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Ketostix

B

bigalxyz

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Good evening forum...

Recent T2 diagnosis...confirmed early last week, treatment with metformin commenced immediately (along with the usual advice to base my diet on starchy carbohydrates, yeah, those things that break down to glucose inside my body).

Have low-carbed in the past with some success. As a result of that I've used Ketostix before to look for ketones in the urine. In general these have been either absent or at the 'trace' level (0.5 mmol/l) in the past, even when low-carbing.

Now I take 1500mg metformin daily & I'm low carbing again. Just done another test and the ketone level has increased - I'm now at the 'medium' level (4 mmol/l), which is a good bit higher than I've been before.

In the past I've read that there's often confusion (even among doctors) between benign ketosis (caused by the body being in 'fat burning mode'); and diabetic ketoacidosis (which obviously a very serious condition). I don't show any signs of the latter at all - I feel broadly ok. I'm just slightly surprised & concerned at the colour of the little square of paper that I've just peed on. Should I be worried or is this to be expected? Might it even be a good thing?

(other effects noticed from metformin after a few days - lower appetite, drinking less, peeing less)

Many thanks,

Alan.
 
Ketosis often happens on low carb diets. Some people never show signs on Ketostix. I tend only to show signs mid-afternoon, and it can sometimes be 2 or 3 squares up the stick.

Ketoacidosis is associated with high bg levels. If your bgs are under good control, and you feel okay, I wouldn't worry.

I think there's a thread on here somewhere about ketoacidosis - why not do a search?

Viv 8)
 
Thanks Viv. I do feel ok, but as for whether my bg is under control...recent blood test showed 17mmol/l which obviously is very high indeed (HbA1c 9 point something). It might be that this has started to reduce now that I'm taking the meds, but I don't have one of the machines so I've no way of knowing really - hence my slight concern.
 
Hi Alan :) You need to be very careful. If you have a high level like 17 and high ketones (you say you are at medium now), your breath smells of acid drops and you are feeling sick as well this is ketoacidosis and requires very urgent medical attention as I think you know. I strongly urge you to get a meter and strips by whatever means you can, and test regularly. You should eat more carbs until your ketone level goes down. If ketones are still going up and your levels are still as high see your doctor straight away.
 
Hmmm....just woke up....tested again...even higher. Never seen anything like this before.

Gonna go to the caff for some toast & a cup of coffee.

I do feel ok though. I've just had a pretty good night's sleep, no smell of pear drops, etc. Still, I'm a little shocked & a little nervous.
 
Daisy is quite right, Alan. In your place I think I would eat 'moderate' carbs (70g - 100g daily would be okay for me) until such time as your bg comes down. That amount should take you out of diet-induced ketosis; if the ketostix remain coloured, see your GP.

Did you say you don't have a meter and strips to self-test your bg? It really is worth the investment! If you test as in the 'Advice for Newbies' , you'll soon see what your bgs are doing.

Let us know how you go on.

Viv 8)
 
I was in a similar position, when my GP tested my urine, at my diagnosis meeting and discovered ketones at a concentration of 15mg/dl ("small" on the Ketostix label). I thought nothing of it until I got a call from the Diabetic clinic, asking me to come immediately, and be prepared to be admitted into hospital that afternoon...

Luckily, in my case, the ketones were a result of me "low carbing", and their concern eased as soon as they saw that my BG levels were under control (<7 mmol/l). However, they warned me that if my blood sugar went above 15 mmol/l AND I recorded ketones of 80mg/dl or larger then I should go straight to A&E.

If you don't know what your BG scores are, and you are showing ketones, I think that you should be very careful.
 
Hmmmmm...

All food for thought.

I'm going out for a walk shortly. Luckily the route I plan to take will take me close to a huge branch of Boots on the way home so I think I'll pop in there & ask for advice about possibly buying a bg monitor. It seems like I ought to get an idea of where my bg levels are before I do anything else.
 
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