ketoacidosis?

[angelsbridges]

What exactly does this mean? What is it linked to?
I read these symptoms online:
very tired and sleepy
weakness
great thirst
frequent urination
dry skin and tongue
leg cramps
fruity odor to the breath*
upset stomach*
nausea*

I've had increasing leg cramps the last few days to accompany all the other symptoms, including upset stomach and nausea. Is this something that needs to be checked? How is it linked to diabetes? Is it something that comes from Type 2 or 1.5 or 1?

[foxl]

DKA, diabetic ketoacidosis, typically occurs in type 1's but also in some type 2's with VERY high, > 300 blood sugars. I was one of the lucky type 2's who had DKA at diagnosis.

If your blood sugars are not that high, this is probably not why you are fatigued.

Are you experiencing the adjustment to LOWER blood sugar levels, after having them elevated for a long time? I have heard it is a common rxn to the new lower levels, along with "false crashes," where you feel like hypo at higher than typical blood sugar levels?

[jenb]

If you are experiencing all those symptoms it is very important that you see a doctor right away. Do not delay. Regardless of what type of diabetes one has, ketoacidosis can be life threatening, especially if you have reached the stage where you are vomiting. If necessary, have someone drive you to the ER.

I'm sorry to sound so alarmist, but DKA requires immediate medical attention.

[EeyoreButterfly]

It says you are prediabetic. Do you check your levels? I agree that at the very least you need to get checked out, but if you are not experiencing high blood sugars I would not be too alarmed. These can be symptoms of other things as well. I have heard it is harder for a Type 2 to have DKA, although certainly not impossible. Better to be safe than sorry. Let us know how you are doing.

[Patient254]

I was slurring my speech, but I don't know if that was the diabetes or dka.

[angelsbridges]

I didn't go in. I had a really bad hypo episode on Monday (I don't test at home). I wasn't feeling that great, so I didn't eat before a night class and lab. I went about 6 hours without eating, and by the end of class, I couldn't even subtract numbers on a calculator correctly and nothing made sense. My friends thought I was drunk I was slurring so bad. By the time I got home, my leg was hurting incredibly bad and I had the worst pressure headache. I got really nauseous and almost threw up. I drank a glass of skim milk and ate a granola bar and laid down, and I felt a little better a few hours after. Is that a normal hypo episode?

I'm also really tired of peeing 3 times an hour. I've been labeled as prediabetic, but I see my PCP tomorrow morning. I'm going to have him check for Type 1.5 as I fit all the symptoms (including my biological father having an autoimmune disorder). All this has come on what seems like really fast (over the last year).

[EeyoreButterfly]

That sounds about right for a hypo. Without knowing the actual numbers nobody can tell you for sure. You really need to get a meter and do some testing. You also need to find out what your numbers at diagnosis were as they can give you a clearer picture. It could be it wasn't even a true hypo. If you are running high numbers a lot, a perfectly fine number will feel like a miserable hypo.

[angelsbridges]

I hadn't eaten in over 6 hours when it happened, so I'm assuming it was a low. I got a test meter yesterday so if it happens again I can test it. My boyfriend thinks I'm being obsessive about this, but it's hard not to be when you've felt so sick for so long. I don't hope for diabetes, but at least it would be an answer that has a solution, you know? That probably makes me sound sick in the head, and I really hope it's not diabetes, but I do hope they find out what's wrong. I'm hoping that if I monitor the blood sugar, it will help me figure out how to avoid feeling bad.


ps - i'm a twilight fan as well it's a secret though!

[EeyoreButterfly]

angels: The best thing to do right now is test your fasting, when you feel sick, and two hours after meals. I'm assuming that you just have the ten strips that came with your meter. If that is the case I would test when you first wake up and 2 hours after dinner or whatever your heaviest meal of the day is. That will make your strips last for five days if you do not feel sick and need to test more.

I'm really confused at this point. Has your doctor tested your blood sugar and told you you are pre-D? Did he tell you the number? Or are you just assuming?

[angelsbridges]

My glucose was a bit high for fasting test. They called me and told me I was prediabetic and to see a dietitian, which I finally got to do this week. She's worried because I'm exhibiting a lot of symptoms, and don't fit the profile of most type 2 diabetics. My doctor is running more tests.

I'm going to do what you said though and just test my fasting when I wake up, and then two hours after eating and when I'm feeling low. Thanks for the advice! The strips are expensive!

[EeyoreButterfly]

Did they tell you what your fasting number was?

Most people find that their fastings are the last thing to go. My fastings are almost always under 100 but my post prandials are well over 200. So if your fasting is high it could very well be that your post prandials are very high. Post your numbers here and we might be able to help you trouble shoot while you wait for your appointment.

ETA: check out FreeStyle Promise™ - Diabetes Resources For Your Lifestyle They will pay up to $50 a month for your strips. Also ask your doc to prescribe and then your insurance will pick up part of the cost. Even Pre-D's can get scripts for testing supplies. That will bring down the cost significantly. When I was using Freestyle and had the Promise Program card I was able to get 200 strips for just $15 a month. I would still be using them if they had a meter comparable to the Ultra Smart.

[Eddy]

My boyfriend thinks I'm being obsessive about this, but it's hard not to be when you've felt so sick for so long.

I might have been better off had I (1) known, and (2) been "obsessive" back before I wound up in DKA.

I don't hope for diabetes, but at least it would be an answer that has a solution, you know? That probably makes me sound sick in the head, and I really hope it's not diabetes, but I do hope they find out what's wrong.

If you're sick in the head, then I'm in the same club. It was wonderful when I finally knew why I felt so rotten, and to be able to do something about it. I wish it were a little less life-affecting... but... the hand I drew is the hand I drew.

I'm hoping that if I monitor the blood sugar, it will help me figure out how to avoid feeling bad.

In the grand scheme of things, it's an inexpensive way to gather information. (If you actually are diabetic, and must test many times per day... then the test strips really start adding up!)

Hopefully you're not diabetic. If you are, or are headed that way, be cautious about diagnoses: This forum has seen many people erroneously labeled T2 because of age. That's dangerous.

At any rate... welcome! Hopefully you won't have too much in common with us.

[angelsbridges]

My fasting blood sugar at the doctor's office was only 103.

[foxl]

Yeah, but what is two hours after you eat? Be CAREFUL.

I know thru the grapevine of an MD who considers themself diabetic for an FBG of 110 ... despite "official" diagnostic standards being higher (ie, POORER).

You keep on being obsessive until you are taken CARE OF ... wish I had -- I landed in the HOSPITAL, after 6 wks of symptoms and failing to get a meter (I was busy and did not know they were cheap!). The bill was $3500 and I must now pay around 350 of that, if that gives you any more incentive.

If I had known then what I know now, I would get a few days' worth of one- and two-hours post-meal blood glucoses, with recorded carb intake estimates for the meals, and take them to an Endo for interpretation.

[IrishJoe]

the cramps can be from low electrolytes which are bad enough in itself. Go to your doctor. They are caused by drinking a lot of to flush out the excess sugar but it flushes out the salts too.

While its tempting just to drink water and eat salted crisps this will damage your kidneys which may be under stress. IF you are ketoacidotic the only way to be treated is to go to your doctor/hospital ASAP!