Learn About Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA): What It Is and How to Stay healthy
Having diabetes means managing your glucose. But sometimes things go wrong and it becomes an issue. One of the most terrible complications is Diabetic Ketoacidosis, but everyone usually just calls it DKA. It is a medical emergency that needs to be treated immediately. Understanding what DKA is, why it happens, and how to prevent it is actually extremely important to anyone with diabetes, especially Type 1.
What Exactly is DKA?
Think of insulin as a key. It unlocks your body's cells so glucose (sugar from the food you eat) can come in and be used for energy.
In DKA, there is extreme lack of insulin. This happens if a patient with Type 1 diabetes lacks sufficient insulin, or in advanced Type 2 diabetes, at the time of severe illness. Without enough "keys" for insulin, glucose cannot reach the cells. It stays within your blood to create high levels of glucose.
Your cells still need energy, though. So, your body starts to metabolize fat as fuel instead. This sounds good-sounding, but fat burning puts acids called ketones into your blood. Your body is okay with a little bit of ketones. But when fat breaks down rapidly because cells are starved for glucose, ketones build up rapidly.
Having too many ketones makes your blood acidic. That is like making the body environment toxic. This toxic state of high glucose and high levels of ketones resulting in acidic blood is DKA.
Who is Most at Risk for DKA?
DKA most commonly happens to those with Type 1 diabetes. This is because their bodies don't produce insulin at all or very little insulin. DKA is caused by forgetting to take insulin, a failure in the insulin pump, or not even being diagnosed.
People with Type 2 diabetes can also develop DKA, but less often. It usually happens when their body is severely stressed, for example, with a serious infection (like pneumonia or a urinary tract infection), surgery, or after an injury. Some medications for Type 2 diabetes can also make it slightly more likely.
What Can Cause DKA?
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Multiple factors can cause DKA:
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Not Adequate Insulin: This is the most frequent cause. It can be missed injections, incorrect dosing, or a problem with an insulin pump (e.g., blockage or the infusion site getting knocked out).
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Illness or Infection: When you're sick (even with a cold, flu, or infection), your body secretes stress hormones. The stress hormones cause your body to resist insulin more and typically cause you to need more insulin, not less, even though you may be eating very little.
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Undiagnosed Diabetes: As mentioned, DKA can be the initial sign that someone has Type 1 diabetes.
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Other Stressors: Severe physical stress (such as surgery or a severe accident) or even severe emotional stress sometimes triggers DKA by raising the body's demand for insulin.
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Certain Medications: Certain medications, such as steroids, can elevate glucose levels and heighten insulin demand.
Warning Signs: How Do You Know if It Might Be DKA?
DKA symptoms tend to develop rapidly, even within 24 hours. Watch out for these warning signs:
Extreme Thirst: You just can't get enough water in.
Frequent Urination: You urinate much more frequently than usual as your body is trying to flush out excess glucose.
High Glucose Levels: Your glucose meter or Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) is constantly registering high readings.
High Ketone Levels: In your urine or blood (see below).
Feeling Very Weak or Tired: Fatigue due to cells not getting glucose fuel.
Nausea and Vomiting: Your stomach is upset.
Stomach Pain: Abdominal pain may be severe.
Fruity-Smelling Breath: Ketones will have a characteristic odor, typically fruity or like the smell of nail polish remover.
Confusion or Difficulty Concentrating: As the condition worsens, it disrupts brain functioning.
Fast, Deep Breathing (Kussmaul Breathing): The body tries to get rid of the excess acid through rapid breathing.
Dry Skin and Mouth: Sign of dehydration.
If you have a few of these signs, especially high glucose levels with nausea, vomiting, or belly pain, you need to act right away.
How the SIBIONICS GS1 CGM Can Help
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Real-Time Information: The SIBIONICS GS1 sensor continuously tracks your glucose level, sending readings directly to your compatible phone or device. You get your current glucose reading without needing multiple fingersticks.
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Trend Information: It doesn't just report your glucose number; it tells you in which direction it's trending (up, down, or level). To view glucose rising steeply can alert you to a potential problem before it spirals out of control.
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Alerts and Alarms: It can be made to set personalized alarms for higher glucose levels. To get an alert can motivate you to test for ketones sooner, make a change in your insulin according to your plan, or ask the doctor before DKA develops.
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Better Sick Day Control: You do not know when glucose levels become erratic being ill. A continuous glucose monitor such as the SIBIONICS GS1 provides continuous feedback, helping you and your doctor make better decisions regarding insulin adjustments.
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Informed Decision Making: Your data from your SIBIONICS GS1 gives you and your health care team a clearer picture of your glucose patterns, which assists in fine-tuning your overall diabetes management plan and avoiding the risk of risky highs that could lead to DKA.
While a CGM doesn't really test for ketones, by helping keep your glucose more tightly in control and alerting you to high glucose earlier, it is an important DKA prevention measure.
Talk to Your Doctor
DKA is serious business, but with good diabetes control, vigilance, and the right tools, you can reduce your risk significantly. Talk to your diabetes care team about your personal risk for DKA, make sure you have a good sick day plan, and understand when and how to test for ketones. Ask them if a CGM like the SIBIONICS GS1 could be a valuable addition to your diabetes tool kit. Being prepared and knowledgeable is the secret to staying safe and healthy.
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