DKA can be life-threatening. Go to the local emergency department if you have any of these alarming signs of DKA. Diabetes: Ketoacidosis DKA PDF. Urgent Care. In This Section. Conditions We Treat Diabetes Ketoacidosis DKA.

When cells do not have glucose to use for energy: The body starts to use fat for energy. Ketones are made when fat is used for energy. Ketones are present in the blood and in the urine. Ketones cause the blood to become more acidic. If untreated, this leads to DKA and life-threatening problems.

Cause Not enough insulin Missing doses of insulin Infection, illness or injury which causes the body to need more insulin Insulin doses too small If using insulin pump, interruption in delivery of insulin Signs of DKA and When to Test for Ketones You may or may not feel any different when you begin to have ketones.

Warning Signs of DKA Fast breathing Fruity smell to the breath Hard to wake up Feeling sick to the stomach nausea , belly pain, or vomiting How to Check Urine for Ketones You can also check blood for ketones. What to Do If Ketones Are Present Taking action when ketones first appear can stop DKA from happening.

If ketones are small, moderate or large: Drink 1 cup 8 ounces of fluids every 30 to 60 minutes. If blood glucose is higher than , drink something that does not have carbohydrates. If blood glucose is lower than , drink something that does have carbohydrates.

Give extra rapid-acting insulin for ketones every 3 hours until ketones are negative. This is called a ketone bolus. If you are not sure how much extra insulin to give for the ketone bolus, contact your health care provider. Continue to check blood glucose and ketones every 3 hours.

DKA is dangerous and serious. You can detect ketones with a simple urine test using a test strip, similar to a blood testing strip.

Ask your health care provider when and how you should test for ketones. When you are ill when you have a cold or the flu, for example , check for ketones every four to six hours.

If your health care provider has not told you what levels of ketones are dangerous, then call when you find moderate amounts after more than one test. Often, your health care provider can tell you what to do over the phone.

Do NOT exercise when your urine tests show ketones and your blood glucose is high. High levels of ketones and high blood glucose levels can mean your diabetes is out of control. Check with your health care provider about how to handle this situation.

Diabetes Complications. Know the warning signs of DKA and check urine for ketones, especially when you're sick. What are the warning signs of DKA?

Early symptoms include the following: Thirst or a very dry mouth Frequent urination High blood glucose blood sugar levels High levels of ketones in the urine Then, other symptoms appear: Constantly feeling tired Dry or flushed skin Nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain.

Vomiting can be caused by many illnesses, not just ketoacidosis. If vomiting continues for more than two hours, contact your health care provider. Difficulty breathing Fruity odor on breath A hard time paying attention, or confusion. More on ketones and DKA.

How do I check for ketones? Also, check for ketones when you have any symptoms of DKA. What if I find higher-than-normal levels of ketones? Call your health care provider at once if you experience the following conditions: Your urine tests show high levels of ketones.

Your urine tests show high levels of ketones and your blood glucose level is high. Your urine tests show high levels of ketones and you have vomited more than twice in four hours.

Instead, it breaks down fat and produces ketones. This can lead to symptoms such as excessive thirst and urination. Diabetes is a chronic condition that occurs when blood glucose levels become too high. There are three main types of diabetes:. DKA is a potential life threatening complication of diabetes.

It occurs when there is an insufficient level of insulin to allow the body to use sugar as energy. During DKA, the lack of insulin results in the liver using fat for fuel instead, which produces acids called ketones.

When the body produces too many ketones too fast, they can build up to dangerous levels. DKA most commonly affects those with type 1 diabetes, but it can also occur in those with another type of diabetes.

DKA typically develops slowly. However, when vomiting occurs, this life threatening condition can develop in a few hours. People may notice early symptoms of DKA, which can include being very thirsty and urinating more than usual. Other early symptoms of DKA may include :. As ketones accumulate, other symptoms may develop, such as:.

DKA occurs due to a lack of insulin in the body. In some cases, experiencing DKA is the first sign of diabetes in people yet to receive a diagnosis. If a person already has diabetes, DKA may arise due to :. There are several ways a person can check their ketone and blood sugar levels.

For blood sugar, it is advisable for a person to regularly monitor their levels. An individual can use a continuous glucose monitoring CGM device or a blood sugar meter.

