Ketoacidosis

Every fall in the last decade I have joined with those in KC raising money for JDRF, a foundation that supports research in type one diabetes. I’m letting you know now to expect my invitation again in fall 2021. Here’s why.

Diabetic ketoacidosis occurs when the body does not have enough insulin for the body to use glucose for energy. With an absence of enough insulin, the body begins to use fat for fuel. That process produces a buildup of acids in the blood called ketones, eventually resulting in ketoacidosis if untreated. Prior to the development of injected insulin about a century ago, diabetic persons most often died of ketoacidosis as their bodies poisoned itself.

Regulating the body chemistry is a complex process that most of us never think about. For a person with type one diabetes, however, it is a persistent struggle. Lots of things will change the body chemistry, and, for a diabetic, change the amount of insulin needed to be injected. A growth spurt for a thirteen-year-old, for example, could put the whole system out of whack. Fighting a cold virus can do it. Increased anxiety or stress, too. There are a lot of adjustments my body makes everyday that keep this complex system balanced.

But not for Oliver. My grandson was diagnosed with type one diabetes five weeks before his third birthday. He is now thirteen. He woke up early this morning and vomited as his body reacted to the build up of poison in his body. His ketones were way out of whack. We’ve no clue as to what did it this time, but that doesn’t change the course of action. This is a serious, potentially life-threatening condition that needs immediate attention. Oliver did not go to school this morning as they try to stabilize him.

This fall, when you see my post about supporting JDRF, please make a contribution. Research is producing better treatment and key elements of a cure are already known. To me, it’s not an abstract issue. Oliver and his sister Stella both have to monitor their glucose levels multiple times a day. Their lives depend on it.