What Causes Rhabdomyolysis?

Diabetic Ketoacidosis

Diabetic ketoacidosis is a life-threatening condition that can occur in diabetes patients. It occurs when the body begins breaking down fat deposits at extremely accelerated rates. The liver turns the fat into ketones, a chemical that turns the blood acidic. Diabetic ketoacidosis occurs when an individual's insulin is so low that sugar can't be used as food for cells. This leads to the liver producing massive amounts of blood sugar. Since the body isn't taking in energy from food, it breaks down fat storages for energy at too-rapid rates. By itself, diabetic ketoacidosis can be life-threatening. But coupled with rhabdomyolysis, it can truly devastate an individual's body. Rhabdomyolysis occurs in diabetic ketoacidosis patients when the body breaks down muscle fibers in addition to fat storages. Alternatively, muscle fibers may die because they aren't getting an energy supply. They release chemicals into the bloodstream, which, in diabetic ketoacidosis patients, has already become acidic. Other serious metabolic disorders can cause rhabdomyolysis when they cause muscle cells to break down or die.

Get more details on what causes rhabdomyolysis now.