My daughter has been ill with a cold for the past few days. She has been eating normally and has NOT vomited. She has had large ketones in her urine for the past few days. Is this normal during an illness? She has been dealing with high blood sugar that comes and goes, so I am monitoring that as well. She had a blood sugar of 273 and large ketones on Saturday night, but the blood sugar went down on its own and I did not take her to the ER. Her regular doctor is unconcered. She is seeing a pediatric endocrinologist tomorrow, but in the meantime I want to know if non-diabetics can have ketones during illness as a normal part of the illness.
2007-03-19 05:55:33 · 4 answers · asked by Stacy R 1 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Diabetes
She is eating normally
2007-03-19 10:14:52 · update #1
When blood glucose is high there is the risk of ketones, especially if the person is ill.
2007-03-19 08:58:03 · answer #1 · answered by huggz 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ketones are normal during illness and bouts of high blood sugar. The best thing for ketones it to drink lots of water. Keep her hydrated all day. More water than she cares to think about.
2007-03-19 18:52:15 · answer #2 · answered by heathermagoo13 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
While ketones can and do happen in non-diabetics due to illness, it is usually small or trace amounts. This is called "ketosis", or starvation ketones. It happens when the body breaks down fat for energy, such as during fasting.
In your case, it sounds like there is a combo if things going on here:
-Illness
-Dehydration
-High blood sugar/not enough insulin. THIS is the cause for concern in Type 1 diabetics.
Make sure she is testing AT LEAST 1x every 4 hours, and taking enough insulin as needed to try and keep her blood sugars in normal range. If she stops eating, have her take her insulin as needed, and have her sip regular Ginger Ale or other carb containing fluids. You can match her insulin to the amount of carbs listed on the can. She may need more insulin (will have to increase her insulin to carb ratio) while ill.
Also, her basal insulin (long acting) should probably be increased while ill. No one here can advise you on this, please ask the doctor. While it is fine to bring down high blood sugars as they occur, it may be easier to be more proactive.
Either way:
-Keep her BG's in normal range as much as possible. Do not let high blood sugars "sit". If there is no insulin already in her system to bring them down, treat them right away.
-Make sure she eats, and drinks lots of fluids.
Follow the above and she should be fine. Just make sure to test her often, especially when more insulin is given, as you don't want her to drop too low either. Tomorrow he doctor will be able to help you adjust her doses for sick days.
Good luck!
2007-03-21 18:03:59 · answer #3 · answered by reginachick22 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, ketones can be present in urine during illness in non-diabetics. Ketones are the end-product of fatty acid metabolism, so when carobohydrates aren't available as an energy source ( ie a child with a fever who isn't eating), the body uses its fat stores as an alternative source of energy, thereby producing ketonuria.
2007-03-19 17:10:25 · answer #4 · answered by Curry 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