(HealthNewsDigest.com) – Diabetes management is something that is very complicated, but generally, the first thing to come to mind for a lot of people is how they manage their glucose. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but one has to understand that people with diabetes have to deal with a variety of different medical issues, and one such example is the fact that the relationship the body has with its ketones suddenly changes. Generally, ketones work very quietly in the background, but much like insulin, ketones suddenly take on a new tone, and need to be addressed in a different way.
Outside of diabetes care, most people are concerned about using ketones to help them lose weight. The reason for this that ketone bodies are created when the body breaks down fat into energy, specifically when carbohydrates are low. Some people try to use this on purpose in order to help cut down on weight by dieting, and here’s how that process plays out.
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The body generally uses glucose to power itself, like a source of fuel. When glucose is low, it starts looking to stored glucose in the liver, also known as glycogen. When there’s no glycogen, the body’s levels of blood sugar and insulin drop. After this, the body relies on fat in order to get the fuel that it needs.
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Note that achieving this state isn’t typically going to happen right away. One way that people achieve ketosis is using a low-carbohydrate diet, called a ketogenic diet. Other things that can cause this state include intensive and prolonged exercise, fasting, or starving.
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When the body becomes reliant on fat to do this job, something called beta-oxidation begins. This process cuts down on fat in, which is what most people are looking for. However, it also creates ketones in the process.
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People who espouse the idea of ketogenic living believe on using fat as a food source instead of carbohydrates. They believe that on top of losing weight, this will lead to more energy and fewer cravings.
For most, ketones are treated more as a byproduct of a process that could be helpful. For diabetics, this takes on a different frame, though. For people with diabetes, high ketones in the bloodstream represent a major problem with the bloodstream. This all starts when people with diabetes do not take the insulin that they need. What happens here is that the glucose that should be used as fuel first never actually gets used, and the cells start burning fat instead. If this isn’t taken care of, ketones can reach dangerous levels, hitting a stage called acidotic/diabetic keto-acidosis. At this point, the diabetics will need medical attention to avoid potential serious harm.
If a person does have high levels of ketones, but isn’t in keto-acidosis yet, there are some things they can do to help get back to proper levels. The best thing you can do is start by keeping hydrated with water and other fluids with low calories. Equally important is being able to monitor your levels, not just of ketones, but also of your blood sugar in general. However, there is a certain level where ketones are too high to effectively manage without medical intervention. Key examples of this are blood sugar levels that won’t drop in response to medication, or vomiting. Here, hydration won’t be enough to fix the problems.
Because of the fact that there’s no one set situation that can lead to high ketone levels, as well as the consequences of ketosis, it’s essential for diabetics to look into getting ketone test strips. You have two main options when it comes to testing your ketones—either checking blood or urine. Note that there are pros and cons for both methods. For one thing, you’ll get a reading quicker by testing blood, as ketones show up there faster. However, urine tests are far more accessible. In both cases, simply provide a sample and dip in the test strips. The darker the test strip is, the more ketones you have in the bloodstream.
Ketones are a perfect example of how something that’s generally pretty harmless can end up being a major issue for some people. Diabetics need to take the time to make sure their ketones don’t get out of hand, and this means both having the proper lifestyle as well as using the proper tools in order to make sure you see what’s going on. If you need some help with your ketone management, the best course of action is to reach out to a medical professional for added help and advice.