Anatom3D
ENCZDE
Download

Diabetic ketoacidosis

Ketoacidosis diabetica · Diabetická ketoacidóza

What it is

A life-threatening lack of insulin: the body burns fat into acidic ketones while glucose climbs, draining water and potassium; often the first sign of type 1 diabetes, or triggered by missed insulin or infection.

Symptoms & signs

  • Great thirst, frequent urination
  • vomiting, abdominal pain
  • deep, rapid breathing
  • fruity breath
  • drowsiness, coma

🚩 Get help if…

  • call 112 / 911 now Vomiting and unable to keep fluids down with diabetes
  • call 112 / 911 now Deep fast breathing, fruity breath or drowsiness
  • call 112 / 911 now Blood ketones over 3 mmol/l
  • see a doctor soon Ketones over 1.5 mmol/l or sugar staying high despite extra insulin

Where it strikes

Medical treatment

  • Blood glucose, ketones, blood gas, potassium
  • intravenous fluids
  • fixed-rate intravenous insulin
  • potassium replacement
  • find the trigger
  • Bicarbonate — no benefit in most not confirmed in trials
  • SGLT2 inhibitors can cause ketoacidosis with near-normal glucose — pause them before surgery and in acute illness

Natural & lifestyle

  • Sick-day rules: never stop insulin, check ketones
  • drink fluids
  • know the early symptoms

Emerging & experimental

  • Continuous ketone monitoring
  • closed-loop insulin systems
  • subcutaneous insulin for mild episodes

Alternative, off-label & anecdotal

Approaches used outside the guidelines, with what their supporters report and what testing has found so far.

  • Stopping insulin for herbal or 'natural' cures — a common route to fatal ketoacidosis not confirmed in trials
  • Cinnamon — tiny glucose effects in type 2; no role here anecdotal / traditional

ICD codes