Ketosis in the child with diabetes

The ketosis is a natural state that occurs when the body is fed almost entirely of fat , to ingesting these fats and energy of the fatty acids in our bodies, our liver produces what is known as ketone bodies.

There are three main types of ketone bodies , which are water-soluble molecules produced in the liver: acetoacetate, beta-hydroxybutyrate, and acetone. Acetoacetate is a specific ketone body whose function is to supply the necessary energy for the body and which is formed through a process called ketogenesis. Betahydroxybutyrate is one of the ketone bodies, which participates in anaerobic energy metabolism, reducing pyruvate to regenerate NAD +, which is the limiting substrate of the glycolytic pathway. Acetone is a substance that is produced in the body when glucose is at low levels and fats are not burned as they should.

In children , this natural state, called ketosis, is very common since they need a greater amount of glucose than adults because they use three times as much energy as an adult. Ketosis is common in the smallest and it is common to occur when our children get sick with gastroenteritis , vomit or spend a long time fasting.

SYMPTOMS OF KETOSIS IN CHILDREN

The symptoms and signs of the presence of this disease are very determined:

– Bad breath is the main symptom, especially when that breath smells like rotten fruit

– Severe headaches and dizziness

– Abdominal pain

– Need to drink water excessively

– Feeling nauseous

– Polyuria, polyphagia, weight loss and polydipsia in the case of a child with diabetes

– If it has been done to a prolonged physical effort

– Tiredness and lack of energy

– Difficulty sleeping

DIABETES IN CHILDREN

The diabetes and ketosis are two diseases that are closely related to each other . In fact, according to the Spanish Society of Pediatric Endocrinology (SEEP), most children with diabetes are diagnosed with ketoacidosis. Diabetes is a chronic condition caused by the loss of the body’s ability to produce insulin. Insulin is a hormone made in the pancreas that converts glucose from food into energy for the organs.

The juvenile diabetes , is characterized by a level of very low blood insulin. The cells of a diabetic body use stored fats as a source of energy and consuming them produces too much acetone, which causes ketosis in diabetic children. This diabetes is also known as type 1 diabetes whose symptoms are the following:

– But intense

– Frequent need to urinate

-Weight loss without apparent cause

-Vomiting and abdominal pain

-Tiredness, reluctance and weakness

-Blurry vision

– Irritability

DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF DIABETIC KETOACIDOSIS

If your doctor suspects that your child has diabetic ketosis, he or she will most likely perform a physical examination and several blood tests. In some cases, additional tests may be needed to diagnose the cause of diabetic ketoacidosis.

Once diabetic ketosis is diagnosed, the treatment that the child is going to have requires a hospital stay and consists of:

– Hydration through fluids to regain lost body fluid and help dilute blood sugar concentration.

– Replace electrolytes . Electrolytes are minerals that have an electrical charge, and a lack of insulin lowers its level in the blood. Intravenous electrolyte replacement enables the heart, muscles, and nerve cells to function properly.

– Insulin therapy. Insulin reverses the processes that lead to diabetic ketoacidosis. Once the blood sugar level is below 240 mg / dL, intravenous insulin therapy is discontinued and normal treatment is resumed.