[ Ketoacidosis ]
A pathological state marked by extreme state of metabolic ketosis. It decreases the pH of the blood which interferes with respiration by preventing haemoglobin from binding with oxygen, which can result in coma or death due to oxygen starvation.
Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) occurs in type 1 diabetics when the liver overproduces ketone bodies in response to a shortage of insulin.
Alcoholic ketoacidosis results when alcohol causes dehydration, interfering with gluconeogenesis and unchecked ketosis.
Ketoacidosis is considered a medical emergency and may be detected by the smell of acetone on a person’s breath. Alcoholic ketoacidosis may be harder to detect due to the presence of alcohol on the breath.
See: Ketosis