Ketones in GD help needed..

[Floralaura]

Was dignosed with GD 8 days ago, however only got my testing stuff yesterday. I had GD last time round so thought I was clued up on it-however this time I have been given ketone sticks and a injection that I did not get last time.
I am not sure why they have given me the injection as it looks to be for when you go unconscious from a low to bring you round . As for the ketone sticks I have not been told when to use them-what do do about the result. I used them yesterday and got a reading of 1.6 and OH got 0.1..so we googled and it looks like mine was really high-every pee sample I have done during pregnancy (and its a lot!) has come back with ketones/protein/luco in without fail, mainly ketones. I have been losing weight all the way through pregnancy, when weighed last week I have put on 3kg since the day I got my BFP but my BMI to start was 33 so I have been trying to watch my weight.
Now OH seems to think I am starving myself as when we saw a dietician from the GD diagnosis she was basically trying to make me way way more than I do and with the levels of ketones OH got mad yesterday. So yesterday I ate more-not much more carbs but tried to eat more. Result-a too high a blood sugar level on waking this morning
So basically, when should I be testing for ketones and what are you meant to do if they are high-I cant speak to anyone until Monday now and google doesnt help lol..

 

[daisy72]

I was told to buy ketone sticks and test from time to time, any time of the day but preferably first morning urine: if it is "traces" or "small" it is ok, but if it's moderate to high I need to tell my diabetic consultant.
You are probably starving yourself, indeed. Are you on any medication for the diabetes itself? You might need some help i.e. insulin to have enough carbs and still keep within the healthy BS numbers.
This is my second GD-pregnancy, i started with normal BMI (23) and still only gained 5.5 kg by now... diagnosed since 11 weeks. I get ketones from time to time, usually when I have little food, not necessarily carbs. Nobody really knows if ketones are bad or not for the baby, but just in case I think better avoid them. I asked my ob what he thinks about it, and he told me that high blood sugar is definitely more dangerous, but who knows...

 

[LouisaC]

It can be dangerous if you have ketones, it means that your blood is too acidic and that your body is breaking down protein rather than the food that you're eating and may account for the weight loss. Whilst high blood sugars are known to be harmful to the baby, ketones are not good and I have only just got out of hospital with them yesterday, though the main concern was for me and not the baby.

The best way to get rid of ketones,

1) is to first off, make sure that the test is read properly - the strips should only be left a specific amount of time before reading the result, any longer and the result will be wrong.

2) Drink plenty of fluids to flush out your system

3) Eat proper meals - little and often is better than nothing, but may be more difficult to keep track of numbers depending on how you are controlling your GD

The injection you have been given...is it Glucogon? If it is, then as you said, it is to treat severe hypos where you have fallen unconscious. Make sure that your partner and anyone around you regularly enough, knows how to use it properly.

Good Luck!

 

[KatieB]

In my last pregnancy I had ketones from about week 30 at every appt. I was losing weight and was told I needed to eat more, which was true as I was pretty much starving myself and barely eating carbs in an effort to control blood sugars on metformin.

 

[Cetarari]

I can't comment in the GD (I managed to dodge that particular bullet despite pcos), but lots of ketones generally means not enough nutrition and you're dehydrated (they admit with ketones of 3+ or more for HG in this health authority). Try and keep your fluids up and to eat well (within what's good for GD) if your still getting odd results tell someone, you may need a helping hand with different meds (or whatever) to get back on an even keel.

 

[amjon]

I just took the GD class today. We were told to take them every morning and also if our BS levels were over 200 or we were ill. They said if it's a small amount to drink 8oz of water and retest in an hour. If they are medium or above to call the doctor (and also drink water/ retest in an hour).