Ketone Symptons

[caroleann]

Just a bit curious as to what these are as reading on different sites about them ,i know not the best thing to do realy, anyway i keep getting a very dry tongue i mean so dry i can hardly move it and afterwards its very sore, on a few of these sites tthey do mention dry tongue but i just figure hey im type2 and my doc says i can't get ketones,my bg's have been between 10 and 20 for the last few weeks so as you can see not very good control at the moment.

 

[Northerner]

As you are insulin-dependent I would think it is quite possible for you to get ketones Caroleann, so you should be able to test for them, particularly if your blood sugar levels are high. Ketones are produced when the body starts using fat as an energy source. If you don't have sufficient insulin 'circulating' (which is shown by high blood sugar levels) then the body can't get rid of the ketones and they can build up, becoming potentially dangerous.

I would suggest going back to your doctor and getting him to prescribe some ketone testing sticks. You can get either pee sticks or if you have an Optium Xceed meter then you can get blood ketone strips, although the blood ones are much more expensive.

 

[trophywench]

Well you have to have the really high BG first before you can have ketones!

I've never had that as a symptom, usually feel mega-sick and want to sleep. Then I go dizzy and have to sleep. It's like when you have drunk far too much alcohol and the room is spinning. Utterly vile ......

 

[Medusa]

i remember being told once that it is possible for people get ketones present at different threshold of high BG level to others ?

 

[trophywench]

Surely not unless you are -at least - in double figures? - unless of course they are the dietary kind but you don't go into DKA with them! Not sure what happens if you are T1 and get those though.

And then of course there's always HONK - see

http://www.patient.co.uk/doctor/Hyperosmolar-Hyperglycaemic-Non-Ketotic-Coma-(HONK).htm

The Mayo clinic (US) say over 33 mmol/L - but as I said - HIGH or as your meter would tell you, HI LOL

 

[Northerner]

Surely not unless you are -at least - in double figures? - unless of course they are the dietary kind but you don't go into DKA with them! Not sure what happens if you are T1 and get those though....

Dietary ketones are fine as long as you have sufficient circulating insulin to process them out of the body (otherwise T1s wouldn't be able to lose weight 🙂). I'm pretty sure that someone here said they ended up in DKA despite having relatively low BG levels (below 10), so I don't think it's impossible, just less likely as lower BG suggests you have the insulin working.

 

[HelenM]

Dietary ketones are fine as long as you have sufficient circulating insulin to process them out of the body (otherwise T1s wouldn't be able to lose weight 🙂). I'm pretty sure that someone here said they ended up in DKA despite having relatively low BG levels (below 10), so I don't think it's impossible, just less likely as lower BG suggests you have the insulin working.

We're all breaking down fat for use all the time so we can certainly lose weight . I'v.e lost over half a stone with a bug this last 2 weeks and not a urinary ketone to be seem. (just a lot less food)
Ketones only appear in urine if they are in excess of metabolic needs In non T1s the breakdown of fat results in insulin being released which puts a brake on the process so ketones aren't a problem. But if insulin needs rise(illness) or insulin is omitted (pump malfunction, injection forgotten) ketones can rise really quickly,

Patients may present with DKA with exceptions to the definition including lower glucose, higher pH, and negative nitroprusside test for ketones.

The glucose at presentation in DKA varies widely from less than 180 to 1000 mg/dL. If a patient is not eating well prior to the onset of DKA, the glucose may be lower than with a prior good food intake. Young people with good kidney function or pregnant patients with increased glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and lowered glucose threshold can develop DKA with normal blood sugars since they have a greater capacity to excrete glucose. Patients who treat their finger stick glucose elevations with small doses of insulin may develop diabetic ketoacidosis with normal glucose levels if the stress hormones during illness stimulate sufficient lipolysis.

http://diabetesmellitustreatments.com/treatment-of-diabetic-ketoacidosis/


I've also read that children in developing countries may present with DKA and normal glucose levels. On the Tu diabetes forum, one of the members, a doctor from Saudi describes the relief at not missing the diagnosis of a child with normal glucose levels and DKA.

 

[Northerner]

Thank you HelenM, very informative (as usual! 🙂)

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Just a bit curious as to what these are as reading on different sites about them ,i know not the best thing to do realy, anyway i keep getting a very dry tongue i mean so dry i can hardly move it and afterwards its very sore, on a few of these sites tthey do mention dry tongue but i just figure hey im type2 and my doc says i can't get ketones,my bg's have been between 10 and 20 for the last few weeks so as you can see not very good control at the moment.

Hi Carol,
is there any chance you have thrush or a vitamin deficiency? Perhaps pop in and see your dentist if GP no help.
Hope you feel better soon.