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What Causes Ketones Build Up During Pregnancy?

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Posted on Sat, 5 Apr 2014
Question: Hello, I was just writing to ask about having ketones in urine during pregnancy. I am 28 weeks, and passed my gestational diabetes screening. However, my dog was recently diagnosed with diabetes, so I got a glucose meter for her, as well as ketone strips. I just tested my urine for ketones, and found to had a moderate amount. I also tested my blood glucose, and it was 95 after fasting for a few hours, and then I took it an hour after lunch, and it was 110. So it still doesn't look like gestational diabetes. I have been sick with a bad cold/possible sinus infection for about 10 days, so not sure if this contributed. Also, when I tested my urine for ketones, I hadn't eaten for about 15 hours (wasn't hungry since I've been sick.) Could the ketones be from me being sick, or from not eating for 15 hours, or should I be worried? Thanks.Hi, Just tested the ketones again about an hour and a half after lunch, and they came up as just a trace. (They were moderate before.) So maybe this was just from not eating for 15 hours?
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Answered by Dr. Dr. Rakhi Tayal (2 hours later)
Brief Answer: Due to fasting. Detailed Answer: Hello, Thanks for trusting us with your health concern. Ketones build up when the body needs to break down fats and fatty acids to use as fuel. This is most likely to occur when the body does not get enough sugar or carbohydrates. Your urine test can show ketones due to- - Abnormal food or nutrition intake due to Anorexia; Fasting; High protein or low carbohydrate diets; Starvation; Vomiting over a long period of time; - Disorders of increased metabolism like diabetes- This has been ruled out with normal blood glucose levels. - Fever - Hyperthyroidism - Nursing a baby (lactation) and in Pregnancy. Since you were fasting for last 15 hours before the test this is the cause of having ketones in urine in your case. Please do not worry. Please feel free to discuss further. I will be glad to answer the follow up queries that you have. Wishing you good health. Regards. Dr. Rakhi Tayal. For future query, you can directly approach me through my profile URL http://bit.ly/Dr-Rakhi-Tayal
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Dr. Dr. Rakhi Tayal

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Practicing since :2001

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What Causes Ketones Build Up During Pregnancy?

Brief Answer: Due to fasting. Detailed Answer: Hello, Thanks for trusting us with your health concern. Ketones build up when the body needs to break down fats and fatty acids to use as fuel. This is most likely to occur when the body does not get enough sugar or carbohydrates. Your urine test can show ketones due to- - Abnormal food or nutrition intake due to Anorexia; Fasting; High protein or low carbohydrate diets; Starvation; Vomiting over a long period of time; - Disorders of increased metabolism like diabetes- This has been ruled out with normal blood glucose levels. - Fever - Hyperthyroidism - Nursing a baby (lactation) and in Pregnancy. Since you were fasting for last 15 hours before the test this is the cause of having ketones in urine in your case. Please do not worry. Please feel free to discuss further. I will be glad to answer the follow up queries that you have. Wishing you good health. Regards. Dr. Rakhi Tayal. For future query, you can directly approach me through my profile URL http://bit.ly/Dr-Rakhi-Tayal