All About Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA)
Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a serious, life-threatening diabetes complication. It often occurs at type 1 diabetes diagnosis, mistaken for flu. DKA arises when the body lacks insulin to process glucose, breaking down fat instead and releasing ketones. Symptoms include severe thirst, weight loss, blurry vision, and disorientation.
What is DKA?
- Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a complication from diabetes that can be serious and life-threatening.
- DKA is often a common factor when first diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and can often be mistaken for flu symptoms.
- DKA also occurs during the management of the disease when the body is not receiving enough insulin to break down glucose.
- This forces the body to start breaking down fat as fuel and ketones are then released into the body.
- Elevated ketones in the urine, severe weight loss, extreme thirst, blurry vision, lethargy, and disorientation are all signs of DKA.
- If left untreated, DKA will lead to coma and death.
Beyond Type 1’s #SeeTheSigns Diabetes Awareness Campaign
Want to help save lives and spread awareness as to what DKA is?
Be a part of Beyond Type 1’s #SeeTheSigns Diabetes Awareness Campaign.
We are putting warning signs of type 1 diabetes posters in every pediatrician’s office so both parents and physicians can be reminded of what type 1 looks like in diagnosis.
DKA at Diagnosis
Stories
Editor’s Note: Get involved in Beyond Type 1’s #SeeTheSigns of diabetes campaign! Share your signs to help save lives, request #SeeTheSigns...
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Editor’s Note: Get involved in Beyond Type 1’s #SeeTheSigns of diabetes campaign! Share your signs to help save lives, request #SeeTheSigns...
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Editor’s Note: Early warning signs of type 1 diabetes include: excessive thirst, frequent urination, unexplained weight loss and exhaustion. Seek...
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Editor’s Note: Get involved in Beyond Type 1’s #SeeTheSigns of diabetes campaign! Share your signs to help save lives, request #SeeTheSigns...
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Editor’s Note: Early warning signs of type 1 diabetes include: excessive thirst, frequent urination, unexplained weight loss and exhaustion. Seek...
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Editor’s Note: Check out our DKA Campaign. Since 2016, Beyond Type 1 has worked with state chapters of the American...
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Resources
Editor’s Note: Recently a more robust protocol for mitigating diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) risk in people with type 1 diabetes using...
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A fundamental component of spreading diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) prevention is to address ketones. Below are the commonly recommended steps for...
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What are the differences between ketones, ketosis, and diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)? These terms are commonly used in the type 1...
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Editor’s Note: This content has been verified by Anne Peters, MD, a professor of clinical medicine at the Keck School of Medicine...
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1 – What are ketones? Ketones are chemicals that build up when your body starts to burn fat for energy....
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Learn about Beyond Type 1’s #SeeTheSigns of diabetes campaign Diabetic ketoacidosis is a complication from diabetes that can be serious...
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My DKA Experience
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