Even though ketosis
and ketoacidosis sound almost the same, they have quite a big difference. A lot
of people have the wrong kind of information about the two and while
ketoacidosis is toxic to the body, ketosis is not.
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What is
Ketoacidosis?
It is also known as
Diabetes Ketoacidosis (DKA). Ketoacidosis is a deadly metabolic state where
your body is unable to produce insulin. It can also be caused by excess
production of glucose that the body is unable to metabolize.
The body is forced
to produce ketones as its energy source. With the absence of insulin to control
ketone production, it translates to excess production, releasing them into the
blood streams and as a result, the blood becomes acidic. Ketoacidosis can
happen in a span of 24hrs and is common to diabetes type I patients.
What is Ketosis?
Ketosis is a
metabolic state linked to the ketogenic diet, where you limit your carb intake
by eating low carb foods and force your body to turn fats into ketones for
energy. Even when the ketones are produced quantitatively, they do not cause acidity
because their production is kept in control by insulin. Ketosis is confused for
ketoacidosis although it is safe and not as dangerous as ketoacidosis.
What are the
causes?
Ketosis is natural
and occurs when someone voluntarily adapts a ketogenic diet. Your body goes
into starvation forcing it to look for alternative energy sources.
There are a few
ways to get into ketosis. One of the easiest ways besides eating keto foods is
to take supplements. This page https://www.ketovale.com/exogenous-ketones-reviews/
has a list of supplements you can try to boost your ketone levels.
Ketoacidosis on the
other hand is mainly caused by mismanagement of diabetes type I and in rare
cases type II. It mainly occurs if a patient does not use the right amount of
insulin. Other causes include; alcoholism, medication that tamper with insulin
levels, overactive thyroid, starvation, and drug abuse etc.
Symptoms for
ketoacidosis are; vomiting, frequent urination, vomiting, extreme thirst,
nausea, fruity-smelling breath, tiredness, and shortness of breath.
Diagnosis and
Treatment of Ketoacidosis
Having ketone urine
test strips or regularly visiting your doctor is vital to monitor your ketone
levels especially if you have diabetes. If you experience any of the symptoms
or if the test strips show any signs of ketones, drink lots of water to flush
them out. Also, take insulin to lower the sugar levels and if the symptoms
worsen, see a doctor immediately.
Hospital treatment
will involve insulin therapy to keep your blood sugar levels in check, and for
maintenance of the heart, cells and nerves, you will undergo electrolyte
replacement. Due to excessive urination and vomiting, the body is also
rehydrated to replace the lost fluids.
How to Prevent
Diabetes Ketoacidosis
Even though
ketoacidosis is common in diabetes type I and in rare cases type II patients,
it can be prevented. Diabetics can do the following to ward it off;
- Keep watch on your
ketone levels as well as blood sugar levels.
- Take all insulin doses
and other diabetes medication as directed by your doctor without skipping
doses.
- Take regular visits to
your doctor’s office.
- Frequently drink water to
avoid dehydration.
- Be physically active
and always check your blood sugar levels beforehand because working out with
high sugar levels could set off diabetic ketoacidosis.
- If your blood sugar
levels rise above the norm, visit the emergency room.
Is There a
Possibility of Developing Ketoacidosis From Ketosis?
With other risk
factors involved, there have been rare cases of people suffering from diabetic
ketoacidosis due to nutritional ketosis. Few ketoacidosis instances of
breastfeeding mothers on a low-carb diet have been reported.
As pointed out
before, there were other risk factors involved because a low-carb diet has been
used to treat diabetes type I patients. There might be some medical adjustments
for diabetics who choose to go on a ketogenic diet so, it is important to
consult your doctor before going on such a diet. Ketosis will not lead to
ketoacidosis unless you are low on insulin or breastfeeding.
Bottom Line
Ketosis is
completely different from ketoacidosis. While ketoacidosis is a harmful and
non-beneficial metabolic state, ketosis is safe, healthy and beneficial. You
can choose to go on a ketogenic diet to benefit from ketosis. Always keep track
of your ketone and blood sugar levels and see a doctor if you experience any
symptoms of ketoacidosis because it is fatal.
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