Reason for the symptoms of diabetes

[bekib86]

Hi, im a nursing student and wondered if anyone knew the reasoning behind why a person with diabetes experiences the symptoms of, increased thirst, weight loss, nausea and vomitting and pear drop odour to breath. Thanks
Beki

[cazzzz1975]

Wouldnt that be in your coursework surely??

[bekib86]

no im doing it as an assignment, so i have to find it out but im struggling, everywhere just states what the symptoms are, not why they occur.
Beki

[yogasun]

As cazzzz said surely you would have more info than any of us on this.??
I know that the pear drop odour is due to a high sugar level, as is the thirst. This is because the pancreas is not producing enough insulin to deal with the sugar and I suppose the weight loss is because the sugar isn't being properly metabolised. I'm not a diabetic so that's just my lay-woman knowledge.

[cazzzz1975]

I have found a website that explains some useful fact

http://www.mydr.com.au/default.asp?article=264 7

[bednobs]

the body cannot concentrate the urine therefore loads of we is passed. This leads to a thirst and drinking more. the pear drop breath is a build up of keytones

[Aprilis]

This is an excerpt from a page on the Diabetes UK website...

...consistent high blood glucose levels can lead to a condition called diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). This happens because of a lack of glucose entering the cells where it can be used as energy. The body begins to use stores of fat as an alternative source of energy, and this in turn produces an acidic by-product known as ketones.
Ketones are very harmful and the body will immediately try to get rid of them by excreting them in urine. Consequently, when ketones are present and blood glucose levels are rising, people often become increasingly thirsty as the body tries to flush them out. If the level of ketones in the body continues to rise, ketoacidosis develops (ketoacidosis means acidity of the blood, due to an excess of ketones in the body).......As the level of ketones rise, it may be possible to smell them on the breath - often described as smelling like pear drops or nail varnish.

The body using stores of fat for energy will contribute to weight loss in diabetics.

[Jugglering]

As Bednobs has indicated, the increased thirst is due to an imbalance in blood chemistry - too high a sugar level because the pancreas isn't working very well (or not at all) at releasing insulin and is thus not converting sugars (from our food) to energy, which leads to extreme tiredness. The *pear drop* odour on the breath is due to the high acid levels produced (ie ketones) as a result of the high sugar levels.

I've not heard of the nausea and vomiting symptoms before and the dramatic weight loss generally only occurs in Type 1 Diabetes (not Type 2 or MODY).

[Jugglering]

ps Aprilis has described ketones much better than I did !

[Aprilis]

The excessive thirst experienced by diabetics is caused by the body trying to flush out excessive build up of glucose/glycogen (and excess ketones if present) by increased urination. This will, in turn, lead to thirst due to decreased fluid in the body and also the need for more fluid intake to continue flushing out the excess glucose etc.

I am a type 2 diabetic and I often feel like more fluid leaves my body than actually goes in!

[Aprilis]

Oh yeah, forgot to say that the nausea and vomiting is caused by ketoacidosis.

[Goodsoulette]

Thw weight loss occurs because the body cant use the glucose for energy so starts using fat as an alternative energy source.

[sense4all]

type ketosis into google and follow the link to the Merck ( usa) medical book has mortality rates etc too.

[DONNA1458]

When my sugars go very high i get a very strong smell of burning not sure what this is maybe you will find out.

[bekib86]

Thanks for all your help!!! Ive finally managed to sort that bit of my revision out, moving onto education now. Thanks for all your help.
ps never heard of the burning smell but ill let you know if i come across it.
Beki