Treating Diabetic Ketoacidosis

Diabetes is one of the most common diseases faced with people these days. Diabetes needs a lot more care than other diseases so as to see that the blood sugar level is controlled in the body at regular intervals. If the blood sugar gets so high that ones body starts burning fats stored for energy, one may start producing ketones bodies which build up and spill over in to the urine. Ketoacidosis is a condition which is commonly found in Type 1 diabetes, where the combination of high blood glucose, ketones bodies, dehydration, and various chemical imbalances and when not taken care of results in the same. But studies have shown this is not found in Type 2 diabetes.

One has to be more careful and more aware, if one is suffering with other illness along with diabetes, as ketoacidosis have more chances to attack the body system, therefore it is vital to check ones blood glucose frequently. One should be very careful when home sick, one should always be prepared with one’s spouse or a close friend in case if emergency occurs. One should make them instruct that if in any case one may not answer the phone after frequent rings they should come to the house, give a check and if found in conscious state should be referred to hospital or they should call an ambulance without any delay.

Intravenous fluids are used to treat diabetic ketoacidosis, as they dilute the blood glucose and rehydrate you. Chemicals like potassium and sodium are used with intravenous fluid in order to balance the boy’s imbalances. Insulin is also used to push glucose out of the bloodstreams and eventually into the cells. As soon as the blood glucose level comes down to normal, the body immediately needs some fuel in the form of glucose to prevent the formation of ketones. That is why glucose is added to the intravenous fluid. In emergency situations, you will be stabilized in the emergency room by physicians and later they keep you in hospital for a day or two to make sure that your have passed the crisis period safely and there is no threat left over.

Mathew is a diabetic child and he got food poisoning or stomach flu for some reasons and began to vomit. As far as insulin is concerned, he knew nothing, but to take prescribed dose of insulin. Besides this, he had no idea about it. His condition became severe and his mother called for doctor help. Doctor suggested her to take her son immediately to emergency. Mathew was dehydrated. Doctors took some blood and began intravenous fluid treatment. He was admitted to intensive care unit as he was so dehydrated, he took eight liters of fluid before e had to urinate.

The purpose of giving this example here is to let you know that how important is your immediate response to diabetic ketoacidosis. If you show any carelessness, the things get worse for you. So, if you feel that the things are getting worse rather than improving, contact your doctor immediately.