Diabetic Ketoacidosis - Symptom, Treatment and cause of Diabetic Ketoacidosis

DESCRIPTION: Severe complication or initial presentation of diabetesmellitus.

CAUSE: A build-up of waste products and glucose in the bloodstreambecause of untreated or under-treated diabetes. Patients who arecareless about their treatment, diet and self-testing may be affected.Almost invariably, it is the juvenile insulin dependent diabetics thatdevelop this complication.

SYMPTOMS: Mental stupor, nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath andeventually coma.

INVESTIGATIONS: Blood sugar is very high and other blood and urine testsabnormal.TREATMENT: Emergency injections of insulin, but urgent hospitaltreatment is necessary to control the situation adequately.

COMPLICATIONS: If left untreated, death will occur due to kidney, heartor brain damage.

PROGNOSIS: Good with prompt medical care, but permanent organ damage iftreatment is delayed.