Ketones
Explanation
Ketones are substances made when your body breaks down fat for energy. Their presence alone does not mean that you have diabetes or that your blood is too acidic.
When can ketones appear?
Ketones can increase during fasting, when you have not eaten for a period of time. They can also occur in other situations, including diabetes.
Ketones can be measured in blood or checked in urine. To understand a result, your care team considers the type of test, the amount found, recent food intake, symptoms and other test results.
Does this mean ketoacidosis?
Ketoacidosis is a condition in which a build-up of ketone acids makes the blood too acidic. The diabetes-related form is called diabetic ketoacidosis, or DKA. It is a medical emergency.
Finding ketones alone is not enough to diagnose DKA. Doctors also check whether the blood is too acidic and consider blood sugar and whether you have diabetes.
When is urgent help needed?
Get urgent medical help for symptoms such as repeated vomiting, breathing difficulty or confusion, especially if you have diabetes or a raised ketone result. DKA can occur even when blood sugar is not very high.
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