Jump to content. Diabetic ketoacidosis DKA is a life-threatening condition that develops when cells in the body are unable to get the sugar glucose they need for energy because there is not enough insulin. When the sugar cannot get into the cells, it stays in the blood. The kidneys filter some of the sugar from the blood and remove it from the body through urine.
Because the cells cannot receive sugar for energy, the body begins to break down fat and muscle for energy. When this happens, ketones , or fatty acids, are produced and enter the bloodstream, causing the chemical imbalance metabolic acidosis called diabetic ketoacidosis. 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. It can occur in people who have little or no insulin in their bodies mostly people with type 1 diabetes but it can happen with type 2 diabetes , especially children when their blood sugar levels are high.
Laboratory tests, including blood and urine tests, are used to confirm a diagnosis of diabetic ketoacidosis. Tests for ketones are available for home use. Keep some test strips nearby in case your blood sugar level becomes high.
When ketoacidosis is severe, it must be treated in the hospital, often in an intensive care unit. Treatment involves giving insulin and fluids through your vein and closely watching certain chemicals in your blood electrolytes. The doctors and nurses will watch you closely to be sure that your brain does not swell as the fluids treat your dehydration. What if I find higher-than-normal levels of ketones?
Call your health care provider at once if you experience the following conditions: Your urine tests show high levels of ketones. Your urine tests show high levels of ketones and your blood glucose level is high. Your urine tests show high levels of ketones and you have vomited more than twice in four hours. What causes DKA? Here are three basic reasons for moderate or large amounts of ketones: Not enough insulin Maybe you did not inject enough insulin. Or your body could need more insulin than usual because of illness.
Not enough food When you're sick, you often don't feel like eating, sometimes resulting in high ketone levels. High levels may also occur when you miss a meal. Insulin reaction low blood glucose If testing shows high ketone levels in the morning, you may have had an insulin reaction while asleep. High Morning Blood Sugars. Living with Low Vision? You should also test for ketones if you have any of the symptoms of DKA.
Call your doctor if your ketones are moderate or high. Elevated ketones are a sign of DKA, which is a medical emergency and needs to be treated immediately. Your treatment will likely include:. DSMES services are a vital tool to help you manage and live well with diabetes while protecting your health. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link. Section Navigation. Diabetes complications are scary.
But don't let fear keep you from taking good care of yourself. Follow your diabetes treatment plan carefully. Ask your diabetes treatment team for help when you need it. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Diabetic ketoacidosis is a serious complication of diabetes that occurs when your body produces high levels of blood acids called ketones.
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