Consistent Ketones

[janineagnes]

Our almost 17 years old grandaughter,who is in boarding school in UK(father serving in forces in Germany)is in our care and she has had ketone readings of between 1 and 2 consistently over the last 10 days(probably triggered by a bout of tonsilitis).We had her at home all last week and by communicating with clinic her high sugar levels were controlled by correction doses. However the ketone problem has not completely cleared and today her sugar level is 16.4 with ketones 0.9. She is back in school but feeling sick and headachy.Are there any suggestions regarding this please, as we have used all our options.Dont want to keep communicating with the clinic as her provisional driving licence application is in place and we dont want to jeopardise that. glad of any suggestions. Many THANKS.

 

[bennyg70]

If it were me Id be drinking PLENTY of water, & taking a correction shot to try and get my BG levels under 10mmol + avoid exercise. Do you know what insulin she uses? / Insulin regime? It also worth noting that if she starts feeling really ill, sick / nausia etc. Its not worth thinking about a driving license application. Diabetic Ketoacidosis can be serious and will require help from the experts. Keep testing Bg levels, and ketone levels.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

100% agree with what Benny has suggested.

Ketones in the presence of high Blood Glucose can become quite serious very quickly. Driving license application (which will really only be concerned with low BG episodes needing th help of a third party) is the last thing to worry about!

 

[janineagnes]

Sorry,should have said normal insulin regime is 10 units Novarapid X 3 daily plus 32 Lantus at night.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Sorry,should have said normal insulin regime is 10 units Novarapid X 3 daily plus 32 Lantus at night.

Does your granddaughter measure/monitor the amount of carbohydrate she is eating? If she is taking the same doses of insulin each day, then she will need to make sure she is eating the right amount of carbs to match at each meal (rather than having a big meal one day and then a very light meal the next).

 

[janineagnes]

Thanks Mike she is careful foodwise having been diagnosed at 3 years of age and we trust her on that. However she is in the middle of A,s work at school and has had a few exams recently so is under a fair bit of pressure(self imposed I must add). Seems that every time something goes round the school,colds,coughs sore throats etc. it affects her badly and we really have to work hard to control things. She has ended up hospitalised a couple of times when the medical staff at school and/or we have failed to regulate things. Its getting to be a real worry all round. Colin

 

[Northerner]

Our almost 17 years old grandaughter,who is in boarding school in UK(father serving in forces in Germany)is in our care and she has had ketone readings of between 1 and 2 consistently over the last 10 days(probably triggered by a bout of tonsilitis).We had her at home all last week and by communicating with clinic her high sugar levels were controlled by correction doses. However the ketone problem has not completely cleared and today her sugar level is 16.4 with ketones 0.9. She is back in school but feeling sick and headachy.Are there any suggestions regarding this please, as we have used all our options.Dont want to keep communicating with the clinic as her provisional driving licence application is in place and we dont want to jeopardise that. glad of any suggestions. Many THANKS.

Hi, at what point did she test at 16.4 - was this before or after eating? If after, how long after and what did she eat? Has she increased her lantus as well as having correction doses of novorapid since she got ill? Best to keep well-hydrated, correct when necessary, and keep a close eye on the ketones. Hope she feels much better very soon 🙂

 

[Robster65]

Hi Colin

Just to add that, if her BGs are consistently on the high side, this can compromise her immune system and make her prone to infections, or at least make anything she picks up worse.

As said, maintaining a sensible BG level is key. It doesn't matter how much insulin is needed.

If she's eating normal meals rather than the same carbs at every meal, she will hopefully be adjusting her dose accordingly. Is the 10u novorapid just an average or do the school regulate her carbs?

Rob