Can DKA lead to coma?
High levels of ketones can lead to diabetic ketoacidosis, which can lead to coma.
Can DKA cause unconsciousness?
Diabetic ketoacidosis, if it progresses and worsens without treatment, can eventually cause unconsciousness, from a combination of a very high blood sugar level, dehydration and shock, and exhaustion. Coma only occurs at an advanced stage, usually after 36 hours or more of worsening vomiting and hyperventilation.
Why do DKA patients lose consciousness?
A diabetic coma occurs when blood sugar levels become either too low or too high. The cells in your body require glucose to function. High blood sugar, or hyperglycemia, can make you dehydrated which can cause you to lose consciousness.
Does ketoacidosis affect the brain?
DKA can significantly affect the function of brain blood vessels. These vessels normally protect the brain by forming what is known as the blood-brain barrier and damage to that barrier can lead to a devastating complication of DKA, brain swelling (edema).
When does a diabetic coma occur?
A diabetic coma could happen when your blood sugar gets too high — 600 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or more — causing you to become very dehydrated. It usually affects people with type 2 diabetes that isn’t well-controlled. It’s common among those who are elderly, chronically ill, and disabled.
What is diabetic ketoacidosis coma?
Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a serious condition that can lead to diabetic coma (passing out for a long time) or even death. When your cells don’t get the glucose they need for energy, your body begins to burn fat for energy, which produces ketones.
What happens when someone goes into a diabetic coma?
In a diabetic coma, you are unconscious and unable to respond to your environment. You are either suffering from high blood glucose (hyperglycemia) or low blood glucose (hypoglycemia). You need immediate medical attention if you go into a diabetic coma.
Why does DKA cause confusion?
Diabetic ketoacidosis affects the brain, making it work through what feels like mental “sludge,” according to Dr. Christofides. Confusion and irritability are major signs to watch out for. As a result of your brain swelling, DKA can make you feel as if you’re drunk and act just as irrationally.
Is ketoacidosis life threatening?
Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a serious complication of diabetes that can be life-threatening. DKA is most common among people with type 1 diabetes. People with type 2 diabetes can also develop DKA. DKA develops when your body doesn’t have enough insulin to allow blood sugar into your cells for use as energy.
Can ketoacidosis cause permanent brain damage?
Brain injury should no longer be considered a rare complication of DKA. This study has shown that it is both frequent and persistent.
What does a diabetic coma feel like?
The severe symptoms of uncontrolled blood sugar that can come before a diabetic coma include vomiting, difficulty breathing, confusion, weakness, and dizziness.
What do you do in case of diabetic coma?
What Should You Do If Someone Goes Into A Diabetic Coma?
- Call 911. “A coma is a medical emergency.
- Test The Person’s Blood Sugar. “If you have an idea of how to care for somebody with diabetes, call 911, and then try to test her blood sugar,” suggests Greta.
- Move The Person To A Safe Position.