Ketones

[AshrafUM920]

Hi All,

Should I check my urine for ketones or blood,

I spoke to the pharmacist and she told me she can order me some but they're expensive I have already ordered meter https://www.diabeticsupply.co.uk/pr...MI2566grap6gIVV-DtCh0ULAUNEAQYASABEgL8S_D_BwE

The urine sticks are simple but, they only tell you what your ketone were a few hours ago,
I am going to test both when my meter arrives but the urine test - told me I was at 1.5, only the 3rd coming out of 6.

I don't know how often people check it I only checked it once or twice.

 

[Brunneria]

Hi,

High blood glucose and ketones are a potentially dangerous combination - in the absence of sufficient insulin.
Type 2 usually have high insulin, which makes them less likely to experience ketoacidosis than type 1s (assuming that the T1/T2 diagnosis is accurate, of course!)

My advice would be to yes, check for ketones if your blood glucose is high, and I think yours is often high.
But you can ask your doctor or consultant for the ketone testing equipment. Blood ketone tests are much better than urine ketone tests. You can then also have a conversation with them about why they haven't already supplied you with this, since you have a history of high blood glucose levels, and you are on insulin. At present, your insulin doses are not sufficient to control your blood glucose (as shown in your previous posts), so it just makes sense to test for ketones.

You may find these two threads interesting to read:

https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/heat-and-blood-sugars.175253/

https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/ketones.175337/

 

[AshrafUM920]

Hi,

High blood glucose and ketones are a potentially dangerous combination - in the absence of sufficient insulin.
Type 2 usually have high insulin, which makes them less likely to experience ketoacidosis than type 1s (assuming that the T1/T2 diagnosis is accurate, of course!)

My advice would be to yes, check for ketones if your blood glucose is high, and I think yours is often high.
But you can ask your doctor or consultant for the ketone testing equipment. You can then also have a conversation with them about why they haven't already supplied you with this, since you have a history of high blood glucose levels, and you are on insulin. At present, your insulin doses are not sufficient to control your blood glucose (as shown in your previous posts), so it just makes sense to test for ketones.

You may find these two threads interesting to read:

https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/heat-and-blood-sugars.175253/

https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/ketones.175337/

My DN was suppose to call me yesterday but she didn't and I left her a message and she hasn't got back to me yet, as far as the equipment goes I will ask her and I will check out the threads you have provided. Thanks

 

[Brunneria]

My DN was suppose to call me yesterday but she didn't and I left her a message and she hasn't got back to me yet, as far as the equipment goes I will ask her and I will check out the threads you have provided. Thanks

When she calls you, I would ask her what level of ketones is acceptable, and at what level should you ring 111 or go to A&E.
You can find the information online, of course, but it is worth having the conversation with the nurse anyway, since she should have that information at her fingertips.

 

[ert]

This is a good read:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6472268/
'The hallmark of nutritional ketosis is blood ketone levels of 0.5 to 3 mg/dL. This is in stark contrast to, and should not be confused with, the pathophysiologic state of type 1 diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).'

Of course, the consultants don't like type 1's to have raised blood ketones, as without background insulin (which could happen if it's destroyed when you're sick), and with a type 1's bodies inability to produce insulin, they could spiral out of control.

But you need to ask your GP or diabetes nurse.

 

[AshrafUM920]

When she calls you, I would ask her what level of ketones is acceptable, and at what level should you ring 111 or go to A&E.
You can find the information online, of course, but it is worth having the conversation with the nurse anyway, since she should have that information at her fingertips.

At this stage, I have left a voice message and a text message and I dont get no response by tomorrow I will ring my gp and let them know. Appointment was Monday at 12.15 and it was a telephone appointment, I shall wait to hear the reasoning of why she didnt ring me or text me back. Thanks for your advice once again.

 

[AshrafUM920]

This is a good read:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6472268/
'The hallmark of nutritional ketosis is blood ketone levels of 0.5 to 3 mg/dL. This is in stark contrast to, and should not be confused with, the pathophysiologic state of type 1 diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).'

Of course, the consultants don't like type 1's to have raised blood ketones, as without background insulin (which could happen if it's destroyed when you're sick), and with a type 1's bodies inability to produce insulin, they could spiral out of control.

But you need to ask your GP or diabetes nurse.

Will give it a read, thanks

 

[AshrafUM920]

My ketone meter finally arrived, my blood sugar is high but my ketones are low, what does that mean?

 

[ert]

My ketone meter finally arrived, my blood sugar is high but my ketones are low, what does that mean?

It terms of metabolism, it means nutritionally your body is burning sugar rather than body fat (ketones result as an end product of fat burning, and helpful for weight loss). As a type 2, based on your c-peptide posting, you have enough insulin to clear nutritional ketones. 'Lo' means trace or too low to measure.

https://www.diabetes.co.uk/blood-glucose/ketosis.html

 

[AshrafUM920]

It terms of metabolism, it means nutritionally your body is burning sugar rather than body fat (ketones result as an end product of fat burning, and helpful for weight loss). As a type 2, based on your c-peptide posting, you have enough insulin to clear nutritional ketones. 'Lo' means trace or too low to measure.

https://www.diabetes.co.uk/blood-glucose/ketosis.html

Thank you for reply,
Is it bad or good to be low? I will check the Link too