As I understand it the patient has too much glucose in the blood, as there
is not enough insulin to allow the body to convert the glucose to energy.
As a result the body metabolises fats instead of glucose causing lactic acid
and CO2 to build up and causing metabolic acidosis. Tachycardia can be a
side effect of the acidosis.
The body compensates by increasing the respiratory rate to blow off the CO2
(Kussmauls respirations). It increases urinary output to try to get rid of
the excess glucose in the blood, which over time causes the body to become
dehydrated. This leads to the patient feeling thirsty, and nauseous.
Assuming my basic understanding is correct (and if not please correct it)
why do patients also suffer from vomiting? Is this because the body is
attempting to prevent any more sugar getting into the blood?
Abdominal pain is apparently a common symptom as well, though the two
patients I've seen with diabetic ketoacidosis didn't suffer from it. Can
anyone explain why this is the case?
Many thanks in advance,
Tim Hayes
NHS student ambulance technician
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