Can DKA cause brain bleed?

Can DKA cause brain bleed?

DKA can cause cerebral edema, hemorrhage, or ischemia leading to neurologic manifestations, including seizures, motor/sensory deficits, and coma.

Why does dropping blood sugar too fast cause cerebral edema?

Cerebral edema occurs when fluid moves from the extracellular to intracellular space faster than brain cells can adapt to increased intracellular volume. This can happen when hypernatremia or hyperglycemia is corrected too rapidly, leading to a sudden and pronounced drop in serum osmolality.

What happens to brain in DKA?

DKA can significantly affect the function of brain blood vessels. These vessels normally protect the brain by forming what is known as the blood-brain barrier and damage to that barrier can lead to a devastating complication of DKA, brain swelling (edema).

What does ketoacidosis do to blood?

Diabetic ketoacidosis is a serious complication of diabetes that occurs when your body produces high levels of blood acids called ketones. The condition develops when your body can’t produce enough insulin.

What causes encephalopathy in DKA?

Factors such as nutritional deficiency, alcohol excess, cannabis use, depression and multiple sclerosis may have contributed to this patient’s susceptibility to encephalopathy however metabolic encephalopathy secondary to diabetic ketoacidosis was the most likely diagnosis.

How does cerebral edema occur?

Cerebral edema is when fluid builds up around the brain, causing an increase in pressure known as intracranial pressure. Swelling or inflammation is part of the body’s natural response to injury. Edema refers to swelling due to trapped fluid, and it can happen anywhere in the body.

How does DKA treatment cause cerebral edema?

During DKA treatment with insulin and intravenous fluids, reperfusion of previously hypoperfused cerebral tissues occurs, resulting in reperfusion injury. Hyperglycemia has been shown to worsen many aspects of cerebral reperfusion injury and may similarly play a role in DKA-related cerebral injury.

How does hyperglycemia affect the brain?

High blood glucose levels can affect the brain’s functional connectivity, which links brain regions that share functional properties, and brain matter. It can cause the brain to atrophy or shrink.

Why is potassium important in DKA?

Replacement of potassium in intravenous fluids is the standard of care in treatment of DKA to prevent the potential consequences of hypokalemia including cardiac arrhythmias and respiratory failure.

Why is blood pH level decreased in diabetes?

Insulin helps move sugar from the foods you eat into your cells where it can be burned as fuel for your body. If insulin can’t be used, your body begins breaking down stored fats to power itself. This gives off an acid waste called ketones. The acid builds up, triggering low blood pH.

Why does confusion occur in DKA?

Diabetic ketoacidosis affects the brain, making it work through what feels like mental “sludge,” according to Dr. Christofides. Confusion and irritability are major signs to watch out for. As a result of your brain swelling, DKA can make you feel as if you’re drunk and act just as irrationally.

What does brain edema mean?

What is cerebral edema? Cerebral edema is also known as brain swelling. It’s a life-threatening condition that causes fluid to develop in the brain. This fluid increases the pressure inside of the skull — more commonly referred to as intracranial pressure (ICP).

How does hyperglycemia damage blood vessels?

Excess blood sugar decreases the elasticity of blood vessels and causes them to narrow, impeding blood flow. This can lead to a reduced supply of blood and oxygen, increasing the risk of high blood pressure and damage to large and small blood vessels.

Can diabetes cause a brain bleed?

Conclusion. In our study, no significant relationship was found between diabetes mellitus and intracerebral hemorrhage (except in patients younger than 60 years) and diabetes mellitus did not cause bleeding in certain brain areas.

Why is potassium replaced in DKA?

Why is fluid replacement important in DKA?

Fluids form a crucial component of DKA therapy, goals being the restoration of intravascular, interstitial and intracellular compartments. Hydration reduces hyperglycemia by decreased counter-regulatory hormones, enhanced renal glucose clearance and augmented insulin sensitivity.

Why is pH low in DKA?

During DKA, pH is low primarily because the bicarbonate buffer is exhausted, i.e. bicarbonate concentration is reduced.