Please Help: Can a type two diabetic go into ketoacidosis even with a BG of 6.5mmol/L - Ketones at 8.0 mmol/L

(Dean Gamey) #1

Is it possible for a type two diabetic who has gone on the ketosis diet to go into diabetic ketoacidosis even with low blood sugars ?

I have a type two diabetic friend who has been doing the ketosis diet and she has gone off her metformin which she was on for 5 yrs (she’s been off it now for 4 plus weeks with no adverse effects). Before the diet her BG was between 6-18 mmol/L when she would check and since doing the diet it’s been between 4.5 - 7 mmol/L.

After feeling a little sluggish for a couple days she tried a ketone pee strip and the strip said her ketones were at 8.0 mmol/L. But her blood sugar was 6.5 mmol/L. She thinks she might be experiencing diabetic ketoacidosis symptoms (tired, thirsty, frequent urination, headache) and is going to the doctor now.

One last factor is that she has been losing weight since going on the diet and. After doing a good journal for a few days has noticed that she’s short about 500 calories every day.

#2

There is a rare type of diabetes that can leave Type 2s prone to DKA. https://www.bmj.com/content/346/bmj.f3501 but the symptoms she is experiencing could also be due to dehydration/keto flu. Your friend is wise to see a doctor - better safe than sorry.

(Full Metal KETO AF) #3

Ketoacidosis and ketosis are two different things The first is dangerous and toxic to your body and ketosis is not. You will go into ketosis if you stop consuming carbs and sugar above about 20-25 grams per day regardless of BG levels.It may take some time for your BG to drop, I am pre diabetic and had a glucose fasting level above 200 last August. I immediately cut out sugar and carbs the day I found out. Each month since my glucose fasting levels have dropped but not as quickly as I had thought they would. My last test in November was at 135. I expect to dip out of the category I am in to below 130 this month. And I also hope to have normal BG levels by February. I am a kidney transplant recipient 59 years old. I never had high blood sugar till after my transplant. From steroids (prednisone) they tell me.

(Dean Gamey) #4

I can’t access the article unfortunately. Only the abstract. Does the actual article clarify if these ketosis prone type two diabetics had high BGL paired with their ketoacidosis incidents ? Or does the article say that they experienced the high ketones, which normal BGL, given them ketoacidosis?

#5

If you google ‘Flatbush Diabetes’ you should be able to find more information on how it presents.

(bulkbiker) #6

Pee strips are pretty rubbish for accurately measuring ketones so she’d be better getting her blood ketones measured if the doc can do that.
It’s fairly unlikely that she’ll be getting ketoacidosis with no meds and those levels although there are some T2 medications that can bring on ketoacidosis without high blood sugar levels.If she isn’t on those then there should be no problem.

(Dean Gamey) #7

she was on metformin but hasn’t been for a month. The things that are most concerning to her are her raised heart rate when exercising. She does a run daily an her HR typically goes up to 163 max. And has been doing that since being on veto except for this weekend. IT was going way too high. Up to 193 which is high for her being 32. Theres that and then the head ache, the high ketone levels on the keto strip, dehydration, thirst, having to pee, ketoacidosis type symptoms.

#8

This can also be caused by dehydration. Is she keeping up her electrolytes?

(Dean Gamey) #9

Possibly not. What electrolytes should she be making sure she gets enough of?

#10

Lower insulin levels will cause the kidneys to dump sodium so she may need salt for a start. If you do a forum search you’ll find a recipe for ‘ketoaide’ & a lot of discussion around electrolyte supplementation.

It is much more likely that this is her problem but that doesn’t rule out other issues so she should still see her doctor if only so she’ll feel better/stress less.

(Dean Gamey) #11

I see. Thank you for all the insights

(Running from stupidity) #13

Why revive an old thread to add that?

(Banting & Yudkin & Atkins & Eadeses & Cordain & Taubes & Volek & Naiman & Bikman ) #14

Why respond to an empty comment to revive an old thread when it will just push it to the top?

(Running from stupidity) #15

Because it was already there as a result of the prev comment