#Ketogenic diet for diabetes infographic how to#

If you do notice symptoms of high ketones or if you’re a parent and you see the signs in your child, you need to act quickly. You might notice these symptoms over 24 hours, but they can come on faster than that. changes to your breathing (usually deeper).high blood sugar levels (this is called a hyper).

breath that smells fruity (this is the ketones on your breath).You should check for ketones in your blood or urine if you notice the following: Noticing when your body is starting to produce ketones is an important step. You should do what you can to stop ketones from building up in the body. We can support you when you’re feeling down or tired with managing your diabetes. If you’re struggling to cope with your diabetes you can have a chat with us on our helpline. It’s important to know that sometimes you need more insulin than usual and need to check for high blood sugars more regularly, like when:Īll of these times are just part of normal life and that can be a reminder that diabetes is always there in the background. You’re most at risk of a build-up of ketones if you don’t inject enough insulin or if you miss a dose of insulin. You can also share this info with anyone who looks after your child, such as their teacher. So if you’re a parent and don’t know much about diabetes then this is good for you to know as well. But if you have type 2 and use insulin then you should still look out for the signs of DKA.ĭKA is also common in people who have not yet been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, especially children. If you have type 1 diabetes, you’re more at risk of experiencing DKA than people with other types of diabetes.

#Ketogenic diet for diabetes infographic how to#

This can be life-threatening, so you need to know what the symptoms of DKA are, how to check for them and how to get treatment straight away. When ketones build-up in the blood, they can become acidic and lead to something called diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). And when you use fat for energy your liver starts to produce ketones. But if you don’t have enough insulin, you’ll start to use fat for energy. If you treat your diabetes with insulin, your body should be using the insulin you give it to change blood sugar into energy. Your doctor should give you an idea of what your target range is and what to do if you go above it. You can tell if you have high levels of ketones in your blood by checking for them. You can have low levels of ketones in your blood without it being a problem.īut high levels of ketones in your blood is a sign that something isn’t quite right.

Your body uses ketones for energy typically during fasting, long periods of exercise, or when you don’t have as many carbohydrates. Ketones are a type of chemical that your liver produces when it breaks down fats. We'll also show you how to test for ketones using test strips, and explain what to do if your ketone levels are high. On this page, we'll explain what ketones are and go through how to spot the symptoms. This can be life-threatening, so it's important to be aware of your ketone level. High levels of ketones in your blood or urine can mean you're at risk of developing diabetic ketoacidosis.