Keto Means
Photo by Ketut Subiyanto Pexels Logo Photo: Ketut Subiyanto

How do you feel when ketones are high?

You have ketones in your urine and can't reach your health care provider for advice. You have many symptoms of diabetic ketoacidosis. These include excessive thirst, frequent urination, nausea and vomiting, stomach pain, weakness or fatigue, shortness of breath, fruity-scented breath, and confusion.

Is 60 carbs a day keto?
Is 60 carbs a day keto?

Eating too many carbs But if you want to get into ketosis — which is essential for a ketogenic diet — then this level of intake may be too high....

Read More »
Why is autophagy good?
Why is autophagy good?

Autophagy allows your body to break down and reuse old cell parts so your cells can operate more efficiently. It's a natural cleaning out process...

Read More »

Overview

Diabetic ketoacidosis is a serious complication of diabetes.

The condition develops when the body can't produce enough insulin. Insulin plays a key role in helping sugar — a major source of energy for muscles and other tissues — enter cells in the body. Without enough insulin, the body begins to break down fat as fuel. This causes a buildup of acids in the bloodstream called ketones. If it's left untreated, the buildup can lead to diabetic ketoacidosis. If you have diabetes or you're at risk of diabetes, learn the warning signs of diabetic ketoacidosis and when to seek emergency care.

Symptoms

Diabetic ketoacidosis symptoms often come on quickly, sometimes within 24 hours. For some, these symptoms may be the first sign of having diabetes. Symptoms might include:

Being very thirsty

Urinating often

Feeling a need to throw up and throwing up

Having stomach pain

Being weak or tired

Being short of breath

Having fruity-scented breath

Being confused

More-certain signs of diabetic ketoacidosis — which can show up in home blood and urine test kits — include:

High blood sugar level

High ketone levels in urine

When to see a doctor

If you feel ill or stressed or you've had a recent illness or injury, check your blood sugar level often. You might also try a urine ketone test kit you can get at a drugstore.

You're throwing up and can't keep down food or liquid

Your blood sugar level is higher than your target range and doesn't respond to home treatment

Your urine ketone level is moderate or high

Seek emergency care if:

Your blood sugar level is higher than 300 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), or 16.7 millimoles per liter (mmol/L) for more than one test. You have ketones in your urine and can't reach your health care provider for advice. You have many symptoms of diabetic ketoacidosis. These include excessive thirst, frequent urination, nausea and vomiting, stomach pain, weakness or fatigue, shortness of breath, fruity-scented breath, and confusion.

Remember, untreated diabetic ketoacidosis can lead to death.

There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Review/update the information highlighted below and resubmit the form. From Mayo Clinic to your inbox Sign up for free, and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips and current health topics, like COVID-19, plus expertise on managing health. Email ErrorEmail field is required ErrorInclude a valid email address Learn more about Mayo Clinic’s use of data. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail. Subscribe! Thank you for subscribing! You'll soon start receiving the latest Mayo Clinic health information you requested in your inbox. Sorry something went wrong with your subscription Please, try again in a couple of minutes Retry

Causes

Who is the unhealthiest country?
Who is the unhealthiest country?

The U.S. is the unhealthiest country globally because of its high obesity rate and the heart disease, diabetes, and other illnesses that go along...

Read More »
How do you flush yeast out of your body?
How do you flush yeast out of your body?

There are many ways to do a cleanse, but two common ways are: Drinking only fluids, such as lemon water or bone broth. Eating mainly vegetables,...

Read More »

Sugar is a main source of energy for the cells that make up muscles and other tissues. Insulin helps sugar enter the cells in the body. Without enough insulin, the body can't use sugar to make the energy it needs. This causes the release of hormones that break down fat for the body to use as fuel. This also produces acids known as ketones. Ketones build up in the blood and eventually spill over into the urine.

Diabetic ketoacidosis usually happens after:

An illness. An infection or other illness can cause the body to make higher levels of certain hormones, such as adrenaline or cortisol. These hormones work against the effects of insulin and sometimes cause diabetic ketoacidosis. Pneumonia and urinary tract infections are common illnesses that can lead to diabetic ketoacidosis. An infection or other illness can cause the body to make higher levels of certain hormones, such as adrenaline or cortisol. These hormones work against the effects of insulin and sometimes cause diabetic ketoacidosis. Pneumonia and urinary tract infections are common illnesses that can lead to diabetic ketoacidosis. A problem with insulin therapy. Missed insulin treatments can leave too little insulin in the body. Not enough insulin therapy or an insulin pump that doesn't work right also can leave too little insulin in the body. Any of these problems can lead to diabetic ketoacidosis.

Other things that can lead to diabetic ketoacidosis include:

Physical or emotional trauma

Heart attack or stroke

Pancreatitis

Pregnancy

Alcohol or drug misuse, particularly cocaine

Certain medicines, such as corticosteroids and some diuretics

Risk factors

The risk of diabetic ketoacidosis is highest if you:

Have type 1 diabetes

Often miss insulin doses

Sometimes, diabetic ketoacidosis can occur with type 2 diabetes. In some cases, diabetic ketoacidosis may be the first sign of having diabetes.

