Diabetic Ketoacidosis is a condition in which the body cells are unable to get glucose for energy due to low or no insulin. Thus, body starts to breakdown of the fat for energy produces toxic acid called ketones.
Diabetes ketoacidosis overview
Diabetic ketoacidosis develops when there is too little or no insulin in the body. Without enough insulin, the body cells cannot be able to burn glucose for energy. Therefore, the blood-sugar level rises, and body cell dangerously need energy, and the body begins to break down fat for energy called ketosis by producing ketones, a toxic acid. When left untreated, diabetic ketoacidosis may cause to lose consciousness, and it is fatal.
Ketoacidosis is marked by the body’s failure to regulate ketone production causing extremely uncontrolled ketosis. This leads to severe accumulation of keto acids in blood, thus pH of the blood is substantially decreased. In an extreme case, ketoacidosis can be fatal.
Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) was first mentioned in the year 1886. Until the introduction of insulin treatment in the 1920s, DKA was universally considered as fatal. It is now carrying a mortality rate of less than 5% with proper and timely treatment.
Type 1 diabetes and Ketoacidosis
Most commonly, diabetes type 1 frequently comes across ketoacidosis, and mostly they are diagnosed after diabetes ketoacidosis episode. Rarely type 2 diabetes may have to develop diabetic ketoacidosis.