All About DKA
2017-02-13
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. It 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
Resources
Why is Type 1 Diabetes Misdiagnosed?
Many people with type 1 share a similar diagnosis story. They display all the classic symptoms (extreme thirst, weight loss, frequent urination, nausea) and were fortunate enough to be accurately diag...MORE
DKA: Raising Awareness To Save Lives
Take 60 seconds to pass along what you know - you never know who's life you might save. No one, especially a child, should die because we weren’t paying close enough attention. MOREStories
Mason’s Journey
I could use overwhelming and scary words to describe these few days, but I think the best way to explain it is to imagine you are thrown into the middle of the ocean surrounded by sharks. MORE
Levi’s Story
It was Friday, March 7, 2014, at 5 a.m., and despite a sleepless night rocking Levi, I was awake and anxiously waiting for the doctor's office to open.MORE
“You Have Sugar”—Being Diagnosed with Diabetes in India
If you are currently not fully-diagnosed or are pre-diabetic and look like you have all the symptoms of Type 1 diabetes and someone comes with herbal medication or some homemade concoction that they s...MORE
The Incredible and Courageous René
In Mexico, if you want to live you better go to the hospital by your own means. We have no car though. My mother tried to carry René as best she could to the Green Cross, (an aid station 20 - 30 minu...MORE
I knew she was my daughter
Two and a half months after my diagnosis, I got a message from a friend back in Uganda, who told me about a little girl that was just diagnosed with type 1 and needed a foster family. As soon as I hea...MORE
A Misdiagnosis left my 2-year-old in DKA, Fighting for his Life
One morning, James woke up and per usual, asked for something to drink. I looked at my very articulate 2-year-old, and asked: "Why do you want so much to drink? Are you really thirsty?" And ...MORE
No Shame, No Blame, T1D Diagnosis Game
Instead of shame and blame, a mother, caring for a son living with T1D, knows that advocacy, education, and empathy lead to faster diagnosis.MORE
Non-verbal Type 1 Child Stuns Art World
Immediately after being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 2, Ocean’s speech development came to a screeching halt. Despite not being able to fully communicate his feelings verbally, Ocean...MORE
Ariana, My Brave Princess
As a mother, I felt something was just not right but I truly never thought it was something this wrong. I started reading, and it all indicated “diabetes,” something inconceivable in my mind.MORE
Agustín and the Uninvited Guest
Uruguay - On April 27, 2015, we received an uninvited guest who has now become a friend and lives with us at home.MORE
Misdiagnosis Leads to Twin’s Tragic Death
Hunter’s shocking diagnosis prompted the medical team to test his brother. Results revealed blood sugar readings at dangerously high levels. Logan was also diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, but Hunter...MORE
Former Facebook Engineer Dies of Undiagnosed Type 1 Diabetes
On September 26, 2017, former software engineer at Facebook, Michael Cohen, died suddenly at the age of 25 from undiagnosed Type 1 diabetes. MORE
DKA at 30,000 Feet
PK shares the harrowing story of her daughter's experience going into DKA while on a plane. Thankfully, the two were surrounded by professionals.MORE
My Father’s Disease
Sam talks about his father's life with diabetes and how his eventual diagnosis brought the two closer together than ever before.MORE
Seeing the Signs + Learning to Thrive with T1D
Eoin Costelloe (Insuleoin) talks about his type 1 diagnosis and how he learned to thrive in his new life as a T1D.MORE
My Son Was Diagnosed With T1D During The Last Pandemic
There is never a good time to be diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, but especially not if the country is in the middle of a flu pandemic.MORE
Diabetes Crashed My Wedding + Stole My Ring
Diabetes was an uninvited guest to our wedding. It crashed our honeymoon and then it stole my wedding ring.MORE
One of the Lucky Ones
Mila reflects on her son Jaime's type 1 diabetes diagnosis, and how upon learning about the staggering rates of misdiagnosis, she became passionate about the #SeeTheSigns campaignMORE
Trusting Intuition to Save Diego’s Life
Marlene shares the story of her son Diego's journey to a type 1 diagnosis and pleads for others to share the signs of diabetes.MOREHow can I help?
Donate to Beyond Type 1 and help fund our DKA Awareness Campaign across the United States.
You can also help spread awareness about the warning signs of type 1 diabetes by downloading and sharing these materials. Knowing the symptoms of type 1 diabetes (T1D) can prevent late diagnosis and DKA or even death.
DKA in management
Resources
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.MORE
Ketones — The 6 Must-Knows
Ketones are chemicals that build up when your body starts to burn fat for energy. The most common cause of ketones in diabetics is insulin deficiency.MORE
Hyperglycemia and How to Treat It
Hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar, occurs when glucose is trapped in the bloodstream due to lack of insulin.MOREStories
The #TBT No One Wants to See
That’s the thing about this disease: it’s unpredictable. No matter how many devices we use to manage/track/dose…there will always be that unknown. MORE
The Stomach Flu Away-from-Home—Prepare Your College T1D
The texts from my son had come at 1:58 a.m. “Just threw up.” “I have a stomach virus.” Instantly, I was awake and on hyper D-mom overdrive. Attempts to reach my college freshman son went unans...MORE
High Blood Sugars & DKA—Spells Danger
As I trudge through the valley known as T1D one thing has become alarmingly clear – DKA is very dangerous. A high blood sugar mixed with a high A1C and ketones and you have created a very dangerous ...MORE
Losing Will Hauver
His very good A1Cs, his maturity and independence with diabetes management, his success in college, all of this lulled us into complacency. Hindsight while grieving is a painful and horrible exercise....MORE
