What does ketones in the urine mean?

[twinmomjenni]

I tested my 2.5 year old daughter today and she had large amounts of ketones in her urine.  I tested her 3-4 times throughout the day and it was always large amounts.  She also had large amount of blood which is unrelated to diabetes.  But everything I research on ketones comes back to diabetes.  She has been eating fine, not sick, so I am not sure why the large ketones.  She had no glucose in the urine.  I called the doc and he said not to be concerned unless she also had glucose in her urine.  He does want to see her Monday for testing.  But I am also trying to research this to give myself a little peace of mind until then.  

BTW, I have test strips here at home that my doc gave me to test for infection.  I was testing myself and my girls (2.5 year old twins) thought it would be fun to test too.  LOL!

[JDRF-Team-gg]

Hi twinmomjenni!  We are not medical professionals here at the forum, just volunteers who have much experience with type 1 diabetes.  As far as ketones go, they can appear in the urine when diabetes is not present.  I have tested myself and during an episode of the flu, I had large ketones present too.  You did the right thing in alerting your daughter's doc and please be sure to follow up with him on Monday.  I hope this has brought you the peace of mind you were looking for.  Have fun over with holidays with those twin bundles!

[JDRF Team SGG]

Keytones present in urine usually is a sign that the boy is breaking down its fat cells for energy. This is frequently related to undiagnosed or uncontrolled diabetes because in diabetes that is not controlled, the body cannot get its energy from the carbohydrates eaten because there is either not enough insulin or the insulin is not being used effectively by the body; therefore in diabetics who are not controlled, the body goes after its next resource for energy, fat.

Diabetes is not the only cause for keytones being present in urine. Anything that causes the body to use its fat stores for energy will cause keytones to be present. People who are on low-carb diets such as the Atkins diet, end up burning off fat cells in much the same way as the uncontrolled diabetic, for in this case, the person is not eating enough carbs for the energy the body needs and so the body goes after the fat cells even though nothing is wrong. It is in this case simply  a matter of going to the number 2 source for energy (fat) if the number 1 source (carbhydrates) is not available. In this case, no harm is done as long as the person actualy.

Also, I have read that athletes can have keytones in the urine after extended periods of exercise. In this case, the body HAD carbohydrates available, but used them while in the exercise mode, and then uses fat cells to supplement the extraordinary need for energy during exercise of long duration.

So the keytones may be present because or reasons unrelated to diabetes. The presence of keytones does probably mean that your daughter should be checked out by her doctor, for the keytones themselves are not a health risk, but the cause of the keytones MAY be a health issue, whether due to dietary issues, a balance of exercise and diet, or some other reason.

[JDRF-Team-LRS]

Another non-physician here ... whatever is causing the blood in her urine may also be stressing her body so that ketones are being produced.  You said she was "fine" and yet blood in urine is not normally associated with "fine."  If she's very active and perhaps not eating lots, then she can form ketones.  Encourage her to drink lots of fluids to help flush these from her system.

Good luck!

[looklorry]

Hello there, I have recently been to the doctor, she said that I have very high keytones in my urine and a presence of glucose as well.  In April I have been in hospital because I had a bladder/ kidney and gall- bladder infection.
I still have high keytone levels and the doctors are researching where this is coming from.  Could it be that there is still an infection which is why the keytones are high? have keytones got anything to do with the liver or gall-bladder? is it ANYTHING to do with high sugar levels?

[Francyg]

My grandson is 3 years old he drinks alot and urinates frequently.
He was taken to MD. The MD, of course requested a urine specimen.The results were blood and ketones in his urine. I am very concerned that my grandchild may have diabetes type 1. Could this be possible? If anyone can help answer my concerns. Please respond.

[Glux]

I am late 50's and have severe abdominal pain in waves for about five days-I live and work in a rural community and had to travel 3 hrs to see a medical clinic.  The Dr. took a urine sample which had dark, blackish blood and said a high level of ketones was present.  It now has to go to analysis and I have to get blood test.  Doc says this is not normal.