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From cnn.com and mayoclinic

Diabetic ketoacidosis: Check your ketones
From MayoClinic.com
Special to CNN.com

You can buy test strips at your local pharmacy or Wallgreens. (You may have to ask the pharmicist because sometimes they are behind the counter.) If you have ketones, you need to contact your health care provider right away.

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You have diabetes. Your doctor or health care team mentioned the danger of ketones building up in your blood. Do you remember what the signs and symptoms are and what to do?

Increased blood acids (ketoacidosis) can be an acute complication of diabetes. It occurs when your muscle cells become so starved for energy that your body takes emergency measures and breaks down fat, a process that forms acids known as ketones. Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a dangerous condition that can cause you to lose consciousness. If untreated, it can be fatal.

DKA is more common among people with type 1 diabetes (formerly known as insulin-dependent or juvenile diabetes) and may occur on rare occasions when you don't have enough insulin in your bloodstream. This can happen when you miss or skip some of your insulin shots, are under extreme stress or have an acute illness or emergency that increases your body's need for insulin.


What to watch out for

Ketoacidosis generally develops slowly. Early signs and symptoms that ketones may be building up in your blood are:

Thirst or dry mouth
Frequent urination
Elevated blood sugar
High levels of ketones in your urine
Signs and symptoms of ketoacidosis that may appear later are:

Fatigue
Dry or flushed skin
Nausea
Vomiting
Abdominal pain
Shallow breathing
A sweet, fruity odor on your breath
Confusion
At an advanced stage, you can lose consciousness.


What to do

Check your ketone level if you experience any of these signs and symptoms or your blood sugar is elevated, with blood sugars persistently above 250 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). Use a test strip similar to the blood-testing strips available at your pharmacy. Contact your doctor if your levels are moderate to large when you compare your test strip to the corresponding color chart.

DKA requires emergency medical treatment, which involves replenishing lost fluids and insulin through intravenous (IV) lines. As insulin is administered, your body will start using blood sugar for energy, which will decrease the need for ketones as fuel. Gradually your blood ketone levels will decrease, and your blood sugar level will return to normal over a period of hours to days. Your doctor and health care team will closely monitor your blood sugar and fluid levels. With prompt treatment, you can expect a rapid and complete recovery from DKA.