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Reassurance needed: High ketones but normal BM?!

T

TheSparkyPony

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Cheshire UK
Am possibly harbouring a kidney infection - lower right back very sore. Am reluctant to waste dr's time over bank holiday etc as it isn't preventing me from living and would rather someone needy was looked at.

Pain started yesterday. Ketones were ++ to +++ yesterday, wasn't overly concerned as didn't eat much. However, pain has been worse today, ketones were +++ at lunchtime, had some lunch but just done a test now and it's reading ++++ which is the highest it can be. BM is 14, high to most but of no real concern to me (they tend to fluctuate to much higher even when well!).

I've been drinking as much as I can to try and flush them through. Have been told by the DN to read their 'diabetes and sickness' leaflet, which gives me NO information whatsoever :roll:

Any advice is welcome, I'm at a dead end of what to do!

TSP xx
 
Just noticed your post TSP......

High BM's AND High Ketones are a danger sign for a T1........Ketaoacidosis can set in quickly.

Please at least phone NHS 24 or go to your nearest A&E for advice.
 
Hey Cugila :)

As stated, I haven't got high BMs....the highest they've been all day is 15, and lowest being 7.4. I have had DKA in the past, but this has only triggered at 30 or higher.

Is it possible to get DKA from levels of 14/15? If so I've been uninformed by my diabetic team! x
 
High would normally mean upwards of around 16 mmol/l, however you definitely have something going on and if I were you I would be seeking the advice of medical professionals, at least NHS 24, I certainly wouldn't leave it till it gets worse.

All I can offer I am sorry to say, doesn't appear to be any T1's around at the minute. Better to be safe than sorry after.

Levels of 14/15 are high even if you don't think so. Most T1's run at much lower levels and shouldn't really go much above 9 ??
 
cugila said:
High would normally mean upwards of around 16 mmol/l, however you definitely have something going on and if I were you I would be seeking the advice of medical professionals, at least NHS 24, I certainly wouldn't leave it till it gets worse.

All I can offer I am sorry to say, doesn't appear to be any T1's around at the minute. Better to be safe than sorry after.

Levels of 14/15 are high even if you don't think so. Most T1's run at much lower levels and shouldn't really go much above 9 ??
Click to expand...

Ok, thankyou :) Will ring NHS Direct now and see what they suggest - am just wary of going to hospital and wasting their time!

I understand levels of 14/15 are high to most - unfortunately this hasn't been the case for me in the past and is hard to stick in my brain, so apologies for anyone reading that and thinking it's an acceptable level!
 
The NHS are there to help you so give them a ring :D and 14/15 is a little high try getting them down to at least 9.0mmol/l
 
Sparkypony

It is possible to get DKA at 12/14mmol/l and under certain circumstances you can get DKA at even lower levels, personal experience when I was pregnant in the early 90's, my BG hit about 8/9 and DKA several weeks in hosptial sorting it all out..

With a kidney infection I very much doubt whether you are going to get your levels lower, and flush out the ketones, you REALLY REALLY need to get yourself down to A&E if nobody can take you ring for an ambulance..

It can't wait until you can get into see your GP, go now if you haven't already gone
 
Pretty much what I've said too Jopar, have just sent TSP a PM containing the DAFNE 8hr rules for severe illness, which is what this is in their book - and a kidney infection could also lead to dehydration which could be very bad news in this scenario. Although the rules apparently do work, personally I'd be at A+E already with perhaps any left-over xmas choccies as a gift for the nurses :)
 
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