Ketoacidosis and Hypoglycemia in Diabetes Mellitus

Ketoacidosis and hypoglycemia in diabetes mellitus

Diabetes mellitus is a disease characterized by high levels of glucose in the blood. This occurs because the body does not produce enough insulin or cannot use insulin correctly. One of the most serious complications of diabetes is ketoacidosis. This condition can occur due to a lack of insulin in the body.

Ketoacidosis is a metabolic disorder that occurs as a result of insulin deficiency and the accumulation of ketone bodies in the blood. Ketoacidosis most often occurs in patients with type 1 diabetes, but can also occur in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Ketoacidosis can be caused by a number of factors, including insulin deficiency, infection, stress, surgery, injury, improper use of insulin, and other causes. However, the most common cause of ketoacidosis is poor diet and missed insulin injections.

Ketoacidosis may present with symptoms such as:

1. increased thirst;
2. frequent urination;
3. severe weakness and fatigue;
4. nausea and vomiting;
5. smell of acetone from the mouth;
6. drowsiness and lethargy;
7. stomach ache;
8. labored breathing;
9. decreased consciousness.

If you have these symptoms, you should contact your doctor immediately.

Hypoglycemia is another serious complication of diabetes that occurs when blood glucose levels fall below normal. This can happen due to not eating enough, missing insulin injections, or excess physical activity.

Symptoms of hypoglycemia may include:

1. dizziness and weakness;
2. sweating;
3. shiver;
4. hunger;
5. irritability;
6. drowsiness;
7. foggy consciousness;
8. convulsions.

If you have these symptoms, you should take immediate steps to improve your blood glucose levels.

To prevent ketoacidosis and hypoglycemia in patients with diabetes, it is necessary to follow a diet and food intake, take insulin injections as recommended by the doctor, monitor blood glucose levels and avoid factors that can cause these complications.

If ketoacidosis or hypoglycemia occurs, you should immediately contact your doctor for medical attention. Your doctor may recommend changing your insulin medications or dosage, or doing additional tests to determine the cause of these complications.

It is also important that patients with diabetes always have sugar or another fast-acting source of carbohydrates with them so that if symptoms of hypoglycemia occur, blood glucose levels can be raised quickly.

Finally, regular medical examinations and consultations with a doctor will help patients with diabetes manage their condition and prevent the development of serious complications.