Does anyone know what ketones in urine is caused by?

[mummytopebs]

Am 37 weeks and have been in hospital for 2 days, discharged yesterday with a suspected blood clot and infection in vein. Everytime they did a urine sample there was ketones in it. I ahve gestational diabetes which is well controlled so they said it was prob something to do with this, so let me go on condition i spoke to my diabetes nurse (who i cant get in touch with)

Anyway does anyone know why there would be ketones in urine if its not the diabetes - as one midwife seemed quite concerned about them and said they could harm the baby, however the midwife who discharged didnt seem bothered

[belgo]

Have you been eating enough? They can be caused by you not eating enough.

[CMOTdibbler]

You get ketones when you are metabolising fat - so if your diabetes isn't well controlled, your body will use fat instead of sugar as it needs the insulin to use the sugar.

But if you aren't well, your ketones can go up, so that might be the case. But you do need to speak to someone about it - maybe call your GP if you can't get in touch with your diabetes nurse

[belgo]

yes go back to your Gp and ask about this and about your vein as well, you can't be too careful.

Cmot I thought ketones was the result of metabolising muscle?

[mummytopebs]

I will ring the gp and ask if i can speak to him, i just feel like i am wasting there time cos hospitsl discharged so cant have been to concerned

[belgo]

no of course you're not wasting anyone's time! You have genuine concerns and you need a doctor to address those concerns.

[decafgirl]

Just found this...

Ketones are a substance that, if excreted in the urine, indicate that your body is burning fat. This could be for two reasons: One, you had a period of unusually intense exertion within the past 12 hours, or because you and your baby are not getting enough to eat. If this happens on a singular occasion, there is probably no reason to worry, but a repeated reading of ketones warns of an impending miscarriage because essentially your baby is getting hungry. To avoid this situation, do not overwork yourself to the point of excessive fatigue, and try not to skip any meals.

Hope it helps,don't read too much into the miscarriage stuff, am sure that's in the extreme but do try and speak to another professional who'll help xx

[mummytopebs]

Thanks for that decaf girl x It is difficult to eat lots without increasing blood sugars but will have to try and eat some more. Maybe its jst because the hospital food give such tiny portions lol

[decafgirl]

Hospital food is vile. Defo time for some good old fashioned grub for you! Hope you feel better soon xxx

[Jayfer]

I had large amounts of ketones and a bit of protein in my urine before Xmas and was told by midwife that it could be urinary tract infection (???). They didn't seem that bothered so I made an appt to see a GP couple of days later to repeat the test and it was fine.
Was the midwife talking out of her bottom?
I thought that ketones were related to not eating enough but after talking to midwife i was a bit confused!!

[mummytopebs]

Think a lot of midwifes are confused lol x One was dead concerned and one not concerned a bit

[mrschigur]

Have you spoken to someone yet? I have diabetes (not gestational) and have been warned that ketones in pregnancy are a danger sign. So I'd say keep yourself hydrated and contact the concerned midwife or your GP asap.

[illuminasam]

I had ketones in my urine at my appointment yesterday, they asked me if I was eating enough but after they found out my day, they said it was caused by hunger:

9am - toast for breakfast
then nothing except a cup of mint tea until 2.30pm when I got to the hospital.
Did urine sample, then ate sandwich.

Urine contained ketones.