People are mostly unaware of a potentially life-taking condition known as diabetic ketoacidosis. Don't be fooled by the word 'diabetic' in the name! Though diabetics are prime targets of this condition, so also are they who have undergone severe dehydration for whatever reason, as well as those who have had massive viral or bacterial infections. These three categories form the high-risk population vulnerable to diabetic ketoacidosis.

Diabetic ketoacidosis is an extremely critical metabolic condition. Normal metabolism breaks the food into the basic form of sugar called glucose. The glucose is used as an energy source for the muscles. Unused glucose is converted to fats and stored for future use in the adipose tissue found all over the body. If the body's energy requirements cannot be met by the glucose circulating in the blood, the fats are converted back to glucose, and this reconverted glucose is used to meet the energy demands of the body.

This reconversion releases ketones which are fatty acids, and the level of ketones in the blood exceeds the normal. This condition is called 'ketoacidosis'. If a person's blood is heavily infected by external organisms like bacteria or viruses, then ketoacidosis is more likely to occur. A person suffering from severe dehydration is also prone to ketoacidosis. Diabetics are more likely to develop ketoacidosis.

In brief, the condition itself is not so much the danger as the delay in treatment is. Why is there this delay? Because the symptoms become evident only after the condition is firmly entrenched. The particular symptoms one should look out for are enumerated below.

Lip and skin dryness, heightened skin temperature, abnormal skin tone such as paleness or flushed appearance, are directly related to diabetic ketoacidosis.

Another telltale sign is impaired vision. A person with diabetic ketoacidosis experiences severe blurring of vision.

The breath can acquire a peculiar odor best described as sickly "sweet smelling".

Listless behavior.

A person with diabetic ketoacidosis can't eat. He doesn't feel like eating at all. If he does attempt a light meal, he brings it up almost immediately, with violent retching.

Mental confusion and lack of comprehension.

The only effective treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis is a prolonged one. The patient should cooperate with the doctors and take the prescribed treatment exactly as advised. The patient must avoid dehydration, taking rehydrating solutions if necessary. The blood glucose must be monitored round-the-clock to avoid it going over or below the normal limits. If these guidelines are followed, diabetic ketoacidosis can be beaten, rest assured!