question-icon

Why Is Ketone High In Blood When Diagnosed With Diabetes?

default
Posted on Wed, 11 Oct 2017
Question: I test my urine strip. glucose is normal and ketones the highest color. I feel and eat ok and is taking Supplements including sitosterols,aminos, d3, saw palmetto, herbs and every other day zinc and potassium. Sometimes 5mg dhea. why ketone are so high. Thanks.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Mirjeta Guni (20 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
About positive ketones in urine:

Detailed Answer:
Hello and thank you for asking!
As you didn't mention, i suppose you are not diabetic. Anyway i am trying to give some more information regarding to ketones in urine.
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.

This may be due to diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). DKA is a life-threatening problem that affects people with diabetes. It occurs when the body cannot use sugar (glucose) as a fuel source because there is no insulin or not enough insulin. Fat is used for fuel instead.
-Fasting or starvation:(Probably you have been fasting more than 15 hours when you did the test).
-High protein or low carbohydrate diet
-Vomiting over a long period.
-Acute or severe illnesses, such as sepsis or burns
-High fevers
-The thyroid gland making too much thyroid hormone (hyperthyroidism)

Try to check the blood glucose and if it is high, it is an emergency.
If none of these conditions fits to you, try to eat some carbs and check the ketones again, if they are negative, it means that you have been under a diet with high carbohydrate restriction. Otherwise, if ketones persist high, you need to seek medical help.
Hope the information will help.
Kind regards,
Dr.Mirjeta
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj
doctor
default
Follow up: Dr. Mirjeta Guni (15 hours later)
Thanks. I am not diabetic. I do not have vomiting nor fever. ls high ketone dangerous? What can be the causes?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Mirjeta Guni (11 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Please check the urine in the lab

Detailed Answer:
Hi again,

Well in your case, only a prolonged starvation may be the cause, or probably the urine sticks are not functioning well.

I would suggest checking the ketones in urine in the laboratory.

Best wishes,
Dr.Mirjeta

Note: For further follow-up, discuss your blood glucose reports with our diabetologist. Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Mirjeta Guni

Endocrinologist

Practicing since :2006

Answered : 2414 Questions

premium_optimized

The User accepted the expert's answer

Share on

Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties

159 Doctors Online

By proceeding, I accept the Terms and Conditions

HCM Blog Instant Access to Doctors
HCM Blog Questions Answered
HCM Blog Satisfaction
Why Is Ketone High In Blood When Diagnosed With Diabetes?

Brief Answer: About positive ketones in urine: Detailed Answer: Hello and thank you for asking! As you didn't mention, i suppose you are not diabetic. Anyway i am trying to give some more information regarding to ketones in urine. 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. This may be due to diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). DKA is a life-threatening problem that affects people with diabetes. It occurs when the body cannot use sugar (glucose) as a fuel source because there is no insulin or not enough insulin. Fat is used for fuel instead. -Fasting or starvation:(Probably you have been fasting more than 15 hours when you did the test). -High protein or low carbohydrate diet -Vomiting over a long period. -Acute or severe illnesses, such as sepsis or burns -High fevers -The thyroid gland making too much thyroid hormone (hyperthyroidism) Try to check the blood glucose and if it is high, it is an emergency. If none of these conditions fits to you, try to eat some carbs and check the ketones again, if they are negative, it means that you have been under a diet with high carbohydrate restriction. Otherwise, if ketones persist high, you need to seek medical help. Hope the information will help. Kind regards, Dr.Mirjeta