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High blood sugar and ketosis

hisjen84

Well-Known Member
Messages
73
Type of diabetes
Other
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
This might be an odd question but you don't know if you don't ask!
I understand having high blood sugar levels is never good, but in terms of developing ketosis does this occur when you blood sugar is constantly high or can it be caused by one day with a really high reading.
I used my monitor and it read 18.5 with the ketone warning message, which I know is just letting me know my blood sugar is far to high.
Any help would be appreciated
 

Have you tested for ketones?

Do you know why your BS is high - eg illness?
 
Do you have ketone test strips - can you test for ketones?

You don't have to have been running high for days and days to get ketones, if you have insufficient insulin and high blood sugar you can get them pretty quickly so do test if you can. I think that if you have ketones, then you have ketostis.

Are you asking about the risk of developing diabetic ketoacidosis? Here is some information on the signs and symptoms of DKA - https://www.diabetes.org.uk/Guide-t...etoacidosis/?gclid=COnG08ud6c0CFVIYGwod1GEGkg

If you are concerned about your high blood sugar or ketones, call 111
 
Yes I know the reason and it is my own fault! I had a night out with friends and had a wobble seeing all my friends drinking things I used to enjoy and try to avoid.
I don't have a ketone machine unfortunately but thankyou for the link


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I'm T1. If I have enough insulin and just ate too much sugar, I'll be high but there shouldn't be ketones right?


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Try to drink plenty of water and keep an eye on things until you come back down a bit.

It's not your fault, I'm sure you didn't put in a special request for diabetes. I can recommend vodka, soda water & few slices of lime as a no carb alternative that doesn't feel like you are drinking a "special" (rubbish) diabetic drink & and doesn't feel like you have to give tonnes of instructions to whoever is getting the round in
 
Thanks I'm not type 1 or 2, I have a rare genetic type where I produce insulin but not enough so I have gliclazide for now and as long as they continue to work. I wasn't sure if you were only at risk of it if you were type 1


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Anyone can make ketones, diabetic or not, it's what happens when your body is using something other than glucose for energy. Nutritional ketosis is, according to my very superficial understanding, basically a weight loss thing - your body burns fat for energy so that makes ketones.

Where ketones are dangerous is when your body is burning alternative energy sources (fat, muscle, other tissue) to such an extent that burning through them is releasing acid into your blood. Yeah, it doesn't sound pretty. And that is diabetic ketoacidosis and happens most commonly in type 1s, less common in type 2. But anyone with not enough insulin could be at risk, although it is traditionally thought to be less common in type 2 because they usually do have at least some of their own insulin production so that acts as a bit of protection & that hopefully would be the case for your diabetes too.

But it sounds like you know the cause of your high blood sugar and I'm sure you will get it down without ketones if you keep hydrated and don't get up to anything too strenuous while its up there. There's always 111 if any of the signs of DKA sound a bit too familiar.
 
Hi there
hopefully you have a DSN ( Diabetic specialist nurse )
if you give her a ring She should be able to get you a BG meter that does ketones as well -- then just get your GP to change your test strip prescription and add some ketone strips as well.
 
Hi yes I have a specialist nurse I'll do that Thankyou


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Hello. I understand low insulin can yield ketones. What if the insulin is not low, but the available carbs are low, does that alone bring more ketones and help transition to more body fat burning, which is good for some overweight people, one might guess? If a person is not overweight, they then would they have to be eating more fat for fuel, if carbs were very limited in the diet, does that sound right? If it's true, is this a desirable approach to better health or not at all necessary or generally appropriate, only a different way to approach the body goals and balances toward an improved health status?
 
@cityjimmy If you are asking how to eat low carb without losing weight then the answer is to up the fat and protein calories. Keep track of the amount you are eating and when your weight is static, not going up or down, then that is the right amount for you. Dietary ketosis and diabetic ketoacidosis are not even remotely the same thing.
 

Yes. That's what nutritional ketosis is. Yes, if you are in nutritional ketosis and didn't want to lose weight, you'd be eating more fat. I don't have any opinion on whether ketosis is a good thing generally or otherwise, I've never tried it. I suppose it's down to the individual and what they are trying to achieve.
 
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