How can ketoacidosis be fatal

Ketoacidosis is a serious short term complication which can result in coma or even death if it is not treated quickly. Read about Diabetes and Ketones What is diabetic ketoacidosis? DKA occurs when the body has insufficient insulin to allow enough glucose to enter cells, and so the body switches to burning fatty acids and producing acidic ketone bodies.

A high level of ketone bodies in the blood can cause particularly severe illness. Symptoms of DKA Diabetic ketoacidosis may itself be the symptom of undiagnosed type 1 diabetes. Typical symptoms of diabetic ketoacidosis include: Vomiting Dehydration An unusual smell on the breath —sometimes compared to the smell of pear drops Deep laboured breathing called kussmaul breathing or hyperventilation Rapid heartbeat Confusion and disorientation Symptoms of diabetic ketoacidosis usually evolve over a 24 hour period if blood glucose levels become and remain too high hyperglycemia.

Causes and risk factors for diabetic ketoacidosis As noted above, DKA is caused by the body having too little insulin to allow cells to take in glucose for energy. When she first told me her story about food poisoning and Diabetic Ketoacidosis DKA , I knew others could benefit from hearing it as well. Thanks Katie for your openness and allowing us to share your scary story so that the LOOP community can learn from it. Humor is, after all, the best and cheapest therapy. Allow me to pause today to share with you the down and dirty of what it feels like to have something that is not the slightest bit humorous: diabetic ketoacidosis.

You are hot. You are freezing. You are confused. You are blacked out but coherent. You go to talk but words fail you. Time flies and goes in slow motion simultaneously. You will likely smell and look like death. In my instance, this was brought on by the combination of excessive vomiting and dehydration caused by food poisoning and the diabetic ketoacidosis that followed after my body had gone through so much. In hindsight, I was lucky, my husband knew that I had food poisoning because I began vomiting after our meal.

But I had never prepped him on diabetic ketoacidosis and the symptoms because DKA was for those other diabetics. Upon finding me in our living room with a bowl of blood and bile by my side no, I am not exaggerating , he got me into the car and took me to emergency care. It was p. The series of events that led up to my stay in the ICU began innocently enough. Unfortunately, we veterinarians are seeing an increased prevalence of diabetes mellitus in dogs and cats.

This is likely due to the growing prevalence of obesity secondary to inactive lifestyle, a high carbohydrate diet, lack of exercise, etc. So, if you just had a dog or cat diagnosed with diabetes mellitus, what do you do? First, we encourage you to take a look at these articles for an explanation of the disease: Diabetes Mellitus Sugar Diabetes in Dogs Once you have a basic understanding of diabetes mellitus or if you already had one , this article will teach you about life-threatening complications that can occur as a result of the disease; specifically, I discuss a life-threatening condition called diabetes ketoacidosis DKA so that you know how to help prevent it!

What is DKA? When diabetes goes undiagnosed, or when it is difficult to control or regulate, the complication of DKA can occur. Cell starvation causes the body to start breaking down fat in an attempt to provide energy or a fuel source to the body.

Symptoms of DKA Clinical signs of DKA include the following: Weakness Not moving in cats, hanging out by the water bowl Not eating to complete anorexia Large urinary clumps in the litter box my guideline? Diabetic ketoacidosis DKA is a potentially life-threatening complication of diabetes mellitus. Why are so many kids dying from undiagnosed Type 1 diabetes? Yes, I know, I know. I get it. Yes, I get that too, loud and clear. Welcome to the club. We are busy too and many of us experience similar situations in our businesses as well.

But, that is a lousy excuse for not trying to rule out Type 1 diabetes in your little patients who are counting on you to help them when they are sick. If remained untreated, the condition leads to diabetic coma and may be fatal.

Diabetic ketoacidosis DKA gets triggered by a stressful event on the body, such as an illness or severe lack of insulin. DKA is more common in people with type 1 diabetes. In some cases, identification of DKA is the first indication that a person has diabetes. Although this can be a sign of hyperglycemia and isn't always a late-stage sign, it can occur with or without ketoacidosis. Confusion Abdominal pain Loss of appetite Flu-like symptoms Unconsciousness diabetic coma Being lethargic and apathetic Extreme weakness Kussmaul breathing air hunger.

DKA can occur in patients with type 2, particularly in obese children. Diabetes causes your body's pH levels to become more acidic and develop a condition called ketoacidosis, the American Diabetes Association explains. Your body's pH level refers to the acidity or alkalinity of the fluids in your body. Diabetes impairs your body's ability to properly utilize the glucose in your blood.

Instead, your body is forced to convert fat into energy through a process that develops into ketoacidosis. Diagnosing ketoacidosis involves testing blood for the presence of ketones, the University of Maryland Medical Center explains. There are two main types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is congenital, and its symptoms appear as early as childhood, MayoClinic. Type 1 diabetes is characterized by your body's inability to produce insulin, the hormone needed for cells to metabolize glucose into energy.

Type 2 diabetes is essentially defined by acquired insulin resistance that usually manifests in adulthood. Both types of diabetes cause increased thirst, frequent urination, unexplained weight loss, hypertension and ketoacidosis. Left untreated, both types of diabetes lead to complications that damage your cardiovascular system, kidneys and nerves due to the accumulated glucose in your blood. Complications due to diabetes such as ketoacidosis are fatal if not treated.

