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2.4 ketones?

Ameliageorgiaa

Ameliageorgiaa

Newbie
Messages
1
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
hello all,
Around 2 hours ago my ketones were 2.4 and have only just got lower to 1,

I rang my diabetic centre who said a nurse would get back to me as I was worried but still haven’t received a call.
I have work soon, I’m not sure what to do.
Am I okay now my ketones are around the 1 mark?
I’ve never had ketones this high. I have a headache and feel
Sick.
Thankyou.
Amelia
 
@Ameliageorgiaa Hi firstly I must say not being a T1 I can't be of great help but as I can't find any T1.s on line I will do my best.

Have you checked your blood sugar as highish ketones combined with high BS would be a little worrying though as your ketones seem to be dropping it may be advisable to drink water about 8 ounces every thirty to sixty minutes while you wait for your dibetic centre to get back to you. and keep testing. Do you have an insulin dosing plan in place regarding ketones? I know some T1's do.

I would think if you are still feeling sick and you have not heard from the nurse in a reasonable time that you contact them again if your Ketones stay high or get higher and you still feel unwell a trip to A&E may be in order as DKA is a possibility and that needs to be dealt with as soon as possible.

OH and welcome to the forum and hope you feel better soon.

Please keep us informed as to how things are going.

I just hope a T1 will be along shortly and they could advise you better.

@Diakat just tagged someone hi Diakat one for you I think
 
Hello @Ameliageorgiaa if your ketones are at 2.4 I would go straight to A&E that sounds rather too high for comfort.

Even at 1 I strongly suggest you seek professional help.

I guess it's because your blood sugar has been very high, which may also explain the headaches.
 
@Ameliageorgiaa - how are you now? Did they get back to you? If not do as @Knikki says or call 111 if you can’t go out.
What are blood at ketones at now?
 
Confused T2 here.
I thought ketones below 5 were fine (if you are trying for nutritional ketosis).
Anyway https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/diabetic-ketoacidosis/ says "
  • 1.6 to 2.9mmol/L means you're at an increased risk of DKA and should contact your diabetes team or GP as soon as possible"
The main thing to check is your BG level. Anything over 11 is a sign you should take action immediately.

Edit: just went back to check my results in the 48 hour fast thread. "BG 4.9 Ketones 6.8(!)". So in certain special conditions and if you have low BG you can run significantly higher ketones. Much more tricky for a T1, though.
 
Last edited:
@LittleGreyCat op is T1 says they feel unwell and have made no indication of being in nutritional ketosis. It is best to seek medical advice as things can deteriorate quickly.
 
Diakat said:
@LittleGreyCat op is T1 says they feel unwell and have made no indication of being in nutritional ketosis. It is best to seek medical advice as things can deteriorate quickly.
Click to expand...

Yes, I fully agree and hopefully made that clear, including with the NHS link.
 
LittleGreyCat said:
Confused T2 here.
I thought ketones below 5 were fine (if you are trying for nutritional ketosis).
Anyway https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/diabetic-ketoacidosis/ says "
  • 1.6 to 2.9mmol/L means you're at an increased risk of DKA and should contact your diabetes team or GP as soon as possible"
The main thing to check is your BG level. Anything over 11 is a sign you should take action immediately.

Edit: just went back to check my results in the 48 hour fast thread. "BG 4.9 Ketones 6.8(!)". So in certain special conditions and if you have low BG you can run significantly higher ketones. Much more tricky for a T1, though.
Click to expand...
The main concern for T1s, and presumably T2s who don't produce enough of their own insulin, is that it's the combination of both high(er) ketone and glucose levels plus the lack of available insulin that's liable to cause problems.

Robbity
 
Robbity said:
The main concern for T1s, and presumably T2s who don't produce enough of their own insulin, is that it's the combination of both high(er) ketone and glucose levels plus the lack of available insulin that's liable to cause problems.

Robbity
Click to expand...

The main thing I found initially confusing was the low level of ketones - well within the range of mild nutritional ketosis - which were considered a danger sign for T1s and T2s on insulin.

https://files.ketodietapp.com/Blog/files/2014/03/ketosistix_graph.jpg

The often used graphic above shows that the range for ketoacidosis is 10+ and the original reference (Volek and Phinney) talks about the confusion between nutritional ketosis and diabetic ketoacidosis.

I assume the main T1 risk is that a relatively small rise in ketone levels is an advanced warning that things are going to potentially go very bad very soon.
 
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