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Diabetic ketoacidosis

Quickly bringing down blood glucose will create a difference between the concentration of substances in the brain and of those in plasma, this will cause a pressure difference that will allow water to enter the brain causing an osmotic cerebral oedema.

Wikipedia has these entries on cerebral oedema, osmolarity, and plasma osmolality.

Regards, Tubs.
 
Can I ask what the practical effect of all this is? Me not being very scientific an' all. Is this something (else?!) for me to worry about?? What is 'too quickly' and from what level to what level??
Thanks,
Sue
 
Sorry mum didn't mean to cause any concern, oedema can be a complication with DKA and is very rare.

Regards, Tubs.
 
Your medical folks are determined to scare the control out of your hands into theirs. I bet they've never even seen a case of DKA unless they caused it, let alone cerebral oedema
 
I think DKA is actually quite a common reason for referral of diabetics to A&E, more likely with T1s as we don't naturally produce any insulin at all? Keep on top of things and Scott shouldn't have a problem :wink:.
 
Thank you for the replies it has helped. We went into hospital as Scott was vomiting all day, empty stomach, then ketones 4+. They put him on drips, then in passing one of the nurses said "cant bring the sugars down too quick or he,l get edema on the brain! She then left! I was still reeling at this stage and just watched her walk away. Of course after that it just went round in my mind but everyone seemed too busy to ask. I like to know every thing I can about this condition, it helps me to cope but I do find that when I ask questions at clinic, I get brushed aside. I am so grateful I have found this site, it is a saviour for me! Thank you all so much.
 
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