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I think I am in ketosis (on keto diet)

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Flowerlights1

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Hi
As a prediabetic I've cut down all carbs and really stuck to a keto diet.

My blood glucose have been low for the past few days and well managed
However I did a urine dipstick test which is positive for ketone but negative for glucose.

Is this something to be concerned about?
On one hand it shows I am in ketosis due to the keto diet. On the other hand I am worried it is DKA?
But my blood sugars are low (around 4) so I am very confused
 
Flowerlights1 said:
Hi
As a prediabetic I've cut down all carbs and really stuck to a keto diet.

My blood glucose have been low for the past few days and well managed
However I did a urine dipstick test which is positive for ketone but negative for glucose.

Is this something to be concerned about?
On one hand it shows I am in ketosis due to the keto diet. On the other hand I am worried it is DKA?
But my blood sugars are low (around 4) so I am very confused
Click to expand...
Ketones are produced regarding this kind of diet as a by product.? “Nutritional ketosis.”

The only real concern would be if your BG levels were high.. Do you have access to a BG meter?
Here is what the NHS has to say, if your BGs were out of healthy range. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/diabetic-ketoacidosis/
 
DKA generally occurs when you have a combination of high glucose levels, high ketone levels, and very little insulin. so is something more likely to happen if you are T1, and not very likely in a low carb or ketogenic diet, where what you should see are low (er) glucose levels, normal insulin levels and moderate ketone levels instead, as you're replacing energy in the form of glucose from previous higher levels of carbs with more energy from higher fat levels in the form of fatty acids and ketones. Ketones in urine are signs that you are producing but not necessarily actually using them yet.

Have a read of this information on our main web site about the differences between dietary ketosis and DKA: https://www.diabetes.co.uk/in-depth/nutritional-ketosis-vs-dka/
 
Jaylee said:
Ketones are produced regarding this kind of diet as a by product.? “Nutritional ketosis.”

The only real concern would be if your BG levels were high.. Do you have access to a BG meter?
Here is what the NHS has to say, if your BGs were out were out of a healhy range
Click to expand...

My blood glucose levels are 4.1 upon waking so no high levels of glucose currently
 
Robbity2 said:
DKA generally occurs when you have a combination of high glucose levels, high ketone levels, and very little insulin. so is something more likely to happen if you are T1, and not very likely in a low carb or ketogenic diet, where what you should see are low (er) glucose levels, normal insulin levels and moderate ketone levels instead, as you're replacing energy in the form of glucose from previous higher levels of carbs with more energy from higher fat levels in the form of fatty acids and ketones. Ketones in urine are signs that you are producing but not necessarily actually using them yet.

Have a read of this information on our main web site about the differences between dietary ketosis and DKA.
Click to expand...

Ah thank you! I was panicking a little as my urine sample was +++ on ketones so wasn't sure if this was dangerous for me. My blood glucose levels are low at the moment and have been low for the past 24 hours too.
 
Here's a graph which is a useful guide to ketone levels:

Ketosis_graph.jpg

​
 
Flowerlights1 said:
My blood glucose levels are 4.1 upon waking so no high levels of glucose currently
Click to expand...

If I was consistently maintaining levels within healthy parameters. (Baring in mind my condition is T1.) & was showing ketones using your WOE? (Or even fasting for whatever reason?)
I personally wouldn’t be concerned. But keep a close eye & log BGs during the day, other than just on waking if you can? :)

When is your next check up & HbA1c due..?
 
Jaylee said:
If I was consistently maintaining levels within healthy parameters. (Baring in mind my condition is T1.) & was showing ketones using your WOE? (Or even fasting for whatever reason?)
I personally wouldn’t be concerned. But keep a close eye & log BGs during the day, other than just on waking if you can? :)

When is your next check up & HbA1c due..?
Click to expand...

Thank you!
It's after 2 months so still a while!
I just got concerned looking at the high ketone reading on my urine dipstick test.
 
Flowerlights1 said:
If the blood ketone number was over 5? Would that be an emergency? I am confused as to the optimal range for a prediabetic doing a keto diet
Click to expand...
I think that you are confused about your situation.
The keto in keto diet is short for ketosis - you are eating a low carb diet to deal with your prediabetes, which induces high levels of ketones. Your levels of insulin and glucose are likely to be ideal.
Diabetic ketoacidosis is something else, and not really all that likely to happen to you. I believe there are some very definite symptoms of feeling very unwell, and most cases have high glucose levels, are very thirsty and go to the toilet frequently, becoming confused, tired or even unconscious, blurred vision, feeling sick with stomach pain and odd smelling breath.
There is no progression from ketosis due to a low carb diet to DKA which is usually due to a lack of insulin and more associated with type 1 diabetics.
 
Resurgam said:
I think that you are confused about your situation.
The keto in keto diet is short for ketosis - you are eating a low carb diet to deal with your prediabetes, which induces high levels of ketones. Your levels of insulin and glucose are likely to be ideal.
Diabetic ketoacidosis is something else, and not really all that likely to happen to you. I believe there are some very definite symptoms of feeling very unwell, and most cases have high glucose levels, are very thirsty and go to the toilet frequently, becoming confused, tired or even unconscious, blurred vision, feeling sick with stomach pain and odd smelling breath.
There is no progression from ketosis due to a low carb diet to DKA which is usually due to a lack of insulin and more associated with type 1 diabetics.
Click to expand...


Ohhh right! Thank you! That makes a lot more sense. I think I got more confused as I am prediabetic so didn't want to cause any harm to myself.

I am very thirsty but I'm sure that's pretty standard with dietary ketosis anyway.

Thanks so much for explaining, I was worried by ketosis would transition or had transitioned to DKA
 
Sorry I was unable to provide an update on my previous post - unsure how to navigate

But I posted a concern regarding DKA

My blood sugars are 4.7mmol upon waking
My main concern is I have now tested my blood ketone levels too and they show up as 2.9mmol upon waking.

I have tested them again at lunchtime and it is still 2.9mmol

As previously mentioned my urine yesterday also showed ketones.

When I read online it says I am at risk of diabetic ketoacidosis.
My concern is I do have a dry mouth and I am quite thirsty so not sure if this is why.
 
Flowerlights1 said:
Yeah this was my post yesterday which I couldn't edit, but it was before my blood ketone result which has worried me even more today.
Click to expand...
If it’s any conciliation my keytones are 2.5 and I’m not worried due to the low carb diet.

bg 7-9 mmol

edit, if you are worried, can you call doc/nurse?
 
My ketones were at 4 briefly. I wasn't at all worried as I was following a very low carb diet and my blood sugars were in the 4s to 6s.
 
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