Urinary Ketones

Urine ketone determinations remain an important part of monitoring Diabetic control; particularly in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes or Type 1 Diabetes.

Urinary ketones may be an indication of impending Ketoacidosis, a condition that requires immediate medical attention. Urine must be tested for ketones during acute illness or stress, when blood glucose levels are consistently >13.4 mM (240 mg/dl), during pregnancy, or when any symptoms of Ketoacidosis (e.g., nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain) are present.

The Nature of Ketones

Your body cells use sugar for energy. Insulin must be present for your body cells to absorb sugar for energy. When there is not enough insulin present, your cells cannot use sugar to obtain the energy they need. If your body cannot get energy from sugar, fat is used instead. When fat is broken down, ketones, which are strong acids and are harmful to your body, are made. Ketones in your urine may be a sign that you are developing Diabetic Ketoacidosis.

Get your urine tested for glucose -

• if your blood sugar tests are higher than 250 mg/dL for two or more tests in a row.
• if you are feel your blood sugar is high.
• if you have an infection.
• if you are throwing up or feel sick to your stomach.
• if you are ill or stressed.
• if you are pregnant. Your doctor or nurse will tell you when to test your urine for ketones.

If you have Type 1 diabetes, you should always have a supply of the strips used for urine ketone testing and know how to use them. If you have Type 2 diabetes, your doctor or nurse will let you know if you need to do urine ketone testing.

Ketone Testing - the Procedure

There are several products in the market that can be used to test urine for ketones. Test strips can be purchased at a pharmacy and usually do not require a prescription. Ketostix(r) test strips are commonly used to test the urine for ketones. Here's how you do the test.

• Dip the test end of the strip into fresh urine.
• Remove the strip from the urine and wait 15 seconds.
• Compare the color on the strip with the color chart given on the bottle.
• The urine ketone test tells you whether you have ketones present in your urine at all. It also tells you if you have ketone traces, or small, moderate, or large ketones.
• If your urine has moderate or large ketones present, call your doctor or nurse right away.
• Follow the directions for testing exactly and time the test accurately.
• Read the directions before doing the test.
• Protect the test strips from damage.
• Do not touch the test area of the strip or allow it to touch the table.
• Protect the test strips from moisture, direct sunlight and heat.
• Keep the test strips in a cool, dry place but do not store them in the refrigerator.
• Do not remove the desiccant (white packet in bottle).
• Replace the bottle cap promptly and tightly.
• Check the expiration date on your test strips. Do not use the test if the date has passed. Use the strips within 6 months after first opening the bottle.
• Do not use test strips that have discolored.