When this happens, your cells will have to burn fat to produce energy. Having too many ketones in the bloodstream is known as a dangerous condition called ketoacidosis. As you might already know, those with type one diabetes are unable to produce enough insulin. Without insulin injections, they’re likely to end up in a state of ketoacidosis. You can prevent alcoholic ketoacidosis from occurring by limiting or stopping your alcohol use. If you have an alcohol use disorder, seeking an inpatient or partial hospitalization program for addiction can help you stop drinking.

• This allows the body to meet energy requirements in the absence of carbohydrates and protein; however, it results in a larger than usual amount of acids in your body.
• Markedly elevated beta hydroxybutyric acid could lead to death.
• One episode of heavy alcohol intake combined with inadequate carbohydrate intake is sufficient to generate this disease state.
• They may be the reason that patients abruptly stop drinking, triggering ketoacidosis.
• However, any long-term risks – such as its reoccurrence – depends on the person’s drinking habits.
• You may get vitamin supplements to treat malnutrition caused by excess alcohol use.

Alcoholic ketoacidosis is characterized by a metabolic acidosis with an elevated anion gap. It generally is seen in the chronic alcoholic patient who has recently gone on a “binge” that was … Ethanol metabolism results in NAD depletion manifesting as a higher ratio of the reduced form of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide to NAD.

Associated disease states

Read about the differences between alcohol abuse and alcoholism. Despite the similarity in name, ketosis and ketoacidosis are two different things. If you develop any of these symptoms, seek emergency medical attention.

It is essential to administer thiamine before any glucose administration to avoid Wernicke’s encephalopathy preci[itation. If severe hypokalemia is present dextrose containing fluids can be held until potassium levels are normalized. Other electrolyte abnormalities concomitantly present with alcohol abuse and poor oral intake include hypomagnesemia and hypophosphatemia. Magnesium and phosphate levels should be measured and repleted if the serum levels are found low.

Health Solutions

Subsequent mismanagement can lead to increasing morbidity and mortality for patients. AKA typically presents with a severe metabolic acidosis with a raised anion gap and electrolyte abnormalities, which are treatable alcoholic ketoacidosis if recognized early and appropriate management instituted. Alcoholic ketoacidosis is caused by complex physiology that is the result of prolonged and heavy alcohol intake, usually in the setting of poor nutrition.

Electrolyte imbalances, specifically hypokalaemia, should be corrected. Thiamine supplementation is often included to prevent Wernicke encephalopathy.

Alcoholic Ketoacidosis Symptoms

The prognosis for alcoholic ketoacidosis is good as long as it’s treated early. However, the long-term prognosis depends on the severity of the underlying alcohol abuse disorder.