Keytones

Hi

Having the smell of ketones on my breath was when my mother demanded me to see a doctor, I also had all the other symptoms of diabetes too. Since being diagnosed type 1 (12th Feb'13) I have learnt soo much. Basically insulin brakes down carbs for energy right? So the more carb intake, the more energy, but insulin controls the blood glucose level of course. But when you don't produce much or no insulin, there's nothing there to brake down the carbs into energy, so your blood glucose levels are high. When this happens, your body starts breaking down fat for energy; this is ketosis. Many people who diet and want to loose weight know about this and purposely cause this to happen to themselves. It's very dangerous. High protein and low carb diets can cause a lot of problems such as high cholesterol levels and can lead to kidney failure. And as you should know, high levels of ketones can make your blood toxic, like mine was, I had ketoacidosis, it's potentially dangerous if your not treated.

If you can smell ketones on your breath, I would call your diabetic nurse or go and see your doctor and they'll help!, I have a ketone meter, so when I'm ill, it comes in handy and can check my blood for any ketones, I'm not sure if type 2 diabetics have them though?? :think:

Hope this helps! Cross fingers your ketones are fine!

- Deanna

Hi Carole,

I guess that receiving totally conflicting answers to a question is not very helpful for you. Nevertheless, I am happy to tell you that Ketones are safe. (I can't speak for your other conditions, or how Ketosis interacts with them; I'm only talking about Ketones.)

Assuming that a body has adequate Insulin, either natural or injected, the production of Ketones is a completely normal, completely natural, completely healthy metabolic response to the absence of dietary Carbohydrates. It means that a low-carb diet is working; the metabolism is now burning Fat for its fuel.

I am a T1 that follows a Ketogenic diet; I have found it to be THE diet that enables me to stay completely in control of my blood-sugars.

Carole, I have an entire Guide Book for the Ketogenic diet in the format of a PDF file. The metabolic state of Ketosis, and Ketone physiology, is explained in detail. I'd be happy to pass it on to you if you are interested.

Regards,
Antony

Can i ask what does it smell like? When you can smell you had ketones?

Sent from the Diabetes Forum App

timps said:

I have at last started to lose weight But can smell that I have keytones.
Is this safe with type 2 diabetes.
I am enjoying my protein instead of carbs so would like to continue very low carbing.
I have an underactive thyroid and have been informed that have metabolic syndrome so it is very hard to lose weight with carbs. can someone pleasemake my day and say I am ok with the keytones.
thank you carole

Click to expand...

Ketosis is a perfectly natural phenomenon caused when the body uses fat for fuel in the absence of carbohydrate, and is usual on a very-low-carb diet.

It's not to be confused with ketoacidosis, which is very dangerous for diabetics, and is usually associated with high blood glucose levels and feeling nauseous and very unwell. It's more associated with Type 1 than Type 2, but all of us can get it. Have a good read round on this site and maybe Google, just to put your mind at rest.

You can buy Ketostix to test your urine for ketones at any chemist, if you want to check. Do you have a blood glucose monitor? then you can just make sure your BGs aren't too high. But if you feel okay and are low-carbing you should be all right.

I too don't get on with carbs; I eat between 30g and 50g per day, when I'm being good, and am usually in ketosis at that level. As I said above - perfectly natural!

Viv 8)

edited for PS: ketone breath smells like pear drops.

diamondnostril said:

Hi Carole,

I guess that receiving totally conflicting answers to a question is not very helpful for you. Nevertheless, I am happy to tell you that Ketones are safe. (I can't speak for your other conditions, or how Ketosis interacts with them; I'm only talking about Ketones.)

Assuming that a body has adequate Insulin, either natural or injected, the production of Ketones is a completely normal, completely natural, completely healthy metabolic response to the absence of dietary Carbohydrates. It means that a low-carb diet is working; the metabolism is now burning Fat for its fuel.

I am a T1 that follows a Ketogenic diet; I have found it to be THE diet that enables me to stay completely in control of my blood-sugars.

Carole, I have an entire Guide Book for the Ketogenic diet in the format of a PDF file. The metabolic state of Ketosis, and Ketone physiology, is explained in detail. I'd be happy to pass it on to you if you are interested.

Regards,
Antony

Click to expand...

hello,

I would be very interesting in seeing the PDF on the ketogenic diet. I am just starting my partner on it as i think its the only way forward for him. Any advice would be greatly received.
Many thanks. x

Hi elmacri,

I've sent you a private message containing my e-mail address. If you send me a note then I'll reply in turn with the PDF attached. Hope it's helpful for you!

Not sure that I have any great advice for you . . . but one thing that really helped me was the discovery of Pure Coconut Oil; I use it for cooking and also for flavouring my teas and coffees, it helps to increase the amount of Fat I'm taking in.

Best wishes for your partner with the diet!

Regards,
Antony

When diagnosed with type 2 I had keytones in my blood, so type 2s can get them assuming that's what I am, I never heard anything else about them so I suppose all was well with them