Tips to Avoid Ketoacidosis

(Newswire.net — January 29, 2018) Cheyenne, Wyoming — People with diabetes know that dietary restrictions are a must for controlling their aliment and doing so is a delicate balance to be mastered. With such a fickle response to medicine and other factors, it’s vital to be wary of the possible complications and safeguard against issues such as ketoacidosis which type 1 diabetes patients are particularly prone to. 

“The condition [ketoacidosis] develops when your body can’t produce enough insulin,” informs Mayo Clinic. “Insulin normally plays a key role in helping sugar (glucose) — a major source of energy for your muscles and other tissues — enter your cells. Without enough insulin, your body begins to break down fat as fuel. This process produces a buildup of acids in the bloodstream called ketones, eventually leading to diabetic ketoacidosis if untreated.” 

This life threatening issue requires great attention and care to be rectified immediately. Moreover, prevention is better than cure so it’s wise to employ a number of best practice initiatives to begin with. 

Avoid leaning towards a low carb diet as this is a sure way to have ketone levels spike unfavorably. Ketones aren’t necessarily bad on their own but for diabetics, they have to be kept on a tight leash so that medications can work properly, instructing the body to burn glucose for energy instead of bypassing it in favor of using fat. 

Do not miss an insulin dosage as this is just begging for trouble to be frank. Habitually missing insulin shots is sure to trigger a buildup of ketones and acid in the body is counterproductive to maintaining good health as a diabetic. 

Just as important as staying on schedule with medications is to ensure they are stored at the right temperature to avoid spoilage. Keeping insulin too hot or too cold will affect its effectiveness and similarly it’s important to note its expiration date. Lastly, apply insulin shots at multiple strategic points of the body, essentially like revolving or rotating the entry points. This is advised to avert any possibility of insulin getting trapped in one section of the body and not getting absorbed or distributed properly throughout.  

In the unfortunate event that one does feel nauseous, woozy and urinating excessively to the point of concern, immediately test a sample of urine to access ketone levels. The HealthyWiser™ Ketone Reagent Strips are well recommended to provide readings of 99% accuracy in less than 30 seconds. If the results are high, quickly proceed to consume 8 oz. to 12 oz. of low caloric fluids to replenish the potassium lost and quickly restore some semblance of chemical equilibrium. 

“Test your urine for ketones or your blood for beta-hydroxybutyrate every four hours if your blood glucose is over 250 mg per dL,” advises American Family Physician Clinical Journal. “If your blood glucose is more than 250 mg per dL, do not eat or drink foods that are high in carbohydrates instead drink lots of sugar-free, caffeine-free liquids and sip small amounts every few minutes if you are feeling sick to your stomach. Moreover, if you have signs of infection, including fever, cough, sore throat, or pain when you go to the bathroom, see your doctor to make sure you are getting the right treatment.”