ketosis?

ludenar · #1 (**permalink**) 02-01-2009, 09:27 PM

I thought I would only have ketones in my urine when my blood sugar was super high--but my blood sugar is 86 and I have trace ketones ??

JediSkipdogg · #2 (**permalink**) 02-01-2009, 10:12 PM

Are you losing weight? Ketosis is the process of the body burning fat to gain energy. This occurs in two forms and unfortunately there is no way to distiguis the two easily.

The first method is in losing weight. In this process the body burns fat for energy which is perfectly healthy and normal. Ketones are then created as a leftover and dumped into the urine.

The second method is in running high. In this method the body is confused as to why the cells are not obtaining enough energy. Therefore it thinks it needs to burn more fat and turn it into glucose for energy. This process keeps occuring while dumping ketones (a leftover in burning fat) into the urine and can only be stopped when you open to door for glucose (energy) to get into the cells (via insulin.) That is the bad process of ketosis.

So in a sense the only way to tell the difference is if you have a high BG, although, if one is losing weight and has a high BG, the ketones can be misleading and undistinguishable.

mortis505 · #3 (**permalink**) 02-01-2009, 10:17 PM

Just a guess here and I may be wrong, but it took a while to build them up in your system, it MAY take a little bit of time before they are completely out.

cherokee_psh · #4 (**permalink**) 02-01-2009, 11:02 PM

I have tested positive for trace amounts of ketones in the past. I was following a strict diet at the time. The doctor said it was normal.

BlueSky · #5 (**permalink**) 02-01-2009, 11:39 PM

Trace ketones also appear when eating low-carb. Instead of being stored, fat in the food that is eaten is used for energy and ketones are produced. It is called "dietary ketosis" and low carbers experience at least some of the time. It happens at the same time as blood glucose is low and is quite normal.

ludenar · #6 (**permalink**) 02-02-2009, 12:29 AM

thanks you for answers--very insightful

it could be left over from when my blood sugar was 580 (at diagnosis )and I had a huge amount of ketones

and yes I am loosing weight---I have struggled to loose weight since becoming disabled--I tried every diet and at times because of my crohns I would go days without eating and still gain weight.

however since becoming diabetic I am eating more food than I have eaten in my life and I am loosing weight -40+ lbs in about 6 weeks-this week I lost 14 lbs-I could understand it if I was eating under 20 carbs and then -pre diabetes- I would only loose a lb or 2 but I m eat 15 carbs a meal (3 meals) and 5-8 carbs per snack (3 a day). so I am not starving myself.
In the weight loss department diabetes is the best thing to have happened. However trying to understand the difference between the two types of ketosis was a little confusing -why does diabetic ketosis lead to ketoacidosis and dietary ketosis doesn't ?

BlueSky · #7 (**permalink**) 02-02-2009, 01:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ludenar

... why does diabetic ketosis lead to ketoacidosis and dietary ketosis doesn't ?

Ketoacidosis only happens if the level of ketosis is extreme ("Large" ketones test result) . All the ketones make the blood acidic, which can lead to heart failure. Dietary ketosis doesn't do this as the level of ketones is small (trace or moderate in the test). The body handles it without difficulty, and it is does this often during sleep, exercise and losing weight.