What causes diabetic ketoacidosis?
Diabetic ketoacidosis is usually triggered by: An illness. An infection or other illness can cause your body to produce higher levels of certain hormones, such as adrenaline or cortisol. Unfortunately, these hormones counter the effect of insulin — sometimes triggering an episode of diabetic ketoacidosis.
What are the complications of diabetic ketoacidosis?
What are possible complications of diabetic ketoacidosis?
- Low levels of potassium (hypokalemia)
- Swelling inside the brain (cerebral edema)
- Fluid inside your lungs (pulmonary edema)
- Damage to your kidney or other organs from your fluid loss.
How do you treat diabetic ketoacidosis?
Treatment usually involves:
- Fluid replacement. You’ll receive fluids — either by mouth or through a vein — until you’re rehydrated.
- Electrolyte replacement. Electrolytes are minerals in your blood that carry an electric charge, such as sodium, potassium and chloride.
- Insulin therapy.
Can diabetic ketoacidosis reversed?
Insulin therapy. Insulin reverses the processes that cause diabetic ketoacidosis. In addition to fluids and electrolytes, you’ll receive insulin therapy — usually through a vein.
Is ketoacidosis bad?
Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a serious problem that can happen in people with diabetes if their body starts to run out of insulin. When this happens, harmful substances called ketones build up in the body, which can be life-threatening if it’s not found and treated quickly.
Can you fully recover from diabetic ketoacidosis?
Most people recover from treatment for diabetic ketoacidosis within a day. Sometimes it takes longer. If not treated soon enough, diabetic ketoacidosis can lead to severe complications including: Very low potassium levels (hypokalemia).
Is ketoacidosis curable?
Don’t skip over that last phrase, because it’s crucial: DKA is very treatable, but only as long as it’s diagnosed promptly and patients understand the risk.
