I know its dumb but.....

[giggs]

Does insulin effect ketones? So if one was to test for ketones would the result be effected if you had just taken insulin??

[JediSkipdogg]

No. Ketones take quite a while to be flushed out of the body through urine.

Insulin may affect the ketones depending on what caused them though. If they are caused by a lack of insulin then yes, more insulin would lower the ketones over time (generally a few hours.)

If the ketones are caused by natural (and wanted) weight loss, then they should be present and insulin won't help to elimate those, only eating more can.

[Cyborg]

Right... Ketones happen when your body breaks down fat to utilize for energy. Basically, your body is starving or your on an extremely low carb diet. This also occurs with lack of insulin since your body can't utilize available glucose.

[giggs]

Thanks. The reason I asked is becuase I I tested paul for ketones and he had a "small" result. His numbers have been jumping suprizingly like crazy the past few days and Inm not sure about all of this. I am so nervouse, and scared. I will leave him simply on him not taking care of himself. He has to take it seriously, even his nurse doens't seem concerned and to get him to go over her has been beyond a challenge.

[DeusXM]

'Small' ketones aren't necessarily a massive problem. There's a school of thought that says ketones are immediate grounds to ring an ambulance but the fact is that ketones are perfectly normal in all people. Most people will have trace amounts of ketones in their first pee of the day.

Since Paul has had trouble with his numbers lately I would suggest (and hope) that the small amount of ketones are temporary reaction to his recently elevated BG, and once he gets his BGs back in order they will go. He probably does need more insulin in his system from what you've suggested before.

As a side note, he is incredibly lucky to have someone like you who seems to care more about his health than he does and that you want to help. He needs to wake up and realise that, because people like you are very, very hard to find. Just make sure you don't burn yourself out over him because it's not fair on you.