Diabetes mellitus can cause both short and long term complications. Short term complications mean that these complications can occur with even a short duration of diabetes mellitus. They can be life threatening also.

 

Two type of short term complications may occur due to high blood sugar-

1. Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)

Diabetic ketoacidosis is a serious condition affecting mostly type 1 diabetics, but can affect type 2 diabetics as well. This can cause coma or even death.

 

What is diabetic ketoacidosis?

When your body does not have enough insulin to use glucose for energy, than it starts using fat for energy production. This produces chemicals called ketones. These ketones keep increasing in the absence of insulin and make your blood more acidic. So you develop diabetic ketoacidosis.

 

What are the causes of DKA?

You get DKA in following situations-

1. You have not taken enough insulin as needed by your body (illness or wrong dose calculation)
2. You have not taken enough food or missed a meal
3. You have an infection

 

How can you know the occurrence of DKA?

 If you notice any of the below mentioned symptoms, you should contact your doctor/ hospital immediately-

1. Increased thirst or dryness of mouth
2. Increased urination
3. Blood sugar levels are high
4. Tiredness/ Fatiguability
5. Nausea, vomiting or pain abdomen
6. Breathing difficulty
7. You may have fruity smell in your breath
8. Difficulty in concentration/ confusion
9. Blood and urine ketone levels are high

 

You can check ketones yourself!!

You can check urine ketones with a strip (similar to sugar testing strip). Generally, it is recommended to check ketones if

1. Your blood sugar is >240mg/dl
2. You are ill (example- cold, flu, urine infection)
3. You notice symptoms of DKA

 

Contact your doctor if you find moderate or high ketones or you have persistent vomiting. Treatment of DKA should be taken in the hospital.

 

2. Hyperosmolar hyperglycemic non-ketotic syndrome –

Hyperosmolar hyperglycemic non-ketotic syndrome (HHNS) is another serious condition that generally affects type 2 older individuals.

 

What is HHNS?

HHNS is precipitated by some other infection or illness. Blood sugar rises due to this. Your body produces more urine and you feel thirstier. As time passes, urine becomes dark and less in quantity. If you do not take more liquids, dehydration develops. This can cause seizures, coma or even death.

 

What are the symptoms of HHNS?

1. Increased thirst and dryness of mouth
2. Warm dry skin (without sweating)
3. High fever
4. Confusion/ drowsiness
5. Loss of vision
6. Hallucinations ( you see or hear things which do not exist)
7. Weakness of one side of the body
8. Blood sugar >600mg/dl

 

If you notice any of the above symptoms, consult your doctor immediately.

 

Remember…

 

You can avoid HHNS by checking your sugar levels regularly especially during illness and drink more liquids (alcohol free and caffeine free).