Patient/caregiver were instructed on signs and symptoms of diabetic ketoacidosis as follows:
Diabetic ketoacidosis is a life-threatening complication of diabetes, arising out of acute insulin lack or deficiency.
Insulin plays a key role in glucose metabolism, helping glucose to enter the cells in the body. The glucose is then metabolized by the body cells to produce the needed energy.
With insulin deficiency, this key step in glucose metabolism would suffer and glucose will not enter the cells to get metabolized. Glucose remains accumulated in the blood – resulting in dangerously elevated blood sugar levels.
This leads to development of one or more of the following signs and symptoms:
- Excess blood sugar levels lead to frequent urination and loss of fluid volume and electrolytes
- Frequent urination with loss of fluid volume and electrolytes results in hypotension, excess thirst, and confusion.
- Accumulation of excess ketones in the blood result in gastric distress and irritation, causing abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. Nausea and vomiting in turn can lead to further fluid volume and electrolyte depletion, resulting in worsening of hypotension and confusion.
- Increased loss of fluid volume can result in dehydration, dry skin and mouth.
- Increased accumulation of ketones, especially acetone, in the body can result in fruity odor to the breath.
- Patients in DKA have high levels of acid in the blood and can enter a phase of respiratory compensation, when they hyperventilate, with rapid and deep breathing. The increased respiratory rate tries to expel the carbon dioxide, which helps change the acidic pH of blood to normal.
