People are mostly unaware of a potentially life-taking condition known as diabetic ketoacidosis. Don't be fooled by the word 'diabetic' in the name! Though diabetics are prime targets of this condition, so also are they who have undergone severe dehydration for whatever reason, as well as those who have had massive viral or bacterial infections. These three categories form the high-risk population vulnerable to diabetic ketoacidosis.
The words 'deadly' and 'killer' are not meant to scare you, but to impress on you that diabetic ketoacidosis is really a very critical, life-threatening condition. The body gets its energy requirements from glucose, which is the result of digestion. Excess glucose is stored as fat. The fat is decomposed when the energy demand cannot be met from the glucose in the blood. The decomposition of fat results in glucose, which is used to get energy, and a fatty acid called ketone.
The presence of the fatty acid in the blood changes the chemistry of the blood and makes it more acidic than it ought to be. This condition is called ketoacidosis. The body is sufficiently competent to eliminate the excess ketones from the blood on a regular basis. If the ketoacidosis goes beyond the normal level and if it is chronic, then the normal blood chemistry is altered to such an extent that normal life becomes impossible for the sufferer. The high-risk categories are more likely to get diabetic ketoacidosis, but the other catgories are vulnerable to this condition nonetheless.
The main reason that diabetic ketoacidosis goes undetected and untreated for too long is that the symptoms of this condition become evident only when the condition has reached a critical level. So it is wiser to detect the telltale signs of this condition as early as possible. These are:
The skin is the first give-away of diabetic ketoacidosis. It becomes dry, even the lips become dry. It is either flushed or extremely pale. Though the body temperature may be normal, the skin temperature is elevated.
The severe change in the blood chemistry can cause blurred vision and similar vision problems.
Diabetics with diabetic ketoacidosis emit a peculiarly sickening "sweet" odor from their breath. It seems very like the smell from a horse's mouth which has just fed on fresh grass!
The person with diabetic ketoacidosis can feel very tired, so tired that he sleeps almost throughout the day. He won't even take part in those activities that he likes.
A person with diabetic ketoacidosis can't eat. He doesn't feel like eating at all. If he does attempt a light meal, he brings it up almost immediately, with violent retching.
The most critical manifestation of diabetic ketoacidosis is related to the thought processing capability of the brain. The person goes through spells where he is completely confused.
The best advice that one can give to a person suffering from diabetic ketoacidosis is to control the blood sugar level by carefully monitoring it. In diabetic ketoacidosis the blood glucose is in a deficiency situation, so you might need to up the amount of glucose by taking glucose supplements. Remain properly hydrated by taking rehydration salts. Remember that this is going to take time, but persistence will pay off in the end. - 30310
The words 'deadly' and 'killer' are not meant to scare you, but to impress on you that diabetic ketoacidosis is really a very critical, life-threatening condition. The body gets its energy requirements from glucose, which is the result of digestion. Excess glucose is stored as fat. The fat is decomposed when the energy demand cannot be met from the glucose in the blood. The decomposition of fat results in glucose, which is used to get energy, and a fatty acid called ketone.
The presence of the fatty acid in the blood changes the chemistry of the blood and makes it more acidic than it ought to be. This condition is called ketoacidosis. The body is sufficiently competent to eliminate the excess ketones from the blood on a regular basis. If the ketoacidosis goes beyond the normal level and if it is chronic, then the normal blood chemistry is altered to such an extent that normal life becomes impossible for the sufferer. The high-risk categories are more likely to get diabetic ketoacidosis, but the other catgories are vulnerable to this condition nonetheless.
The main reason that diabetic ketoacidosis goes undetected and untreated for too long is that the symptoms of this condition become evident only when the condition has reached a critical level. So it is wiser to detect the telltale signs of this condition as early as possible. These are:
The skin is the first give-away of diabetic ketoacidosis. It becomes dry, even the lips become dry. It is either flushed or extremely pale. Though the body temperature may be normal, the skin temperature is elevated.
The severe change in the blood chemistry can cause blurred vision and similar vision problems.
Diabetics with diabetic ketoacidosis emit a peculiarly sickening "sweet" odor from their breath. It seems very like the smell from a horse's mouth which has just fed on fresh grass!
The person with diabetic ketoacidosis can feel very tired, so tired that he sleeps almost throughout the day. He won't even take part in those activities that he likes.
A person with diabetic ketoacidosis can't eat. He doesn't feel like eating at all. If he does attempt a light meal, he brings it up almost immediately, with violent retching.
The most critical manifestation of diabetic ketoacidosis is related to the thought processing capability of the brain. The person goes through spells where he is completely confused.
The best advice that one can give to a person suffering from diabetic ketoacidosis is to control the blood sugar level by carefully monitoring it. In diabetic ketoacidosis the blood glucose is in a deficiency situation, so you might need to up the amount of glucose by taking glucose supplements. Remain properly hydrated by taking rehydration salts. Remember that this is going to take time, but persistence will pay off in the end. - 30310
About the Author:
There are two things everyone should have to assist in controlling their diabetes. The first is an ample inventory of diabetic testing supplies and the other is a wholesome diabetic diet plan. Go to www.Diabetes-Diabetic-Diet-Plans.com to learn more about this disease and methods to control it.
