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ketoacidosis

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Posted 11/5/2007 10:35 PM (GMT 0)
I also have this. Will it go away? What is it and what can I expect?
Posted 11/5/2007 11:08 PM (GMT 0)
Ceebee, I hope others more knowledgeable will answer.  It affects mostly type 1 and causes dangerous lows.  Testing your blood sugar is even more important.  While waiting for other answers, you can do an online search.

Posted 11/5/2007 11:12 PM (GMT 0)
Once your numbers come down, you should level off. Your doctor should have given you advice on how and when to use ketone strips to monitor this condition. I only had to monitor while my average blood glucose levels were over 200.

sandy

Posted 11/6/2007 10:36 AM (GMT 0)

Ketoacidosis is a very damaging condition, synonymous with poorly contolled diabetes, particularly Type 1 diabetes.

It's often confused with ketosis, but the two are quite different. Ketosis simply means that our bodies are using fat for energy. We are all, or at least we should be, experiencing a level of ketosis most of the time. When we break down body fat or dietary fat for energy we utilise a molecule called adenosine triphosphate, or ATP - 'the energy molecule.' Ketones are produced as part of this process. So it's a perfectly natural process, and a very health one. Unless of course you prefer to store body fat rather than burn it!

Many of our organs actually prefer ketones as a fuel, rather than sugar. Acetone is one of the few ketones that isn't used metabolically and can be expelled in the breath. Usually this is in fact a symptom of ketoacidosis, which only occurs when blood sugar is dangerously high. This is symptomatic of excessive carbohydrate consumption, extremely elevated blood sugars and a lack of insulin - which explains the connection with type 1 diabetes. Acute onset Type 1 diabetes is often characterised by the acetone smell, which usually means that the body thinks it is being starved of sugar and has started burning fat, muscle, and ulimately body organs to try and manufacture its own supply. Been there, done that!

Ketoacidosis will never occur when blood sugars are within a normal range, which is why we should make sure they stay there. 

All the best,

fergusc

Posted 11/6/2007 5:02 PM (GMT 0)
When my ketoacidosis was diagnosed, I was put right in the hospital. I was on IV insulin, sodium liquids and antibiotics for a week. I am keeping blood sugars 90 to 116...is this still high? The doctor said to have blood rechecked in January. Seems so long to wait. I have 2 more days of prednisone and when I am off, should be lower. How low is okay? I feel more afraid of going too low as they told me this is worse. I really don't have a doctor helping me. Kind of feel stranded on an island and without the help here, I may be in trouble of drowning. Does anyone have sample meals I can follow...breakfast, lunch and dinner, snacks? I see a dietician soon but am on my own for now. A big thank you to all of you:)
Posted 11/6/2007 5:27 PM (GMT 0)

If your blood sugars are only up to 116 while you're on prednisone, that's not critical.  Don't worry about that.  It'll take some time for the medication to get out of your system.  One of the other members was just on it and hopefully she'll be able to give you some more information about that.  Low blood sugar can be a problem which is why you need to test often.  Most docs say under 70 would be a problem but every individual may have a different threshold.  It might be wise to keep some glucose gel or tabs (You can get them at any pharmacy.) around if you fear going too low.  Do some search about hypoglycemic symptoms so you are more aware of it. 

Please look through some of our old topics here for food and recipes.  A couple of months ago we talked about food for different meals and snacks.  If you have a problem with lows, then you'll need some carbs, so don't cut them out completely.

Posted 11/8/2007 9:27 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Ceebee and welcome.

Yes prednisone could be adding to higher numbers. I know that when I have to use it for respiratory problems (asthma) it will dramatically raise my bg numbers. Once it is out of you system the numbers will come back down. My doctors don't want me to go under 80 because under 80 I start having low bg symptoms. As Lanie said, doctors have different thresholds for their patients depending on the health and reactions (to meds) of their patients. When I was first diagnosed my doctor thought bringing my numbers down slowly would work best for me so we initially started with a level of 140 to shoot for, then 130, 120, etc to 80-110.

By all means eliminate the carbs and starches. I would stay away from potatoes of all kinds, rice (for most although for some rice doesn't seem to affect them as much. Example, I can eat a 1/4-1/2 of white or brown rice and not really raise my bg that much but if I eat bread it will go through the roof). Limit corn and peas. Artifical coffee creamers can also cause a raise in bg--if you don't have problems with cholesterol try real cream for coffee.

Marburg
Posted 11/19/2007 4:05 AM (GMT 0)
Just one thing to add to Marburgs list that is probably obvious is pasta. I happen to have a very low threshold and cannot eat any at all without my sugars going and staying abnormal for hours. I think pasta is the worst, and white bread.
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