Strange ketones

[TineBovingFoster]

Have anyone experienced "strange" ketones? My daugther (12, and very competent in managing her diabetes) felt sick and despite only being 7.5 mmol/L thought she might have ketones. She was 1.4 and, as she is on a pump, immediately did a small dose of insulin from her pen. That actually sorted her out, but we don't understand any of it.
Why were the ketones there in the first place? She was not high, she had not exercised before, she had eaten normally during the day, and she had not been sick (until the ketones made her feel sick)?
Why did the insulin help? if that was what helped. According to our various diabetes books, it looked like "starvation" ketones, so she should have been eating instead of taking insulin, or at least eating with the insulin?
She seems ok now, though she was really tired and had a headache before going to sleep, but good BG and no ketones. Obviously happy she is back on track, but I really don't like it (and neither does she) when we can't understand at least partly what is going on.
Anyone had similar experiences?

 

[Celsus]

Have anyone experienced "strange" ketones?
....
Anyone had similar experiences?

Yes. We have and don't be too worried about it either! ;o)

From your description with your daughter, it certainly doesn't appear to be ketones in the urine because of poor blood sugar control. And that is important to conclude first, as ketones in the urine are not necessarily bad on their own. They are merely the observed symptom of the real problem, namely too high a blood sugar. But anyway, let that rest, as it wasn't the case...

The presence of ketones combined with a normal blood sugar is not necessarily a cause for concern. Ketones in the urine are a sign that your body is using fat as energy source instead of using sugar. This may be because not enough insulin is available to take the glucose from the blood stream to the cells to use for energy. So while you can have a normal blood sugar, if you at the same time have a very low level of free flowing insulin, then the fat is burned off instead and you will see ketones in your urine. And taking just a bit of insulin might therefore also stop the ketones, as the glucose metabolism will be reestablished.

Some of our low carber diabetics on this forum and also 'normal people' that don't have diabetes can have ketones in their urine. This can occur if you do extreme exercise (especially the endurance kind), is fasting (not eating), or is following a low-carbohydrate diet. This is called ketosis and it is a normal response to 'starvation'.

Nothing wrong with some fat burning, as long as however you ensure your body still have a relevant insulin supply, as ketosis can become dangerous if it occurs due to an extended period of lack of insulin. Reason being the ketones lower the pH of the blood, which in itself can lead to a life-threatening situation. So e.g. also our low-carb Type1 friends on this forum still take basal insulin to keep the machine in a good healthy state.

PS: Btw, also good for the body to drink some extra water in such case, to help it flush out the ketones. (to counter the low pH levels)

 

[Fairygodmother]

You say your daughter also felt sick: she might also present with a low level of ketones if she’s staving off a ‘bug’. Hope she’s well and cheerful today.