What if my ketones are too high?

Too many ketones can trigger DKA, which is a medical emergency. Regular tests you take at home can spot when your ketone levels run too high. Then you can take insulin to lower your blood sugar level or get other treatments to prevent complications.

What causes high ketones in blood?

Without enough insulin, your body can’t use sugar properly for energy. This prompts the release of hormones that break down fat as fuel, which produces acids known as ketones. Excess ketones build up in the blood and eventually “spill over” into the urine.

What is a high level of ketones?

What should the ketone test results be? 1.6 to 3.0 mmol/L – a high level of ketones and could present a risk of ketoacidosis. It is advisable to contact your healthcare team for advice. Above 3.0 mmol/L – a dangerous level of ketones which will require immediate medical care.

Is it good to have high ketones?

“High levels of ketones can be dangerous and can cause health issues. Dangerously high levels of ketones in our bodies usually occur in insulin-dependent diabetic type one patients who do not take their insulin,” said Dr. Nazarian, “It can lead to dehydration and can also change the chemical balance of your blood.

What causes high ketone levels?

The causes of high levels of ketones and therefore ketones in your urine include: Poorly controlled diabetes. Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). Starvation: not eating for prolonged periods (for example, 12 to 18 hours). Anorexia nervosa.

What happens if your ketones are high?

Therefore, higher levels of ketones in the urine indicate that the body is using fat as the major source of energy. High levels of ketones in your body can cause tummy (abdominal) pain, feeling sick (nausea), being sick (vomiting) and diarrhoea.

How can I bring down my ketone levels?

Proper nutritional habits: One of the causes of ketones in urine is poor eating habits. Therefore, to ensure that your ketone level is normal, avoid an abnormal eating behaviour. Modify your diet to include balanced diet nutrition in every meal will help reduce the level of ketone in urine.

How much ketones are dangerous?

Normal when it is below 0.5 mmol/L. Nutritional ketosis when the levels are between 0.5 – 3 mmol/L. High ketone levels are when it is over 3 mmol/L. It is considered dangerous when the levels are over 5 mmol/L.