Diabetes is a serious disease that affects millions of Americans on a daily basis.
For diabetics, constantly monitoring blood sugar and keeping tabs of meals and snacks is a way of life.
But for those who suffer from Type 2 diabetes there is also the danger of ketoacidosis.
As if diabetes is not enough to deal with, ketoacidosis is a further complication of the disease.
It occurs when the body can't use its supply of sugar, or glucose, as fuel to burn because either it does not have enough insulin or there is no insulin at all.
When this happens, by-products of the fat breakdown, called ketones, start to build up in the body's blood and urine.
When the ketones reach a high enough level they become poisonous and ketoacidosis begins.
This condition is usually the result of Type 1 diabetes, because it is typically these symptoms that lead an individual to the doctor in the first place.
It does occur in Type 2 diabetes, even though it is not as common.
Doctors have discovered that people who have Type 2 diabetes and are of Hispanic and African-American ethnicity are most likely to contract this condition.
Research has also discovered that for these individuals, the condition is usually triggered by a serious illness.
Since the symptoms for ketoacidosis are similar to some other diseases it is important that diabetics are very familiar with them so that they will recognize when they need assistance.
Some of the symptoms can include:
Stomach pain, nausea and vomiting are typically also present.
Additional symptoms can also include shortness of breath, stiffness or aching of the muscles, several days of frequent thirst and urination and severe fatigue.
The diabetic will generally have a decreased appetite and headaches, and they will typically experience difficulty breathing when they are lying down.
The seriousness of leaving this condition untreated cannot be overstated.
Those who are particularly at risk are the elderly.
If treatment is not utilized the individual can suffer form a variety of serious complications.
These can include:
If the seriousness of the disease is allowed to progress the person could suffer a heart attack, lapse into a coma and eventually pass away.
Ketoacidosis is scary...
and usually avoidable!
For diabetics, constantly monitoring blood sugar and keeping tabs of meals and snacks is a way of life.
But for those who suffer from Type 2 diabetes there is also the danger of ketoacidosis.
As if diabetes is not enough to deal with, ketoacidosis is a further complication of the disease.
It occurs when the body can't use its supply of sugar, or glucose, as fuel to burn because either it does not have enough insulin or there is no insulin at all.
When this happens, by-products of the fat breakdown, called ketones, start to build up in the body's blood and urine.
When the ketones reach a high enough level they become poisonous and ketoacidosis begins.
This condition is usually the result of Type 1 diabetes, because it is typically these symptoms that lead an individual to the doctor in the first place.
It does occur in Type 2 diabetes, even though it is not as common.
Doctors have discovered that people who have Type 2 diabetes and are of Hispanic and African-American ethnicity are most likely to contract this condition.
Research has also discovered that for these individuals, the condition is usually triggered by a serious illness.
Since the symptoms for ketoacidosis are similar to some other diseases it is important that diabetics are very familiar with them so that they will recognize when they need assistance.
Some of the symptoms can include:
- a flushed face
- deep, rapid breathing, and
- the mouth and skin will become dry
Stomach pain, nausea and vomiting are typically also present.
Additional symptoms can also include shortness of breath, stiffness or aching of the muscles, several days of frequent thirst and urination and severe fatigue.
The diabetic will generally have a decreased appetite and headaches, and they will typically experience difficulty breathing when they are lying down.
The seriousness of leaving this condition untreated cannot be overstated.
Those who are particularly at risk are the elderly.
If treatment is not utilized the individual can suffer form a variety of serious complications.
These can include:
- cerebral edema, or
- a buildup of fluid in the brain, and
- kidney failure
If the seriousness of the disease is allowed to progress the person could suffer a heart attack, lapse into a coma and eventually pass away.
Ketoacidosis is scary...
and usually avoidable!
Source...