Author: Alex Thompson

Alcoholic Ketoacidosis: Causes, Symptoms, and Diagnosis

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) advises people to not exercise if they have signs of DKA and to seek medical assistance immediately. With timely and aggressive intervention, the prognosis for a patient with AKA is good. The long-term prognosis for the patient is influenced more strongly by recovery from alcoholism. The prevalence of AKA in a given community correlates with the incidence and distribution of alcohol abuse in that community. Your prognosis will be impacted by the severity of your alcohol use and whether or not you have liver disease.

Health Conditions

Wearing medical identification can help others know what to do in an emergency related to diabetes. The ADA recommends testing for ketones every 4–6 hours when a person is ill, such as with a cold or the flu. Ketone and blood glucose testing kits are available for purchase online. If a reading is above 240 milligrams per deciliter, the ADA suggests testing for ketones. Knowing about DKA and being able to recognize its symptoms can save a person’s life.

This buildup of ketones can produce a life-threatening condition known as ketoacidosis. Treatment for Alcoholic Ketoacidosis (AKA) primarily focuses on correcting the dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, and acidosis that characterize this condition. When the breath of a person with diabetes smells like acetone, they should check their blood sugar levels. During starvation, there is a decrease in insulin secretion and an increase in the production of counter-regulatory hormones such as glucagon, catecholamines, cortisol, and growth hormone. Hormone-sensitive lipase is normally inhibited by insulin, and, when insulin levels fall, lipolysis is up-regulated, causing release of free fatty acids from peripheral adipose tissue.

Prevention

The condition usually occurs gradually, but if a person has been vomiting, it can develop quickly. If the body cannot get its energy from glucose, it starts burning fat for fuel instead. The process of breaking down fat for energy releases byproducts called ketones. People who drink large quantities of alcohol may not eat regularly.

If your blood glucose level is elevated, your doctor may also perform a hemoglobin A1C (HgA1C) test. This test will provide information about your sugar levels to help determine whether you have diabetes. Understanding what makes someone addicted to alcohol can be the first step in helping a person seek treatment. Depending on how bad their alcohol abuse has been or if medically-assisted alcohol detox will be needed for withdrawal symptoms, entering into a treatment center may be a necessary option.

  1. Going on a drinking binge when your body is in a malnourished state may cause abdominal pain, nausea, or vomiting.
  2. When this happens, it can cause ketones, which are acids, to build up in your blood.
  3. It is not safe for everyone, including those with liver failure, pancreatitis, and individuals already living with high cholesterol.
  4. During physical examination, healthcare professionals look for signs that are consistent with AKA, such as signs of dehydration and an alcoholic odor on the breath.
  5. When your body burns fat for energy, byproducts known as ketone bodies are produced.

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When you drink alcohol, your pancreas may stop producing insulin for a short time. Without insulin, your cells won’t be able to use the glucose you consume for energy. To get the energy you need, your body will start to burn fat.

Anyone thinking about trying a keto diet should speak with a doctor first. It is not safe for everyone, including those with liver failure, pancreatitis, and individuals already living with high cholesterol. The metabolism of alcohol itself is a probable contributor to the ketotic state. Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), a cytosolic enzyme, metabolizes alcohol to acetaldehyde in hepatocytes. Acetaldehyde is metabolized further to acetic acid by aldehyde dehydrogenase.

Possible Complications

Dehydration and volume constriction directly decrease the ability of the kidneys to excrete ketoacids. Profound dehydration can culminate in circulatory collapse and/or lactic acidosis. The resulting increase in the NADH/NAD+ ratio inhibits hepatic gluconeogenesis and elevates the ratio of hydroxybutyric acid to acetoacetic acid. Acetic acid (an acyl group carrier) is linked with coenzyme A (a thiol) to produce Acetyl-CoA. This process is catalyzed by the enzyme acetyl-CoA synthetase.

Your doctor may also admit you to the intensive care unit (ICU) if you require ongoing care. The length of your hospital stay depends on the severity of the alcoholic ketoacidosis. It also depends on how long it takes to get your body regulated and out of danger. If you have any additional complications during treatment, this will also affect the length of your hospital stay. If you develop any of these symptoms, seek emergency medical attention. It most often occurs in a malnourished person who drinks large amounts of alcohol every day.

You should also follow all of your doctor’s recommendations to ensure proper nutrition and recovery. If you are diagnosed with alcoholic ketoacidosis, your recovery will depend on a number of factors. Seeking help as soon as symptoms arise reduces your chances of serious complications. Treatment for alcohol addiction is also necessary to prevent a relapse of alcoholic ketoacidosis.

Possible Complications of Alcoholic Ketoacidosis

Medicines may be given to prevent alcohol withdrawal symptoms. A person who consumes large amounts of alcohol may not have a healthful diet or eat enough food to provide their body with energy. If symptoms progress without treatment, the person may lose consciousness and experience a coma. DKA can cause the blood to become acidic and affect how the organs function.