I wasn't taught this at my diagnosis. This comes from years of dealing with the disease and reading and talking and questioning.
Continued untreated elevated blood sugars will lead to ketones becoming a rapid problem which can lead to acidosis. Treating high sugars and dealing with trace amounts of ketones typically do not lead to problems. If the sugars are treated but still remain high, yes you can see ketones not going away but you should not see them reaching a level of acidosis.
Awesome. So what's the problem with trace, then?
They are floating around doing no bits of good.
But what bad do they do?
They alter the ph of your blood and cause it to drop to dangerous acidity levels.
But how much can trace really do?
Nothing really I suppose. They are present when someone fasts because the body with use the ketone bodies for energy until the period of fasting is over. It is when there are large amounts built up that you become ketotic and then you have to worry.
OK, thanks.
Not a problem.
So why is it referred to as DKA? Are there other forms of acidosis, or other cercumstances in which it occurs?
Ketoacidosis can occur in people without diabetes, we just get the cool adjective attached to it because it is usually seen in conjuction with lack of insulin.
Under what circumstances does it develop, other than when lacking insulin?
Extended fasting and alcohol
And is that because it interferes with insulin, or?
Fasting because your body is trying to supply itself with necessary energy and alcohol because of dehydration which doesn't allow the body to synthesize the glucose it needs.
I lost count of how many times ive been put in to the icu because of DKA. I hate the hospital and them taking my blood every 30 minutes, its miserable.
I've been in the hospital for DKA a few times and also had the ordeal with my skin becoming really tight. They couldn't get an IV needle to go in or anything, they told me my veins had "shrunk", they couldn't find them which is weird because I'm one of those people who's veins are always extremely obvious, and for blood tests, they finally just pricked my finger and squeezed enough blood out for the tube.
It's definitely not a pleasant experience, I'm sorry you had to go through this, Lauren!
I've never had DKA but it sounds like a horrible experience :( When I was little I was hospitalized several times when I had the stomach flu, but I think that was because I was going to become low otherwise. Also, when you are sick and don't eat, even if you have insulin, you will eventually get ketones. I've had large ketones before but even then I have never thrown up from them. Normally I get pretty nauseous, but it's weird that they seem to make everyone else sick...
Wait, OK. This weekend I've been sick, so I'm trying to get the info about ketones because I've had trace for 2 weeks or so. And I haven't had an appetite, today I've eaten a bite of chicken - no insulin - and a tortilla - two units. But I've got basal; is this fine?