• Please Remember: Members are only permitted to share their own experiences. Members are not qualified to give medical advice. Additionally, everyone manages their health differently. Please be respectful of other people's opinions about their own diabetes management.
  • We seem to be having technical difficulties with new user accounts. If you are trying to register please check your Spam or Junk folder for your confirmation email. If you still haven't received a confirmation email, please reach out to our support inbox: support.forum@diabetes.org.uk

Testing for keytones

Why are you wanting to test ketones?

Is it to see if you are in dietary ketosis or is it to prevent developing Diabetic KetoAcidosis? The latter is rare with Type 2 diabetes but can occur in certain circumstances and some medications increase the risk.
 
I’ve always found it a bit of a waste of time to be honest, never tells us anything that we don’t know already, and any ketones which are present go away again as soon as the problem is resolved.
For a type 1, you only need to test for them if a) you have had very high blood sugars for several hours that are not coming down after insulin corrections, or b) if you are ill. Even then, if you are not eating much (e.g. if you have some sort of tummy bug) then you know you will have some ketones present because of not eating. For a type 2 I don’t know what situation would require it to be honest, maybe some type 2s will be along soon!
 
rebrascora said:
Why are you wanting to test ketones?

Is it to see if you are in dietary ketosis or is it to prevent developing Diabetic KetoAcidosis? The latter is rare with Type 2 diabetes but can occur in certain circumstances and some medications increase the risk.
Click to expand...
I dont regularly, I wanted the capability to test when I was Ill as there are conditions where keytones rise and bg stays normal.
 
my Endo said it was a sensible plan. I was interested in others views. Its also useful in seeing if you are burning fat
 
I have test strips for ketones on my prescription as ketones can rise quickly for someone with Type 1, especially if my insulin pump fails.
However, the shelf life is very short and my pump tells me if it fails (and I can spot my BG rising on my CGM), so I don't bother with them - it seems like a waste.

If you think you are more likely to experience high ketones when ill for some reason, you may want to get Ketostix from your pharmacy.
 
MarkStAlbans said:
I dont regularly, I wanted the capability to test when I was Ill as there are conditions where keytones rise and bg stays normal.
Click to expand...
That would be possible if you were taking the 'flozin' meds and following a very low or keto diet when euglycemic DKA could be a possibility. You can buy urine dip sticks from the pharmacy if you think you need to be able to test.
 
Type 1s are more at risk from ketones than Type 2s and in 6.5 years I haven't needed to test for ketones although I have tested occasionally when test strips were going/had gone out of date, just for curiosity.
It is a very low risk for Type 2s especially if your diabetes is well managed.
I find it really surprising that they would add a flozin to your diabetes management when your levels are good and after reducing or stopping Metformin. Why not just manage your diabetes through diet and exercise once you are off the Metformin? I personally wouldn't take a flozin if I didn't need it. Yes, the serious side effects are very rare but why risk it taking a medication you don't need.
 
MarkStAlbans said:
I may switch to flozin as the metformin comes down
Click to expand...
Then you may need to make sure you are having more carbs, nobody seems to be able to say just how many carbs people should have but those taking it seem to have no less than 80g per day up to 130g per day, People have been advised to increase carbs up to 130 when they start the medication. It always seems strange to have to increase carbs just so you can take a medication which will reduce blood glucose. But I sure there may be some logic.
 
I totally agree. My GP was pushing it hard.

My endo said that I dont need the flozin at the moment, so I probably wont use it unless my levels go up after ceasing metformin
 
Leadinglights said:
Then you may need to make sure you are having more carbs, nobody seems to be able to say just how many carbs people should have but those taking it seem to have no less than 80g per day up to 130g per day, People have been advised to increase carbs up to 130 when they start the medication. It always seems strange to have to increase carbs just so you can take a medication which will reduce blood glucose. But I sure there may be some logic.
Click to expand...
Yes its very odd. Im sure they dont fully understand it and just use approximate models to guide them
 
Do you mind me asking why you have an endocrinologist? It is unusual for someone with low level Type 2 to be referred to a specialist so just wondering if you have other issues going on which you are seeing them for which might be impacting your diabetes?
 
rebrascora said:
Do you mind me asking why you have an endocrinologist? It is unusual for someone with low level Type 2 to be referred to a specialist so just wondering if you have other issues going on which you are seeing them for which might be impacting your diabetes?
Click to expand...
By all means 🙂

the reason is I had such a bad time in rhe L&D Hospital due to sheer levels of incompetence that I use my private healthcare to engage someone who I could trust and give me best advice.

I eun my own company so it was easy for me to do.

The staff at the L&D couldnt even get blood out of me, and Im a blood donor who gives a pint in 5 mins!

If you cant trust them to deliver basic medical care how can you trust them to treat a complex and nuanced condition such as this?
 
Ah! that makes sense then!
I do wonder if there are financial incentives at primary care level to put people on certain drugs, but sadly you are right that there is very limited understanding and indeed some considerable misunderstanding of diabetes at many GP practices and sadly even within the NHS as a whole and general hospital ward in particular and most people are best advised to do their own research and experimenting to find what works for them as an individual, which is why we are keen to encourage people to do some home testing, because diabetes can be surprisingly individual!
 
Just incompetence and a lack of basic listening skills.

As I said to one particularly annoying individual you have 2 ears and one mouth and you appear to be using them in an inversely proprotionate ratio!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top