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Diabetic ketoacidosis, DKA, is an ACUTE and potentially life-threatening complication of diabetes mellitus. DKA is commonly associated with type 1 but type 2 diabetics are also susceptible. DKA is caused by a critically LOW INSULIN level and is usually triggered when diabetic patients undergo further STRESS, such as infections, INadequate insulin administration, or cardiovascular diseases. It may also occur as the FIRST presentation of diabetes in people who did NOT know they had diabetes and therefore did NOT have insulin treatment.
Glucose is the MAJOR energy source of the body. It comes from digestion of carbohydrates and is carried by the bloodstream to various organs. Insulin is a hormone produced by beta-cells of the pancreas and is responsible for DRIVING glucose INTO cells. When insulin is DEFICIENT, glucose can NOT enter the cells; it stays in the blood, causing HIGH blood sugar levels while the cells are STARVED. In response to this metabolic starvation, the body increases the levels of COUNTER-regulatory hormones. These hormones have 2 major effects that are responsible for clinical presentation of DKA:
– First, they produce MORE glucose in an attempt to supply energy to the cells. This is done by breaking down glycogen into glucose, and synthesizing glucose from NON-carbohydrate substrates such as proteins and lipids. However, as the cells CANNOT use glucose, this response ONLY results in MORE sugar in the blood. As blood sugar level EXCEEDS the ability of the kidneys to REabsorb, it overflows into urine, taking water and electrolytes along with it in a process known as OSMOTIC DIURESIS. This results in large volumes of urine, dehydration and excessive thirst.
– Second, they activate lipolysis and fatty acid metabolism for ALTERNATIVE fuel. In the liver, metabolism of fatty acids as an alternative energy source produces KETONE bodies. One of these is acetone, a volatile substance that gives DKA patient’s breath a characteristic SWEET smell. Ketone bodies, unlike fatty acids, can cross the blood-brain barrier and therefore can serve as fuel for the brain during glucose starvation. They are, however, ACIDIC, and when produced in LARGE amounts, overwhelm the buffering capacity of blood plasma, resulting in metabolic ACIDOSIS. As the body tries to reduce blood acidity by EXHALING MORE carbon dioxide, a deep and labored breathing, known as Kussmaul breathing may result. Another compensation mechanism for high acidity MOVES hydrogen ions INTO cells in exchange for potassium. This leads to increased potassium levels in the blood; but as potassium is constantly excreted in urine during osmotic diuresis, the overall potassium level in the body is eventually depleted. A blood test MAY indicate too much potassium, or hyperkalemia, but once INSULIN treatment starts, potassium moves BACK into cells and hypokalemia may result instead. For this reason, blood potassium level is monitored throughout treatment and potassium replacement is usually required together with intravenous fluid and insulin as primary treatment for DKA.