Complications

Diabetic ketoacidosis is treated with fluids, electrolytes — such as sodium, potassium and chloride — and insulin. Perhaps surprisingly, the most common complications of diabetic ketoacidosis are related to this lifesaving treatment.

Possible complications of the treatments

Treatment complications include:

Low blood sugar, also known as hypoglycemia. Insulin allows sugar to enter cells. This causes the blood sugar level to drop. If the blood sugar level drops too quickly, the drop can lead to low blood sugar. Insulin allows sugar to enter cells. This causes the blood sugar level to drop. If the blood sugar level drops too quickly, the drop can lead to low blood sugar. Low potassium, also known as hypokalemia. The fluids and insulin used to treat diabetic ketoacidosis can cause the potassium level to drop too low. A low potassium level can affect the heart, muscles and nerves. To avoid this, potassium and other minerals are usually given with fluid replacement as part of the treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis. The fluids and insulin used to treat diabetic ketoacidosis can cause the potassium level to drop too low. A low potassium level can affect the heart, muscles and nerves. To avoid this, potassium and other minerals are usually given with fluid replacement as part of the treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis. Swelling in the brain, also known as cerebral edema. Adjusting the blood sugar level too quickly can cause the brain to swell. This appears to be more common in children, especially those with newly diagnosed diabetes.

Untreated, diabetic ketoacidosis can lead to loss of consciousness and, eventually, death.

What kind of chips can I eat on keto?
What kind of chips can I eat on keto?

Keto Friendly Chips to Buy Wilde Chicken and Waffles Chips. Wilde Chicken and Waffles Chips. ... Spicy Sweet Chili Tortilla Style Quest Chips....

Read More »
What are the 3 superfoods?
What are the 3 superfoods?

3 Superfoods to Add to Your Diet + How to Prep Them Maqui Berry. Sea Vegetables. Cacao. Feb 16, 2012

Read More »

Prevention

There are many ways to prevent diabetic ketoacidosis and other diabetes complications.

Manage your diabetes. Make healthy eating and physical activity part of your daily routine. Take diabetes medicines or insulin as directed. Make healthy eating and physical activity part of your daily routine. Take diabetes medicines or insulin as directed. Monitor your blood sugar level. You might need to check and record your blood sugar level at least 3 to 4 times a day, or more often if you're ill or stressed. Careful monitoring is the only way to make sure that your blood sugar level stays within your target range. You might need to check and record your blood sugar level at least 3 to 4 times a day, or more often if you're ill or stressed. Careful monitoring is the only way to make sure that your blood sugar level stays within your target range. Adjust your insulin dosage as needed. Talk to your health care provider or diabetes educator about how to make your insulin dosage work for you. Consider factors such as your blood sugar level, what you eat, how active you are, and whether you're ill. If your blood sugar level begins to rise, follow your diabetes treatment plan to return your blood sugar level to your target range. Talk to your health care provider or diabetes educator about how to make your insulin dosage work for you. Consider factors such as your blood sugar level, what you eat, how active you are, and whether you're ill. If your blood sugar level begins to rise, follow your diabetes treatment plan to return your blood sugar level to your target range. Check your ketone level. When you're ill or stressed, test your urine for excess ketones with a urine ketones test kit. You can buy test kits at a drugstore. If your ketone level is moderate or high, contact your health care provider right away or seek emergency care. If you have low levels of ketones, you may need to take more insulin. When you're ill or stressed, test your urine for excess ketones with a urine ketones test kit. You can buy test kits at a drugstore. If your ketone level is moderate or high, contact your health care provider right away or seek emergency care. If you have low levels of ketones, you may need to take more insulin. Be prepared to act quickly. If you think you have diabetic ketoacidosis because your blood sugar is high and you have too many ketones in your urine, seek emergency care. Diabetes complications are scary. But don't let fear keep you from taking good care of yourself. Follow your diabetes treatment plan carefully. Ask your diabetes treatment team for help when you need it.

Are canned baked beans OK for diabetics?
Are canned baked beans OK for diabetics?

Beans are a diabetes super food. The American Diabetes Association advises people with diabetes to add dried beans or no-sodium canned beans to...

Read More »
At what age is brain most smartest?
At what age is brain most smartest?

The human brain attains peak processing power and memory around age 18. After studying how intelligence changes over time, scientists found that...

Read More »
Are carrots dirty keto?
Are carrots dirty keto?

The cooking method of carrots doesn't affect their carb content significantly, so they can be included raw or cooked in reasonable portions on the...

Read More »
Can you have coffee on egg fast?
Can you have coffee on egg fast?

The boiled egg diet consists mostly of eggs, lean proteins, and low carb fruits and vegetables. Calorie-free beverages are also permitted,...

Read More »