Ketone Testing?

[Mep]

Question: if we're type 2 with insulin deficiency so using exogenous insulin... are we required to test for ketones regularly?

No one has mentioned it to me, .although I have been told a couple of times in hospital that they found ketones in my urine and I had to eat.

I've never tested for ketones myself personally and I'm not even sure you can get ketone strips to check? I will have to look out of them if I'm supposed to be doing that.

Any type 2's here with insulin deficiency that do test for ketones? Curious.

 

[Indy51]

The recommendation I've always read is that you only need to test for ketones if your BG is very high.

 

[Indy51]

Forgot to add, if you have an Abbott Optium, you can also test ketones on the same meter. Not sure about other brands in Australia.

 

[Mep]

yeh last time I was in ER my BG was 11 and wouldn't go lower, but then my BP was 198/110 mostly and wouldn't go lower either. They found ketones then and made me eat a sandwich and take insulin.

 

[Mep]

Forgot to add, if you have an Abbott Optium, you can also test ketones on the same meter. Not sure about other brands in Australia.

oh ok, thanks... I don't have that meter though.

 

[noblehead]

Hi @Mep

Have a look at the following which explains when you should test for ketones:

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes_care/testing-for-ketones.html

 

[Mep]

Hi @Mep

Have a look at the following which explains when you should test for ketones:

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes_care/testing-for-ketones.html

thanks

Now I can see why the hospital was concerned about it.

I probably should be doing tests considering I've been unwell a fair bit and have been having problems getting sugar levels down too.

My T1 friend did ask me some time ago whether I tested for ketones and told me I should be doing that because I was on insulin. I told her docs never told me to do it as yet. But she was adamant I should do this anyhow. But I still haven't done any of my own testing. Ok, I slap my wrist for being naughty and will add this to my testing in future.... it may help me too.

 

[eddie1968]

I have a B-Ketone meter, a Glucomen LX Plus. The strips are pretty expensive if you have to pay for them and there are usually 5 in a tub. I am prone to DKA even though I am T2. If my BGs >13.9 mmol/l then I will test for ketones in my blood. My DNS will issue scripts for the strips when I ask for them and my GP will sign them.

 

[Cat0409_]

I have an optimum and though I have not been sick lately check my ketones every Sunday mainly to see if I am in ketosis.
You should be able to get the meter for free and then ketone sticks will cost you $ 7.95 per packet.
Be warned you need a lot more blood for the BG and ketone sticks compared to other meters

 

[Indy51]

I have an optimum and though I have not been sick lately check my ketones every Sunday mainly to see if I am in ketosis.
You should be able to get the meter for free and then ketone sticks will cost you $ 7.95 per packet.
Be warned you need a lot more blood for the BG and ketone sticks compared to other meters

You're right. I recently upgraded my nearly 5 year old Freestyle Optium Excel to a Freestyle Optium Neo because I had a supply of strips and they both use the same ones - my local chemist in WA had them on the usual buy/Abbott refunds the purchase price deal - and the ketone strips are around $7.95 for a pack of 10 strips.

 

[Indy51]

Small correction to the last post - I bought a pack of blood ketone testing strips today and the price was $9.45 for 10.