9/19/15

Diabetes and Your Child: Preventing Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)

Diabetes and Your Child: Preventing Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)

The diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)  is a rare but serious condition that can occur if your child's diabetes is not well controlled. If left untreated, CAD can induce a diabetic coma in his son and in some cases, even death. However, you can take steps to prevent your child from you CAD. 

The origin of the ketones

The body's cells need to burn glucose for energy. If glucose does not enter cells, the body is forced to burn fat.However, burning fat generates waste products called ketones  that can accumulate to dangerous levels in the blood and urine. The body of your child can not tolerate large amounts of ketones.

What are the causes of CAD?

The accumulation of large amounts of ketones in the blood can cause diabetic ketoacidosis and destabilize the chemical balance of the blood. The CAD may be more common in children with type 1 diabetes than in those with diabetes type 2. The most frequent causes of CAD are:
  • Lack of needed insulin in the blood of his son (this can happen if the child does not get his insulin injections)
  • Illness (flu, cold or infection)
  • Breakage or failure of an insulin pump
  • Use of insulin that is expired or that is not saved in the correct conditions

What are the symptoms of CAD?

In many cases, symptoms of CAD may resemble the flu. Contact your health care provider for your child or seek emergency care immediately if you notice any of these symptoms in your child:
  • Ketones in the urine or blood (see the "How to analyze ketones" below)
  • Sickness
  • Vomit
  • Breath that smells fruity
  • Colic
  • Very dark urine or no urine in the last 6 hours
  • Rapid, deep breathing
  • Very dry mouth or thirst
  • Drowsiness or unresponsiveness

When to make an analysis of ketones

Always do an analysis of ketones if your child has any of the above symptoms or:
  • A sugar level in blood over 240.
  • Diarrhea or vomiting.
  • Fever of 100.4 ° F (38 ° C) oral or 101.4 ° F (38.5 ° C) rectally or higher, or as directed by your health care provider of the child.

Making an analysis of ketones

Ask your health care provider for your child to teach you to do an analysis of ketones at home. Ketones analyzes are usually carried out with reactive strips urine. In the case of a baby or toddler, you can place a cotton diaper the child to absorb the urine; then put the wet cotton on a test strip to check for ketones. For older children, follow the instructions on the box of test strips. Some blood glucose meters also have the ability to detect blood ketone. Call your health care provider for your child to learn more. If there is a moderate level of ketones (average) or higher in the blood or urine of the child, immediately call health care provider for your child 

Preventing CAD

Woman gives a cup of water to a girl who is lying in bed.  The kit of diabetes is on the bed.
The CAD can be prevented. The best way to prevent this condition is to give your child insulin as directed. Be sure to follow the treatment plan for your child as what the health care provider directed. When your child has a high level of blood sugar, give treatment immediately. Remember that blood sugar your child may be more difficult to control when the child is ill. To be safe when your child is sick, measure the level of blood sugar every 4 hours. Ask your health care provider for a recommendation for sick days; This includes learning how to adjust the insulin dose the child safely. And for sick days, always have on hand a box containing:
  • Test strips for ketones
  • Thermometer
  • Canned soup
  • Pretzels
  • Juice boxes
  • Gelatin flavors like Jell-O, with and without sugar (which can be stored in the refrigerator)
  • Frozen juice bars or sugar (which can be stored separately in the freezer)
  • Suppository drugs that stop nausea and vomiting, if necessary
Once a month, be sure to check the expiration dates of all items you have in the box for sick days. Replace items as needed.

Immediately call your health care provider for your child if the child has:

  • Vomiting or diarrhea
  • 100.4 ° F (38 ° C) oral or 101.4 ° F (38.5 ° C) rectally or higher, or as directed by your health care provider Child fever
  • Levels of blood sugar of 240 or higher that does not go down after the child receives insulin
  • Levels of blood sugar below 70
  • Ketones in the blood or urine

resources

For more information about diabetes, visit these websites:
  • American Diabetes Association  www.diabetes.org
  • Children with Diabetes  www.childrenwithdiabetes.com
  • Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation  www.jdrf.org
  • American Association of Diabetes Educators  www.aadenet.org
  • American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists  www.aace.com
  • National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse  www.diabetes.niddk.nih.gov
NOTE:  This sheet does not contain all the information you need to care for your child with diabetes. Call your health care provider for your child to learn more.

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