This question usually arises for beginners of the keto diet: what’s Ketosis vs Ketoacidosis, and what’s the difference between them? If you have ever been on a keto diet or are planning to start a keto diet, this article is going to be very helpful for you.
What is Ketosis?
Ketosis is a state where the body produces molecules called ketones which are created by the liver. Designed to give energy to the cells and organs, it can replace glucose as an alternate fuel source. In our traditional carbohydrate-rich diet, we get most of our energy from glucose, which is converted from the carbs that we eat during meals.
Glucose is a quick source of energy, where insulin is required as a sort of messenger that tells the cells to open up and allow glucose to flow in such that it can be used as fuel for the mitochondria, otherwise known as the energy factories in our cells.
Symptoms of Ketosis
The following are some of the most common symptoms of ketosis:
- Bad Breath (Keto breath)
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Headache
- Intense sugar or carb cravings
- Digestive issues
- Insomnia
What is Ketoacidosis?
Ketoacidosis is mainly a situation when the body has little or no insulin to ferry the glucose present in the bloodstream back into cells for storage or use. However, the body doesn’t get the signal to slow or prevent ketone production because there is insufficient insulin to do this. Ketones then build up in the blood, together with glucose, and the elevated levels cause ketoacidosis.
Symptoms of Ketoacidosis
The following are some of the most common symptoms of Ketoacidosis:
- Vomiting
- Thirst and dehydration
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea
- Dry mouth
- Confusion
- Tiredness
- Rapid and shallow breathing
Ketosis vs Ketoacidosis
A few of the symptoms of ketoacidosis would seem familiar with ketosis.
- Many trips to the toilet for urination
- Feeling thirsty all the time
- Experiencing constant vomiting
- Stomach pains as well as continual nausea
- Feeling tired and mentally confused
- A feeling of insufficient air or shortness of breath
Frequent urination and being tired and in a state of psychological fatigue are also common occurrences when somebody is going through the initial stages of ketosis. This is where your system is getting used to the low-carb lifestyle and making its metabolic alterations. These indicators may be annoying but are harmless, and more importantly, they’ll pass after the first couple of weeks of ketosis.
To be definitive in identifying ketoacidosis, the trick here would be to not zoom in on one particular symptom and become overly stressed. Ketoacidosis symptoms normally present themselves together, and if you were to be made to select one particular symptom to pay attention to, then that is the constant vomiting. When that is present together with stomach pains and shortness of breath, immediate medical treatment is required, as ketoacidosis can be a life-threatening issue.
The key here is the inadequate supply or deficiency of insulin. This is a situation where most type 1 diabetic patients could locate themselves as well as to a lesser extent, a few people with type two diabetes. When the pancreas cannot produce the insulin level required to signal that the block of ketone production, that’s if ketone levels can go into overdrive and induce overly acidic conditions in the blood.
This does not mean type 1 diabetics or people who rely on outside insulin sources can’t adhere to the ketogenic diet. They can, on the condition that they monitor and preserve adequate insulin levels within the body. In scenarios where the pancreas remains in relatively good form and can furnish adequate amounts of insulin, the keto diet will have the ability to efficiently fix the insulin sensitivity of the human body’s cells and improve or perhaps reverse type 2 diabetes problems.
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