How is ketoacidsis related to diabetes?

Answer 1

In Diabetes, since the body cannot utilize carbohydrates properly for its energy supply, sometimes fats and proteins are metabolized for energy instead. When this happens, ketones are produced as a byproduct of their metabolism, and ketones are dangerous.

Answer 2

Ketoacidosis refers to high levels of ketone bodies in the blood which lower the ph. Normal blood ph is 7.35-7.45, below 7.2 ur dead. The body is made up of millions of cells which require fuel for energy, in most cases glucose (a sugar) is the staple fuel source for all cells. Somtimes fats can be used when there isnt enough glucose, but not all cells can use fats. Such as nerve cells (brain cells), the testes, some kidney cells any many more. In this case Fats are converted to Ketones such as b-hydroxybutyrate. In Diabetes Mellitus there is dysregulation of blood glucose of leves, particularly dysregulation of when insulin is released. Insulin lowers blood glucose levels.

Fat breakdown is inhibited by insulin, in this case there is low insulin, therefore fat breakdown is not inhibited, therefore fats are broken down and converted to ketone bodies by the liver, which make blood acidic. Also, glucose is a diuretic, i.e makes you excrete large volumes of urine. Hence diabetics go to the loo often, and drink alot, that is what diabetes actually means, polyuria (high urine flow) and polydipsia (a lot of water drinking). Hence the body is dehydrated which exacerbates the acidemia caused by ketoacidosis. The body tries to compensate the acid, by hyperventilating, i.e by breathing faster, this removes large volumes of carbon dioxide which itself is acidic, therefore raising the PH. This is actually diagnostic of insulin-dependent diabetics, in which this action is called Kussmaul Breathing, along with the distinctive acetone breath in the mouth.

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Answer 3

This can be quite significant since they involve metabolic functions in the body. When the body has too much sugar in the blood and cannot metabolize it properly, it starts digesting muscle tissue which lowers the pH balance of the blood. This can get so acidic that it hinders normal flow of impulses in the nervous system. If this happens the person may go into a coma, and possibly die.

Answer 4

A diabetic with excess ketones may eventually have an acidic body. This is not good because the body should be balanced. This is why ketones should be excreted through urine or fecal matter but since the ability could be gone in patients with diabetes, ketoacidosis happens as a complication.