Ketones are the acidic byproducts of fat breakdown that accumulate when your body uses fat instead of glucose as a source of fuel, MedlinePlus, a service of the National Institutes of Health, explains. As your ketone levels increase, your body becomes more acidic. Ketones are present in both types of diabetes but are generally more typical of type 1 diabetes. Ketones are also sometimes present in urine. Acetone and acetoacetic acid are examples of ketones.

People at great risk for serious complications are those over 65 years and those with chronic medical illnesses. Influenza A is the most severe strain. Influenza B tends to be milder. Pneumonia is the major complication of influenza and can be very serious. It can develop about 5 days after viral influenza. Flu-related pneumonia occurs in high-risk individuals, such as the following: People with weak immune systems, such as AIDS Elderly patients Very young children Hospitalized patients And anyone with serious medical conditions, such as diabetes, heart, circulation, or lung disorders, particularly chronic lung disease Combinations of these factors further increase the risk.

It should be noted that pneumonia is an uncommon outcome of influenza in healthy adults. Influenza increases the risk for complications in the central nervous system of small children. Febrile seizures are the most common neurologic complication in children especially infants. Print Overview Diabetic ketoacidosis is a serious complication of diabetes that occurs when your body produces high levels of blood acids called ketones.

The condition develops when your body can't produce enough insulin. Insulin normally plays a key role in helping sugar glucose — a major source of energy for your muscles and other tissues — enter your cells. Without enough insulin, your body begins to break down fat as fuel.

This process produces a buildup of acids in the bloodstream called ketones, eventually leading to diabetic ketoacidosis if untreated. If you have diabetes or you're at risk of diabetes, learn the warning signs of diabetic ketoacidosis — and know when to seek emergency care. Symptoms Diabetic ketoacidosis signs and symptoms often develop quickly, sometimes within 24 hours.

For some, these signs and symptoms may be the first indication of having diabetes. You may notice: Excessive thirst Frequent urination Nausea and vomiting Abdominal pain Weakness or fatigue Shortness of breath Fruity-scented breath Confusion More-specific signs of diabetic ketoacidosis — which can be detected through home blood and urine testing kits — include: High blood sugar level hyperglycemia High ketone levels in your urine When to see a doctor If you feel ill or stressed or you've had a recent illness or injury, check your blood sugar level often.

Follow your diabetes treatment plan carefully. Ask your diabetes treatment team for help when you need it. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Diabetic ketoacidosis is a serious complication of diabetes that occurs when your body produces high levels of blood acids called ketones.

Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references DKA ketoacidosis and ketones. American Diabetes Association. Cells need glucose sugar and insulin to function properly. Glucose comes from the food you eat, and insulin is produced by the pancreas. When you drink alcohol, your pancreas may stop producing insulin for a short time. To get the energy you need, your body will start to burn fat.

When your body burns fat for energy, byproducts known as ketone bodies are produced. If your body is not producing insulin, ketone bodies will begin to build up in your bloodstream. This buildup of ketones can produce a life-threatening condition known as ketoacidosis. Ketoacidosis, or metabolic acidosis, occurs when you ingest something that is metabolized or turned into an acid. This condition has a number of causes, including: shock kidney disease abnormal metabolism In addition to general ketoacidosis, there are several specific types.

These types include: alcoholic ketoacidosis, which is caused by excessive consumption of alcohol diabetic ketoacidosis DKA , which mostly develops in people with type 1 diabetes starvation ketoacidosis, which occurs most often in women who are pregnant, in their third trimester, and experiencing excessive vomiting Each of these situations increases the amount of acid in the system.

They can also reduce the amount of insulin your body produces, leading to the breakdown of fat cells and the production of ketones. Alcoholic ketoacidosis can develop when you drink excessive amounts of alcohol for a long period of time.

Excessive alcohol consumption often causes malnourishment not enough nutrients for the body to function well. People who drink large quantities of alcohol may not eat regularly. Diabetic ketoacidosis DKA is a buildup of acids in your blood. It can happen when your blood sugar is too high for too long. It could be life-threatening, but it usually takes many hours to become that serious. You can treat it and prevent it, too.

It usually happens because your body doesn't have enough insulin. Your cells can't use the sugar in your blood for energy, so they use fat for fuel instead. Burning fat makes acids called ketones and, if the process goes on for a while, they could build up in your blood. That excess can change the chemical balance of your blood and throw off your entire system.

People with type 1 diabetes are at risk for ketoacidosis, since their bodies don't make any insulin. Your ketones can also go up when you miss a meal, you're sick or stressed, or you have an insulin reaction. DKA can happen to people with type 2 diabetes, but it's rare.

If you have type 2, especially when you're older, you're more likely to have a condition with some similar symptoms called HHNS hyperosmolar hyperglycemic nonketotic syndrome. It can lead to severe dehydration. You can check your levels with a urine test strip. Some glucose meters measure ketones, too. Try to bring your blood sugar down, and check your ketones again in 30 minutes.

Call your doctor or go to the emergency room right away if that doesn't work, if you have any of the symptoms below and your ketones aren't normal, or if you have more than one symptom.

You've been throwing up for more than 2 hours. You feel queasy or your belly hurts. Your breath smells fruity. You're tired, confused, or woozy. You're having a hard time breathing. Abstract A year-old woman with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus was found dead in bed having allegedly recently taken ecstasy and consumed alcohol.