Have you ever heard of diabetic ketoacidosis? It is a complication of diabetes that occurs when the body has increased production of blood acids called ketones. In patients of diabetes, insulin in their body does not function properly to convert sugar into energy for muscles and other tissues. As a result, the body will use fat to be converted into energy sources. This process can lead to a buildup of ketones in the bloodstream.

In general, diabetic ketoacidosis is often found in people with type 1 diabetes. Specifically, people with diabetic ketoacidosis have very high blood sugar and ketone levels in the urine. Not only adults, this condition can also be experienced by children. It can even affect their cognitive function.

According to the results of a study conducted by the University of California - Davis Health, researchers found that diabetic ketoacidosis in children is associated with decreased cognitive function. In their study, researchers compared the IQ and memory test results on 376 children with type 1 diabetes with 758 children with type 1 diabetes and diabetic ketoacidosis. The participants were registered in the Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network (PECARN) with an age range of 6-18 years.

As a result, researchers found that children with diabetic ketoacidosis had lower long-term memory than children with only type 1 diabetes. In addition, researchers also found that this decline in cognitive function can continue to worsen over time. Thus, the researchers stated that diabetic ketoacidosis must be prevented. Living a good diet and lifestyle can help you maintain normal blood sugar levels.

Text by Anggie Triana
Stock photos from Google Search Images

Source(s):

• Ghetti, S., Kuppermann, N., Brewers, A., et al (2020). Cognitive Function Following Diabetic Ketoacidosis in Children With New-Onset or Previously Diagnosed Type 1 Diabetes. Diabetes Care, DOI: 10.2337 / dc20-0187.
• Science Daily - Complications from diabetes linked to worse memory, IQ in children (2020). https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200922172622.htm, 23 September 2020.