Diabetic ketoacidosis, DKA, is a serious, life-threatening condition that can cause a diabetic coma and possibly death. It develops when the body does not get enough Sugar in order to produce energy because of a lack of insulin. This causes the body to start using stored fat for energy.
According to WebMD, when the body cannot convert the sugar into energy, it stays inside of the bloodstream (WebMD, 2017). This causes the kidneys to filter some of the sugar from the blood into the urine. This causes ketones to be released from the breakdown of fat, making the blood’s pH level to become acidic.
DKA is a condition that should not be taken lightly. It can cause several different problems inside of the body. It is very important that you take care of your body in order to prevent the development of DKA.
How does DKA start? WebMD said, “Ketoacidosis can be caused by not getting enough insulin, having a severe infection or other illness, becoming severely dehydrated, or some combination of these things” (WebMD, 2017). There are things that you can control.
Frequent communication with your doctor will assist you in determining how much insulin you should take and when. If you keep taking it consistently and on time, it will help immensely.
It is difficult to control if you get a severe infection or illness. However, you do have control on how you will react. Do not be afraid to go to the doctor. Get the medical treatment that you need so it does not become much worse.
DKA can also be caused by dehydration. Drinking water is a great way to prevent dehydration. Also, cutting out beverages like soda can also help a ton! Focusing more on water will also help you to cut out unnecessary sodium, trans fats, and sugars that you do not need. By drinking healthier, it will make you healthier.
This condition normally develops inside of people with type 1 diabetes, but can develop in people with type 2 as well. It normally develops when blood glucose levels are high and the amount of insulin in the body is low.
Because of this, it is best to check your Blood Sugar levels consistently throughout the day. Take the steps, so that you will not be stuck in a bad position later on.
Normally, DKA is tested for by measuring the amounts of ketones of urine and the bloodstream. You can get test strips for home in order to test your urine. WebMD suggests to test whenever your blood sugar become too high (WebMD, 2017).
This is extremely important if you want to keep your body healthy. There are some things that you can do to help manage your blood sugar as well, which will help with the cause.
Make sure that you talk to your doctor about a consistent workout plan. Test how high your blood sugar is before, during, and after exercise. This will help you to manage how much insulin you need to take at certain times.
You can prevent this by staying on top of your Blood Sugar Levels and educating yourself by talking with your physician.
Bibliography
WebMD Editors. (2017). Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) – topic overview. WebMD LLC. Retrieved from http://www.webmd.com/diabetes/tc/diabetic-ketoacidosis-dka-topic-overview#1
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