Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a serious complication of diabetes that can be life-threatening.
DKA is most common among people with type 1 diabetes. People with type 2 diabetes can also develop DKA.
DKA develops when your body doesn’t have enough insulin to allow blood sugar into your cells for use as energy.
Instead, your liver breaks down fat for fuel, a process that produces acids called ketones. When too many ketones
are produced too fast, they can build up to dangerous levels in your body.
DKA Signs and Symptoms
DKA usually develops slowly. Early symptoms include:
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Drinking more water than usual
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Urinating more than usual
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Not able to gain weight
If untreated, more severe symptoms can appear quickly, such as:
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Being very tired
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Flushed face
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Fruity smelling breath
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Headache
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Fast, deep breathing
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Dry skin and mouth
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Muscle stiffness or aches
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Nausea and vomiting
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Stomach pain
Sometimes DKA is the first sign of diabetes in people who haven’t yet been diagnosed.
Common symptoms of diabetes:
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Extreme fatigue
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Blurry vision
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Urinating often
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Feeling very thirsty
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Feeling very hungry
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Weight loss—even though you are eating more (type 1)
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Tingling, pain, or numbness in the hands/feet (type 2)
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Cuts/bruises that are slow to heal
Causes of DKA:
Very high blood sugar and low insulin levels lead to DKA. The two most common causes are:
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Illness. When you get sick, you may not be able to eat or drink as much as usual, which can make blood sugar levels hard to manage.
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Missing insulin shots, a clogged insulin pump, or the wrong insulin dose.
Go to EMERGENCY if any of the following occurs:
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You’re having trouble breathing.
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You can’t keep liquids down for more than 4 hrs.
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You feel too sick to eat normally and are unable to keep down food for more than 24 hours.
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You lose 5 pounds or more during the illness.
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You have vomiting and/or severe diarrhea for more than 6 hours.
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You feel sleepy or can’t think clearly.
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Your temperature is over 101 for 24 hrs.
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Your blood sugar is lower than 60 mg/dl.
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You have moderate to high ketone levels in your urine (test with ketone strips).
Note:
The information above has been extracted from the CDC website on DKA:
https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/diabetic-ketoacidosis.html.