What are the potential consequences of untreated DKA?

What are the potential consequences of untreated DKA?

• A. Severe dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, and potentially life-threatening metabolic acidosis.
• B. Hypoglycemia with weight gain
• C. Increased appetite and hyperactivity
• D. Hypercalcemia and kidney stones

Answer: (A)

Untreated diabetic ketoacidosis disrupts fluid, electrolyte, and acid-base balance. Insulin deficiency plus elevated counter-regulatory hormones drives severe hyperglycemia and ketone production, leading to osmotic diuresis with profound dehydration and loss of electrolytes. Ketone bodies accumulate, causing metabolic acidosis, and the body tries to compensate with rapid, deep breathing. If this condition isn’t treated promptly, it can progress to shock from dehydration, life-threatening electrolyte disturbances that predispose to arrhythmias, and impaired mental status or coma; brain edema is a particularly dangerous complication in children. These effects explain why severe dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, and potentially life-threatening metabolic acidosis are the typical consequences of untreated DKA. The other options describe problems that do not fit the typical presentation of DKA, such as hypoglycemia with weight gain, increased appetite with hyperactivity, or hypercalcemia with kidney stones.

Untreated diabetic ketoacidosis disrupts fluid, electrolyte, and acid-base balance. Insulin deficiency plus elevated counter-regulatory hormones drives severe hyperglycemia and ketone production, leading to osmotic diuresis with profound dehydration and loss of electrolytes. Ketone bodies accumulate, causing metabolic acidosis, and the body tries to compensate with rapid, deep breathing. If this condition isn’t treated promptly, it can progress to shock from dehydration, life-threatening electrolyte disturbances that predispose to arrhythmias, and impaired mental status or coma; brain edema is a particularly dangerous complication in children. These effects explain why severe dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, and potentially life-threatening metabolic acidosis are the typical consequences of untreated DKA. The other options describe problems that do not fit the typical presentation of DKA, such as hypoglycemia with weight gain, increased appetite with hyperactivity, or hypercalcemia with kidney stones.