Diabetic Kitoacidosis

McCord Snider

Mrs. Ruiz

English 12A - Period 10

4/16/2014

The Diabetic Ketoacidosis Epidemic

Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) is the leading cause of death in children and young adults in patients with Type 1 Diabetes. It accounts for approximately fifty percent of deaths in diabetic individuals under the age of twenty-four (Randall et al.). DKA is the most serious diabetic emergency in patients. The problem of Diabetic Ketoacidosis is most effectively solved by Insulin Therapy.

Diabetes is an arising problem in today’s world, as it is the world’s eight leading cause of death according to “The Top 10 Causes of Death.” Diabetes is a chronic disease that has a gradual onset with a very long duration of slow changes. Diabetic Ketoacidosis is a life-threatening condition that occurs within the body’s cells. The pancreases secretes a hormone called Insulin that is the “key” to opening the cell to an influx of glucose to use as energy. If the pancreases does not respond to the body’s requirement of insulin, the cells will then absorb Adipose Tissue (fat cells) and muscle tissue for energy. This different form of energy then produces cellular waste called ketones, which floats around within the body literally consuming and killing other important cells. While also killing cells, ketone absorb all the water molecules in the body making a person dehydrated very rapidly. It is very crucial to stop this consuming, life-threating waste condition. The ketones are flushed out by the kidneys, making urinating on a test strip the only way to test for them. According to the article “FAST FACTS,” diabetes contributes to the death of around 231,400 Americans annually combining death certificates that list diabetes as the primary and a contributing cause of death. This is the case, because people on occasion cannot afford the medication, are newly diagnosed, or do not care enough to treat the problem. With this astonishing number, it is the time for Americans to take control of...