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Medical Tests
Definitions
Ketoacidosis: Diabetic: Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is an emergency condition in which extremely high blood glucose levels, along with a severe lack of insulin, result in the breakdown of body fat for energy and an accumulation of ketones in the blood and urine. DKA is a chemical imbalance in which the body becomes far too acidic.
Signs of DKA are nausea and vomiting, stomach pain, fruity breath odor, and rapid breathing. Untreated DKA can lead to coma and death.
Ketogenic Diet: A diet in which a person eats 40 or less carbohydrates per day. This causes the body to burn more fat and produce ketones as an alternative fuel to blood glucose (sugar).
Ketones: A chemical produced when there is a shortage of insulin in the blood and the body breaks down body fat for energy. Ketones also appear in the urine on severely restricted low carbohydrate diets called “ketogenic” diets. High levels of ketones can lead to diabetic ketoacidosis and coma. Sometimes referred to as ketone bodies.
Ketone, Urine Test: Ketones are produced when there is a shortage of insulin in the blood and the body breaks down body fat for energy. High levels of ketones can lead to diabetic ketoacidosis and coma. Sometimes referred to as ketone bodies. A ketone test can be done using a urine test strip or a blood test.
Benign dietary ketosis can be caused by eating too few carbohydrates. It is not the same thing as DKA but a person in benign dietary ketosis will also show ketones in a urine test.
Ketonuria: A condition occurring when ketones are present in the urine, a warning sign of diabetic ketoacidosis.
Ketosis: A ketone buildup in the body that may lead to diabetic ketoacidosis. Signs of ketosis are nausea, vomiting, and stomach pain.
Kidney Disease: A medical condition when the kidneys suffer damage. See nephropathy.
Kidney Failure: A chronic condition in which the body retains fluid and harmful wastes build up because the kidneys no longer work properly. A person with kidney failure needs dialysis or a kidney transplant. Also called end-stage renal disease or ESRD.
Kidneys: The two bean-shaped organs that filter wastes from the blood and form urine. The kidneys are located near the middle of the back. They send urine to the bladder.
Kussmaul Breathing: The rapid, deep, and labored breathing of people who are in diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).
