Ketone Testing
Ketone testing involves checking how many ketones, or acids, are in your bloodstream so you can make sure your body isn't burning fat instead of sugar.
What are ketones?
Sugar is the first fuel your body burns for energy. To help move sugar from your bloodstream into body cells for fuel, your body needs insulin. If there is too little insulin in the bloodstream to help the sugar get into cells, the body starts to burn stored fat. When this happens, ketones begin to build up in the body.
Ketones are a type of acid that are left over when your body burns some of its own fat for fuel. When your body burns too much fat too quickly, there may be ketones in your blood. Ketones get removed from your bloodstream into your urine. However, too many ketones in the bloodstream can lead to a serious problem called ketoacidosis. Without proper treatment, this can lead to coma or death.
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Who should test for ketones?
People with type 1 diabetes develop ketones more easily than people with type 2 diabetes. Everyone with type 1 diabetes should test for ketones in their urine. People with type 2 diabetes are less likely to have problems with ketones, but everyone with diabetes should know about the warning signs and when to test. Ketone testing, like blood sugar testing, is very important. Finding ketones in your urine is a sign of trouble.
Ketone testing is often recommended for people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes who become pregnant or for women with gestational diabetes. Ketone testing may also be recommended for children with type 2 diabetes.
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How do I test for ketones in my urine?
Testing your urine for ketones is very easy. You can use a simple dip-and-read urine test strip. The test strip is dipped into a sample of your urine. If the color changes there are ketones in your urine. You may want to try Ketostix® Reagent Strips, which are for testing only ketones in your urine. For testing your urine for both sugar and ketones, you may want to try Keto-Diastix® Reagent Strips.
You can get these strips at your drugstore. Ketone test strips are available in bottles and in individually foil-wrapped strips. They are sensitive to light and moisture, so it is a good idea to keep them stored in the container with the lid on tight. Always check the expiration date on the bottle or individually foil-wrapped strip, and do not use strips that are out-dated.
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