Acute Complications of Diabetes By Peter Geisheker At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

You've heard that diabetes is a serious disease, but have you considered just how serious? Many people today lead lifestyles that pose a high risk for developing diabetes. Unfortunately, once they do, the put themselves in line to develop many serious complications. The following are some acute complications that can result if one develops diabetes. An acute complication is a serious, but short-term, problem that needs immediate attention.

Diabetic ketoacidosis

This complication, commonly referred to as DKA, is always considered to be a medical emergency. When your insulin level is low, the body will then turn to fat to burn for energy. This results in the development of ketone bodies. This is fine and natural, it happens periodically. However, if this process is sustained for a longer period of time, the ketone bodies will decrease the blood's pH. This is where it becomes DKA. When someone develops DKA, they tend to be extremely dehydrated and panting heavily and deeply, as if they were out of breath. Severe abdominal pain is not uncommon. While the person may be perfectly conscious, it eventually slows the person down and the resulting lethargy can develop further into a coma. After this, the person can suffer from hypotension, go into shock, or even die. A urine analysis can be done to determine the level of ketone bodies. If treated immediately, a full recovery is likely. However, if treatment is delayed or inadequate, the chances of death increase dramatically.

Hyperglycemia hyperosmolar state

Commonly referred to as HNS, symptoms of this condition are very similar to those of DKA, but with an entirely different source. HNS is a result of extremely high blood glucose levels. When your blood sugar is high, water is drawn out of the cells into your blood. Glucose is dumped into the urine. As a result, your body becomes extremely dehydrated. This continues to occur to dangerous levels. Emergency medical treatment is, again, necessary. Otherwise, the body will continue to dehydrate and subsequently shut down.

Hypoglycemia

Rare, but still a risk, hypoglycemia is when the blood has abnormally low glucose levels. In the case a of a diabetic, this can be caused by not taking proper insulin dosage, or not taking it at the right time. The sufferer can become agitated, sweaty, and can begin to panic. Consciousness can range from slightly altered to completely lost. Comas and seizures can put stress on the body and cause brain damage and death. Hypoglycemia needs to be addressed immediately. Minor symptoms can be treated with sugary foods and drinks. If the person is unconscious, however, glucagon or dextrose can be injected into the body. These can raise the blood sugar levels. Dextrose administered intravenously is the most common treatment in a hospital.

As you can see, the acute complications of diabetes are something that you want to avoid at all costs. These problems need serious, emergency medical attention. While full recoveries are likely in all cases, as long as treatment is administered immediately, it simply isn't a risk worth taking.

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