Ketones

[Cyborg]

I ate low carb yesterday and had no carbs today except for the creamer in my coffee this morning. I am showing a small amount of ketones. As long as I keep my bg under control, is there anything to worry about? Can I safely lose weight with the Atkins diet as a type 1?

[JacquiS]

I don't know if it differes for a T2 to a T1 but I was told by the nurse that a small level of ketones is good...shows that your body is burning fat. (I was showing a small amount of ketones in my last test.)

[am1977]

I think as long as your blood sugar is under control... a small amount of ketones isn't harmful. It doesn't mean you are necessarily in DKA- usually it has to do with your body burning fat... How do you feel, though? If you feel ok, I wouldn't worry too much about it. ;)

[Cyborg]

I feel good :marchmell

[BlueSky]

..... I am showing a small amount of ketones. As long as I keep my bg under control, is there anything to worry about? Can I safely lose weight with the Atkins diet as a type 1?

If you want to lose weight, you want to be in ketosis. It means that you are burning fat. You may feel a temporary lack of energy as your body adjusts to this source of energy. But, if you keep it up, your energy levels will improve.

Keytones are only a problem if there is a lot of them and they are accompanied by high blood glucose. Ketoacidosis is dangerous and is normally the result of inadequate insulin. But dietary ketosis with normal BG is harmless. And as long as you continue with the insulin, dietary ketosis won't turn into ketoacidosis. :)

[Cyborg]

Are the ketones a sure sign of weight loss, or could it simply be a biproduct of the fat I've eaten today?

[spike]

Are the ketones a sure sign of weight loss, or could it simply be a biproduct of the fat I've eaten today?

Eating fat doesn't cause ketones, if that's your question, Cyborg. Perhaps I've misunderstood your post?

[mary1812mary]

Burning fat, not EATING fat.

[Cyborg]

I always see my bg running higher when I get into this mode. Seems like it is already happening...

[BlueSky]

Are the ketones a sure sign of weight loss, or could it simply be a biproduct of the fat I've eaten today?

Keytones start appearing when you don't eat carbs. Whether you lose weight or not depends on how much fat you are eating. Your body has to get energy from somewhere. And it will either get it from a the fat you have just eaten, stored fat, or a combination of the two. Your body will only use consumed protein for energy if your consumption exceeds your body's amino acid requirements.

I drift in and out of ketosis because I eat very little carbohydrate. Sometimes the test shows a trace of keytones and sometimes it doesn't. :) And it doesn't take much carb to stop your body burning fat. Ironically, as your body gets more used to using fat for energy, you become more sensitive carbs. And you may find that your carb ratio increases.

[Cyborg]

Your body has to get energy from somewhere. And it will either get it from a the fat you have just eaten, stored fat, or a combination of the two. Your body will only use consumed protein for energy if your consumption exceeds your body's amino acid requirements.

If that's the case, why does any amount of protein affect my bg?

[BlueSky]

If that's the case, why does any amount of protein affect my bg?

I really don't know. Sometimes it is difficult to separate the different effects :hmmmm:. I bolus 6 units of Actrapid for breakfast, which contains about 30g of fat and maybe 35 g of protein. But I know that the DP effect is still strong at this time of the day. I have also noticed that eating anything increases my blood sugar to some extent. Even lettuce will have this "Chinese Restaurant effect. And the apparent BG boosting effect of protein could at least be partially explained in a similar way. Also bear in mind that metabolism of glucose is not the only use of insulin. And the relationships we use to manage this condition are not as clear-cut as we would like them to be ... :confused:

[Cyborg]

I don't believe in the Chinese Restuarant Effect. I do believe that approx 7% of protein gets converted to glucose over the course of about 3 hours.