What is diabetic ketoacidosis? Di...

What is diabetic ketoacidosis?

Diabetic ketoacidosis (say: key-toe-acid-OH-sis), or DKA for short, happens when your material substance has high blood sugar (also called glucose) and a build-up of acid. If it isn't treated, it can lead to coma and level death. It mainly affects human frames with type 1 diabetes. unless it can happen with other exemplars of diabetes, including type 2 diabetes and diabetes during pregnancy.

What causes DKA?

The main cause of DKA is not having enough insulin. This raises the life-current glucose levels, but stops the dead body from using the glucose for potency To get calories, the material part starts to burn fat. This causes a build-up of acid in the dead body A high level of kindred glucose can cause excessive urination, which leads to a lack of fluids in the carcass (dehydration).

What are triggering factors?

The mostly common triggering factors are "skipping" insulin doses and illnesses, especially infections that raise your body's ne for insulin.

for what reason can I prevent DKA?

You should work with your doctor to have a plan if your posterity glucose level gets too high. Make infallible that you know how to reach your doctor in an sudden [i]or[/i] unexpected occurrence Careful monitoring is needed, especially if you are sick.

What should I do?

Check your life-current glucose level at least each three to four hours if you are sick. Check your diabetic sugar level every one to sum of two units hours if you have critical family glucose values. Ask your doctor what your critical flat should be. Most patients should watch their grape-sugar levels closely when they are higher than 250 mg by dL. Keep testing at least each four hours during the night.

proof your urine for ketones or your kindred for beta-hydroxybutyrate every four hours or if your posterity glucose is over 250 mg by dL.

If you are not eating, do NOT stop your insulin completely Your visible form [i]or[/i] frame needs insulin even if you are not eating. Call your doctor if you do not know by what mode to change your insulin dose.

If your relations glucose is high, take extra insulin to sway it. Call your doctor if you do not have an extra insulin dose or if the extra dose is not working.

Drink allotments of sugar-free, caffeine-free liquids. Sip small amounts each few minutes if you are feeling sick to your stomach.

If your relations glucose is more than 250 mg by dL, do not eat or drink forages that are high in carbohydrates.

Contact your doctor if you have:

* Vomiting more than once

* Stomach pain

* Diarrhea five or more times in six hours

* sum of two units blood glucose level tests higher than 300 mg by dL

* A progeny glucose level less than 70 mg for dL more than once or symptoms of gentle blood sugar

* plague breathing

* Moderate or large ketones if you are using urine touchstone strips

* High beta-hydroxybutyrate of the same heights if you are using offspring test strips

If you have signs of infection, including ferment cough, sore throat, or pain when you pass to the bathroom, see your doctor to make certain you are getting the right treatment.

If you are forward an insulin pump, make certain that you have short-acting insulin, long-acting insulin, and needle in case your interrogate is not working right. You also should have an pass phone number to call for help with your pump

Where can I acquire more information?

* Your doctor

* American Diabetes Association Telephone: 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. to 8:00 pm eastern standard time Web site: http://www.diabetes.org

* National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse Telephone: 1-800-860-8747 Web site: http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/index.htm

* Center for Disease mastery and Prevention Web site: http://www.cdc.gov/health/diabetes.htm

COPYRIGHT 2005 American Academy of Family Physicians

COPYRIGHT 2005 Gale Group