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Drinking more water can help with ketone levels because dehydration can cause your body to create ketones.

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Overview

What does it mean when you have ketones in your urine during pregnancy?

Ketones in urine during pregnancy occur when your body breaks down fat and uses it for energy. This happens when you don’t have enough glucose (sugar) in your blood or don't absorb glucose correctly. Your body prefers to use glucose for energy. Without glucose, your body uses fat instead. This breakdown of fat produces ketones. Your kidneys release ketones, and it shows up in your urine and blood. Having ketones in your urine is called ketonuria. Treatment for ketonuria during pregnancy depends on the cause. Your pregnancy care provider can tell if you have ketones in your pee with a simple urine test (urinalysis). If you have ketones in your urine during pregnancy, it may be a sign that you aren’t consuming enough calories or that you have gestational diabetes. Your healthcare provider is the best person to decide whether the amount of ketones in your urine requires immediate treatment. You can usually manage your ketone levels with diet and lifestyle changes or medication.

Ketones and gestational diabetes

One of the most common causes of ketones in your urine is unmanaged diabetes. The hormonal changes in pregnancy affect your body’s ability to use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that allows your body to use glucose for energy. When you can’t use glucose for energy, glucose builds up in your blood and causes gestational diabetes. It also leads to your cells using fat for energy, which increases ketone production. Finding ketones in your urine may be a sign that your blood sugar is off balance or that you’re not consuming enough carbohydrates. If your blood sugar and ketone levels can’t be managed with diet and lifestyle modifications, you may need insulin. Untreated diabetes during pregnancy can lead to high levels of sugar (glucose) crossing into the placenta and to your baby.

Can ketones in urine harm my baby?

Ketones do cross the placenta to the baby and there is some concern that a large amount can affect the baby's cognitive abilities. Occasional traces of ketones in your urine with no other symptoms is usually OK. However, consistently high ketone readings or symptoms of excess ketones could affect your pregnancy. There isn’t conclusive data on the exact correlation, so routine checking for ketones is not common.

Why do I have ketones in my urine if I don't have diabetes?

You can have ketones in your urine and not have diabetes. Diabetes is just one of the factors that can cause ketones in your urine. Other reasons you may have ketones in your urine are:

Lack of carbohydrates in your diet.

Fasting or going too long between meals.

Eating disorders.

Extreme workouts or over-exercise.

Vomiting.

Most providers don't test for ketones in your urine except when there’s unusually high glucose in your blood, or in cases of dehydration.

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Is keto acidosis fatal?

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is life-threatening—learn the warning signs to be prepared for any situation. DKA is no joke, it's a serious condition that can lead to diabetic coma or even death. DKA is caused by an overload of ketones present in your blood.

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is life-threatening—learn the warning signs to be prepared for any situation. DKA is no joke, it’s a serious condition that can lead to diabetic coma or even death. DKA is caused by an overload of ketones present in your blood. When your cells don't get the glucose they need for energy, your body begins to burn fat for energy, which produces ketones. Ketones are chemicals that the body creates when it breaks down fat to use for energy. The body does this when it doesn’t have enough insulin to use glucose, the body’s normal source of energy. When ketones build up in the blood, they make it more acidic. They are a warning sign that your diabetes is out of control or that you are getting sick. High levels of ketones can poison the body. When levels get too high, you can develop DKA. DKA may happen to anyone with diabetes, though it is rare in people with type 2. Treatment for DKA usually takes place in the hospital. But you can help prevent it by learning the warning signs and checking your urine and blood regularly.

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