I dont understand what ketones are...

[AnimasPumper06]

I am confused on ketones. what exactly are they and how do you know they are there. all i know is that it has to do with urine. i have noticed that sometimes my urine is darker, sometimes lighter, based on the amount of liquids that i have drank. Is there any other way that doesnt involve using the ketone strips to find out?

when i was diagnosed, the doc said i had a little ketones, but havent done ketone strips or anything since, and i dont really want to. is there an obvious way of detecting it? do glucose numbers have anything to do with them? i am mostly within a very good a1c range...

[parrotletzoo]

When you dont have enough insulin in your system to allow blood glucose in to be used by the cells you body needs to get energy from somewhere so it starts to break down fat and protein stores in the body. This happens when you are losing weight from dieting. eating extreem low carb diests, and during sickness as well as when you dont have enough insulin Most people that have ketones because of dieting have low levels, When the body starts to break down fat and proteins in the body acetone builds up in the blood stream (sometimes people with dka will have breath that smells like nailpolish remover for that reason) and the kidneys try to filter it out. when the kidneys process acetone it changes it to ketones, which is why we test urine for ketones. Small amounts of ketones in teh urine with normal blood sugar levels isnt necessarily something to worry about. ketones accompanied by high blood sugar are.

This is how I understand it. I'm sure if i'm misinformed someone will correct me :0 and bet if you go to nih.gov or webmd or emedicine one of the sites will have better, more detailed info about the process.

[DeusXM]

Nah, you got it spot on there. Ketones are the waste products produced when your body uses protein and fat for energy, rather than glucose. Ketones can indicated either ketosis or diabetic ketoacedosis (DKA). Ketosis is a totally natural, safe and benign state to be in - you're just burning fat, that's all, but importantly you have enough insulin in your body to satisfy your requirements. DKA is a problem because it means there isn't enough insulin, and your blood is slowly turning acidic.

If you have ketones and normal BGs, you're probably fine. If you have ketones and high BGs, you'll need to start doing something. Also, don't test for ketones first thing in the morning. A lot of people with have trace ketones in their morning urine but this doesn't mean anything.

Ketones are like smoke - they show there's a fire somewhere, but they don't show whether it's burning something good or something bad.

[JediSkipdogg]

Ketones are like smoke - they show there's a fire somewhere, but they don't show whether it's burning something good or something bad.

Couldn't have ever said that better myself. I like the way you put that.

[Cyborg]

Is there any other way that doesnt involve using the ketone strips to find out?

Well, if you don't mind another finger stick, the Precision Xtra support ketone test strips.

[tanyatype1]

I learn something new here everyday. Love it!

[andypoo]

Ketones are like smoke - they show there's a fire somewhere, but they don't show whether it's burning something good or something bad.

I like this,too,DeusXM,
I am in constant wonder at how in-depth you are,about diabetes. Of course having diabetes is one thing,but you really are very savvy,about it. I'll remember ketones that way.

[DanG]

I like this,too,DeusXM,
I am in constant wonder at how in-depth you are,about diabetes. Of course having diabetes is one thing,but you really are very savvy,about it. I'll remember ketones that way.

I nominate this thread for "sticky" status. I knew some of this about ketones, but you couldn't have me tell you what I knew. DeusXM & parrotletzoo have informed us more clearly than I could have ever said. Thanks! :rock:

Now, tell us DeusXM - are you a medical professional or something like that? You really do seem to know a bunch about the physics of diabetes. Tell us about what you know about the fate of insulin in the body, i.e. when sick or in insulin resistance stage, insulin requirements increase, yet no insulin effect low, where is that insulin going? Is it stored in the system? Is it discharged as a waste product? Where did that stuff go? And, how is insulin used in the daily processes of life - perhaps you know some of that stuff and could start another thread about these biophysics jazz. (I know when I finished skool in early '70's biophysics seemed a stunning field to get to, but being newly diagnosed, I needed to keep bread on the table so I didn't do more skool and don't do anything near as glamorous today, but I ain't complainin' ...)