ALCOHOL KETOACIDOSIS Flashcards
1
Q
What is it?
A
a non-diabetic euglycaemic form of ketoacidosis
2
Q
why does it happen?
A
Often alcoholics will not eat regularly and may vomit food that they do eat, leading to episodes of starvation. Once the person becomes malnourished, after an alcohol binge the body can start to break down body fat, producing ketones. Hence the patient develops a ketoacidosis.
3
Q
presentations
A
Metabolic acidosis
Elevated anion gap
Elevated serum ketone levels
Normal or low glucose concentration
4
Q
Mx
A
IV saline
IV thiamine
5
Q
why thiamine?
A
avoid Wernicke encephalopathy or Korsakoff
