Eventually it may become impossible for you to drink enough fluids to keep up with amounts that you urinate. Vomiting caused by the blood's acidity also contributes to fluid losses and dehydration. People with type 1 diabetes are at risk of diabetic ketoacidosis.

If you have type 1 diabetes, ketoacidosis can occur because you have stopped taking your insulin injections or because your insulin dose is too low. It can be triggered by an infection or severe physical stress, such as an injury or surgery, because your body can need more insulin than usual during these stresses.

Ketoacidosis is less likely to occur in people with type 2 diabetes. In most people who have type 2 diabetes, blood insulin levels usually do not get low enough to signal the liver to make ketones.

As blood ketone levels increase, the person's breathing pattern may become slow and deep, and his or her breath can have a fruity odor.

A person with ketoacidosis may seem to be tired or confused or may have trouble paying attention. Without prompt treatment in the first day of symptoms, the illness may cause low blood pressure, a loss of consciousness, coma or death.

If you have type 1 diabetes, it is important to frequently measure your blood glucose levels. If your levels are running high or you are prone to ketoacidosis, you will want to test your urine for ketones. If the urine test strip reads "moderate" or "large," it's possible you have ketoacidosis.

People with diabetic ketoacidosis are always treated in a hospital. Your doctor will test your blood for levels of glucose, ketones, and electrolytes such as sodium and potassium.

If you have been taking your insulin without missed doses, your doctor will want to determine if you have an infection. Symptoms of diabetic ketoacidosis can develop over a period of a few hours, and treatment results in rapid recovery.

Commonly, people who develop ketoacidosis will remain in the hospital for one to three days. If you have type 1 diabetes, you usually can prevent diabetic ketoacidosis by following the insulin regimen and diet prescribed by your doctor and by testing your blood glucose regularly.

If your body is stressed by an infection, ketoacidosis can develop within hours, and you may not be able to prevent it. It is important for you to check your blood sugar more frequently during an infection, so you can adjust your treatment. It is also important for you to recognize that vomiting and abdominal pain may be signs of ketoacidosis, so that you can get medical help quickly.

To help make sure that you receive proper emergency treatment for diabetic ketoacidosis if you are away from home, wear a medical identification necklace or bracelet that identifies you as a diabetic.

This will help emergency personnel to recognize your problem quickly if you are among strangers and you are too sick to speak for yourself. Diabetic ketoacidosis requires treatment in a hospital, often in the intensive care unit.

You will receive a large volume of fluids intravenously through a vein and insulin to lower your blood sugar and to correct the acidosis.

Your blood sugar and acid levels will be monitored frequently, and you will be given potassium supplements to restore your body's supply of this essential mineral.

Until your blood chemistry returns to normal, your vital signs temperature, pulse, respirations, blood pressure and urine output will be monitored closely. If an infection has triggered your episode of ketoacidosis, antibiotics or other medications will be used to treat the infection.

If you have type 1 diabetes and feel unwell, check your blood sugar levels often. Also test your urine for ketones. Call your doctor if you have:. Howard E. LeWine, MD , Chief Medical Editor, Harvard Health Publishing. As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content.

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If you have heart failure or another condition for which you need to be careful of how much fluid you drink each day, talk with your doctor or dietitian about how to stay hydrated.