Q:
How to diagnose diabetic ketoacidosis?
A:
Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a life-threatening complication of diabetes that occurs when your body starts breaking down fat into a fuel called ketones at a much too fast rate.
Current criteria for the diagnosis of DKA are limited by their nonspecific (serum bicarbonate [HCO (3)] and PH) and qualitative nature (the presence of ketonemia/ketonuria).
In order to diagnose DKA, blood tests are the most common ones used to measure following factors:
- blood sugar level
- ketone level
- blood acidity
There are also some additional tests may be needed to identify underlying factors, including:
- blood electrolyte tests
- urinalysis
- chest X-ray
- electrocardiogram
Please turn to your doctor to confirm the condition and search for immediate treatments.
Keyword: diabetic ketoacidosis.