This is the glucose in the fluid between cells. A blood sugar meter works by measuring the approximate concentration of glucose in the blood. It requires a person to prick their finger with a lancet and place a droplet of blood on a test strip connected to the meter.

In these cases, the American Diabetes Association ADA suggests monitoring for ketones every 4—6 hours. Some blood sugar meters have separate test strips for ketones. This means a person can check ketone levels in a similar way.

The results for blood ketones are in real time, and ranges are as follows :. Urgent Care. In This Section. Conditions We Treat Diabetes Ketoacidosis DKA. When cells do not have glucose to use for energy: The body starts to use fat for energy. Ketones are made when fat is used for energy.

Ketones are present in the blood and in the urine. Ketones cause the blood to become more acidic. If untreated, this leads to DKA and life-threatening problems. Cause Not enough insulin Missing doses of insulin Infection, illness or injury which causes the body to need more insulin Insulin doses too small If using insulin pump, interruption in delivery of insulin Signs of DKA and When to Test for Ketones You may or may not feel any different when you begin to have ketones.

Warning Signs of DKA Fast breathing Fruity smell to the breath Hard to wake up Feeling sick to the stomach nausea , belly pain, or vomiting How to Check Urine for Ketones You can also check blood for ketones. What to Do If Ketones Are Present Taking action when ketones first appear can stop DKA from happening.

If ketones are small, moderate or large: Drink 1 cup 8 ounces of fluids every 30 to 60 minutes. If blood glucose is higher than , drink something that does not have carbohydrates.

If blood glucose is lower than , drink something that does have carbohydrates. This means you can spot any increases early on. Adjusting your insulin dose as advised by your diabetes care team will often correct your blood sugar and ketone levels, preventing diabetic ketoacidosis.

Seek medical advice if your levels are still high after taking insulin or you develop the symptoms mentioned above. You will not receive a reply. We will consider your feedback to help improve the site.

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Symptoms that can happen in diabetic ketoacidosis when the blood sugar gets too high hyperglycemia include:. If sugar levels stay high, more serious symptoms can happen that need treatment in the ER. These include:.

The high acid in the blood causes the body not to work well, and can lead to a person becoming unconscious. When a child comes to the hospital with symptoms of DKA, the health care team will do blood tests and urine tests to know for sure.

The tests measure the amount of sugar, ketones, and acid in the blood and the amount of ketones and sugar in the urine pee. Diabetic ketoacidosis is an emergency and needs to be treated right away. Treatment includes giving insulin and IV fluids.

A person with DKA needs to be watched closely in the hospital until their blood sugars and blood acid level are back in a healthy range, and they are feeling better.

The care plan tells you exactly how to do this and includes specific instructions about:. Anyone with diabetes can have high blood sugar readings from time to time, even if they follow their care plan. KidsHealth Parents Diabetic Ketoacidosis. en español: Cetoacidosis diabética.

Use this test every 4 to 6 hours. This test can help you to determine if you need to seek medical attention or not. If after using that home test kit you notice your ketone levels are moderate or high, contact your doctor or head to the nearest emergency room.

Elevated ketones are a sign of DKA and need to be treated immediately. Once you get to the emergency room, the medical staff will likely give you the following treatments. If DKA goes untreated, it can lead to loss of consciousness and even death. It is very important that if you are someone with diabetes that you take note of these symptoms and seek medical attention when necessary.

Keep reading: What to do for dehydration. Complete Care offers quick emergency care with ER locations in both Texas and Colorado. So, head directly into one of our offices or give us a call today. In a person with low insulin levels, the excess ketones build up in the blood faster than they can be consumed as fuel, leading to DKA.

There are several reasons a child may have large amounts of ketones:. It's essential to know the signs and symptoms of DKA in children, to help recognize it early and ensure timely, targeted therapy.

Signs and symptoms of DKA include frequent urination, increased thirst, increased hunger, unexplained weight loss and flu-like symptoms. DKA is a serious condition. Always seek medical attention from your pediatrician or another medical professional if your child has the above symptoms.

Early recognition can help lessen the severity of DKA in a child and possibly save a child's life. The nationally recognized diabetes program at Children's Health offers around-the-clock care for children with diabetes. Learn how our experts can help diagnose and treat diabetes in children of all ages.

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