At this point you’ve probably heard all about ketones and the ketogenic diet. So, what exactly is the difference between the two, and how can ketones be beneficial to you if you’re on the diet? Here’s everything you need to know.
What Are Ketones?
Ketones are molecules that are produced as your body burns fat, not glucose, as an energy source for fuel. If you lose weight, ketones are also produced. The official keto diet webpage says you’ll also have a lot of ketones if there isn’t enough insulin in your body for you to be able to burn sugar for energy. If you don’t have enough insulin, your levels of glucose will build up within your blood.
In this case, your body will turn to other sources for energy–so if it’s unable to burn glucose for fuel, it will begin to break down all the fat you have instead. When this happens, ketones will form within your blood and spread to other parts of the body such as into your urine. Unfortunately, there’s a possibility that these ketones could make you quite sick.
Can Ketones Be Tested For?
Yes–you can indeed conduct tests to see if ketones are being produced in your body and you can even measure the level of these ketones to see how much is being produced. You can do this by simply conducting a urine test. You can go to your local pharmacy to purchase several different products that enable you to conduct this kind of testing, and the good news is that you don’t need a prescription for these.
When you see the results, they’ll show up either as negative, moderate, or large quantities of ketones.
When is a Good Time to Test for Ketones?
You can test for ketones when:
- Your blood glucose is ever more than 250 mg/dl, when two tests in a row have been conducted
- When you’re feeling sick; often injuries, infections, and illnesses will cause blood glucose to spike, and this is an important time to test your ketone level
- When you’re pregnant; you should test ketones every day, in the morning before you eat anything for breakfast
What Does It Mean if My Test Comes Back Positive?
There could potentially be a situation where your blood glucose isn’t very high, but you have a lot of ketones. The good thing is that a positive level of ketones isn’t necessarily a problem, as long as your blood glucose is controlled, and your intention is to lose weight. It is a problem when your blood glucose is left untreated; in this case, the combination of high glucose and a positive level of ketones could lead to diabetic ketoacidosis, which is a condition that may be life-threatening.
If your test comes back positive, you should contact your doctor or physician, as it’s likely that you’ll need a boost to your insulin in order to stay healthy. Drink lots of water, make sure you stay hydrated, and keep testing your blood glucose at least once every four hours. You should also keep testing for ketones if your glucose continues to be over 250 mg/dl.
