• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2026 Survey »

Does anyone have problems with ketones

Bobthecat

Newbie
Messages
4
Location
kent
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
I am getting ketones even when my BG is quite low mostly in the morning usually it is about .1 or .2 not very high but it makes me feel rubbish. This is since my insulin regime was changed to Novo rapid and Tresiba. Before that I was taking Humulin S and Humulin I. My overall blood tests result are quite good and are around 6.2. Has any one else experience this problem?
 
they say under 0.6 is very normal on an average diet. something else is may be making you feel rubbish ..I'd go back to the Dr
 
The feeling I get is being out of breath and there are always ketones present. My Dr has sent me for various tests heart lungs but they have all been okay Thanks for replying to my question |this is the first time I have done this!
 
How long is it since you switched insulins ? Do you check for ketones routinely ? If the readings are via a meter, it could be a meter error .

I'm also wondering if it's not the ketones that are making you feel rubbish ( they are quite low ), but that they are appearing because you are feeling rubbish because of another cause ?

I wouldn't be too worried personally, but it may set your mind at rest to phone your diabetic team and discuss this with them . Preferably before the Easter break .

Signy
 
0.1 or 0.2 is nothing to worry about so I don't its the low levels of ketones that are making you feel unwell, but as Signy says do check that your meter is working correctly if your still unsure.

The following has some good information on ketones and ketone testing, the article is from the main community pages of DCUK:

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes_care/testing-for-ketones.html
 
Re keytones - get to the hospital if you even suspect it so they test you. Left alone , even with sugars rising and dropping it can be fatal. Seek medical advice and get them to rule it out asap.

You can get basic urine test strips but seriously it's a case for hospital and is harmful. I recently came from a diabetes insulin management course and this was a hot topic.

Don't leave it.
 

With all due respect, ketones at this level are not dangerous,and the OP has said that their BG is within range. You are quite right to advise seeking medical help ASAP , IF.blood glucose is running high, and if large numbers ofketones are present, and the person is feeling unwell. But ketones as low as this, and blood glucose in the target range, doesn't really warrant a long wait in A&E . Far better and easier if you are worried at all, is to phone your DSN . It's DKA ( Diabetes Keto Acidosis ) we need to be aware of, and the Sick Day rules can be applied in the first instance .

http://www.leicestershirediabetes.org.uk/uploads//documents/Type1 Sick_day_rules_InsulinV3.pdf


http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/diabetic-ketoacidosis/Pages/Symptoms.aspx

Signy
 
Noted. However this doesn't seem to have been portrayed on the previous comments. The OP has suggested that various tests had been done to rule anything else out.
Having keytones even at a low level can be harmful and maybe contributing to the long term sickness - to me that's apparent. I am also aware that some specialists and nurses contradict each other on the advice of keytones. At the end of the day they are toxic = your not going to feel well. And a wait in a & e is ridiculous but quite justified if there are no other options. I appreciate my previous post is blunt but it's quite true (can do without the fluffy coated obliviousness that seems to go hand in hand with diabetes treatment). Hope it is all ok of course and nothing to worry about. All due respect.
 
It has been a few months now I am hoping to be able to go on the pump as I get a lot of hypos and I think I might go back to my old regine in the meantime. I only test for ketones if I feel unwell. The meter is a new one and it the first time I have been able to test for ketones in the blood.I have been T1 for over forty years and I have never felt like this before. I now feel after talking to all of you that it could be the new insulins I am taking and in particular the Background insulin Tesiba
 

Ah well, as you are an old hand at this, you will know that a " one size suits all" insulin just doesn't exist, unfortunately . You know yourself well enough to spot what doesn't feel right for you. It's worth having a chat with your team to ask about either pushing for the pump soonest, or else going back to the old insulins if they suited you , as you say . The very best of luck getting that pump !

Signy
 
Thanks for getting in touch I am hoping it will not be too long before I get the pump but first I have to attend a course and I don't yet know how the long the list is.
 
I have been reading a lot about keytones lately as my daughter has been unwell, 0.1-0.2 is ok in the morning and your glucose are low as you have been fasting through the night. Even a none diabetic can have (starvation keytones) in the morning. Eat inject and drink and by the next meal they most likely gone. Diabetes keytones are the ones when you are deficient in insulin and high. Xx
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn More.…