Diabetic Ketoacidosis 2001.12.26

Diabetic Ketoacidosis 2001.12.26

Infections, poisoning, emotional stress, colds, fever, fatigue, and other factors can cause elevated blood sugar levels and the onset of ketosis. Ketosis refers to an increase in ketone bodies in the blood. When blood sugar is too high, the body’s metabolism intensifies, leading to a large accumulation of incomplete metabolic products in the citric acid cycle, with ketone bodies being the main culprits. Ketone bodies typically include acetone, alpha-ketoglutarate, beta-hydroxybutyrate, and acetoacetate, with the latter two being strong acids that cause acidosis. Therefore, ketosis is essentially acidosis. Clinical manifestations of diabetic ketoacidosis include excessive thirst, polydipsia, increased urine output, followed by drowsiness, fainting, fatigue, decreased skin elasticity, sunken eye sockets, and in severe cases, deep coma, hypotension, and weak pulse. The key points in treating this condition are three: ① intravenous insulin administration; ② replenishment of fluids and electrolytes; ③ control of infection.