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Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a potentially life-threatening complication of diabetes mellitus. [1] Signs and symptoms may include vomiting, abdominal pain, deep gasping breathing, increased urination, weakness, confusion and occasionally loss of consciousness. [1] A person's breath may develop a specific "fruity" or acetone smell. [1]
The complications of diabetes can dramatically impair quality of life and cause long-lasting disability. Overall, complications are far less common and less severe in people with well-controlled blood sugar levels. [3] [4] [5] Some non-modifiable risk factors such as age at diabetes onset, type of diabetes, gender, and genetics may influence risk.
People with type 1 diabetes mellitus who must take insulin in full replacement doses are most vulnerable to episodes of hypoglycemia (low blood glucose levels). This can occur if a person takes too much insulin or diabetic medication, does strenuous exercise without eating additional food, misses meals, consumes too much alcohol, or consumes alcohol without food. [5]
[25] [26] Adults with type 1 diabetes tend to have more varied symptoms, which come on over months, rather than days or weeks. [27] [26] Prolonged lack of insulin can cause diabetic ketoacidosis, characterized by fruity breath odor, mental confusion, persistent fatigue, dry or flushed skin, abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting, and labored breathing.
The leading cause of hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes is the failure of insulin to suppress glucose production by glycolysis and gluconeogenesis due to insulin resistance. [39] Insulin normally inhibits glycogenolysis, but fails to do so in a condition of insulin resistance, resulting in increased glucose production. [ 40 ]
The major differential diagnosis is diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). In contrast to DKA, serum glucose levels in HHS are extremely high, usually greater than 40-50 mmol/L (600 mg/dL). [6] Metabolic acidosis is absent or mild. [6] A temporary state of confusion (delirium) is also more common in HHS than DKA. HHS also tends to affect older people more.
Metabolic alkalosis is an acid-base disorder in which the pH of tissue is elevated beyond the normal range (7.35–7.45). This is the result of decreased hydrogen ion concentration, leading to increased bicarbonate (HCO − 3), or alternatively a direct result of increased bicarbonate concentrations.
Lactic acidosis is commonly found in people who are unwell, such as those with severe heart and/or lung disease, a severe infection with sepsis, the systemic inflammatory response syndrome due to another cause, severe physical trauma, or severe depletion of body fluids. [3]