18 mEq per L.
العلاج
Diabetic ketoacidosis is usually treated in hospitals; the treatment may include:
- Insulin to reverse the conditions that cause diabetic ketoacidosis.
- Medicines for the underlying cause such as antibiotics for treating an infection.
- Intravenous supplied fluids and nutrients to rehydrate your body and replace the lost nutrients.
Although diabetic ketoacidosis is a serious condition, there are things you can do to help prevent it:
- Monitor your blood sugar level frequently.
- Keep your blood sugar levels within the target range.
- Even if you feel fine, take your medicines as prescribed.
- Consult your doctor for advice on how to change your insulin dosage in response to what you eat, how active you are, or whether you are ill.
