Thu, May-22-03, 10:58
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Forum Founder
Posts: 37,428
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Plan: LC, GF
Stats: 241/190/140
BF:
Progress: 50%
Location: Eastern ON, Canada
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hi Michael,
Good question!
Yes, diabetics need to be watchful for diabetic ketoacidosis, or DKA, which results from uncontrolled high blood sugars. Due to lack of insulin, sugar builds up in the blood causing an acid condition -- not to mention all the harm to kidneys and organs that comes from having so much sugar present. Because there's too little insulin to help the cells use that sugar for energy, the body starts breaking down fat to make ketones for survival. The ketones add to the already-present acid condition, and the combination of high blood sugar plus ketosis causes a profound diuresis. The toxic levels of sugar and acid, plus severe dehydration requires emergency treatment at a hospital. Typically, IV fluids are given, along with injections of insulin and potassium to help bring the sky-rocketing blood sugars down to normal levels. Other drugs are given to buffer and alkalinize the blood.
Ketone production associated with low-carb dieting is known as benign dietary ketosis, or BDK. This is totally different from the above situation ... and the word "benign" means harmless. With BKA, there is no uncontrolled high blood sugar, and there is no life-threatening acid condition in the blood.
hth,
Doreen
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