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DKA Diagnoses

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J

JoeJOns

Active Member
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Type 1
Hi,

When someone is first diagnosed with Diabetes 1, is it usually from going through DKA? This was my experience recently. I'm in my 20's and it came as a massive shock.

Thank you.
 
It’s certainly not uncommon.

I wasn’t in DKA at diagnosis, but I had BGs in the high 30s and had ++++ ketones.

I went to get my results and was admitted the same day!
 
I had DKA when I was diagnosed, and spent a few days in hospital while they got my blood sugar down a bit and did loads of tests. I was in my 40s and it was a bit of a surprise as there's no diabetes in my family.

Sorry to hear it was such a shock for you. There's an awful lot to take in at first, but things do get easier once you learn to manage it.
 
Forgot to say that I was diagnosed at 21 too. And 28 years later I’m still free of any nasty long-term complications. Just a small amount of impaired hypo awareness to show for it 🙂
 
From the day of diagnosis to this, I’ve never spent a day in hospital due to diabetes, only for more important stuff.
 
Hi @JoeJOns , I had some ketones but wasn't ill enough to be admitted. I seemed to have a slower onset, it came on over 6 months of losing weight and feeling thirsty, having a horrible taste in my mouth. Sounds like you have had a rough time of it. I was 26 when diagnosed, so similar to you - I'll try to reply to some of your other posts too. Glad you have found us early on!
 
Hello @JoeJOns Unfortunately it is not uncommon for people to end up in hospital with DKA and then come out as a T1. However it is not just people in their 20's that this can happen, I have read about those in their teens and much later on in life.

In nearly all cases it is a "massive shock".
 
I can't remember what happened when I was diagnosed whether I went into DKA because I was only 2 years old at the time. But I know that my poor Mum thought that I was going to die.
 
mikeyB said:
From the day of diagnosis to this, I’ve never spent a day in hospital due to diabetes, only for more important stuff.
Click to expand...

Me neither. I've been in a few ambulances (for hypos) and once or twice got to the hospital, but I've not stayed in one (for diabetes) for more than a few hours. (For a while I had tachycardia (with beta blockers that's no longer so obvious), and every time I ended up being seen by anyone for a hypo they insisted on doing an ECG.)
 
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This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
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