Testing for Ketones

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When you are diagnosed with gestational diabetes it is going to be very important to
monitor your blood sugar levels several times per day.  You want to ensure you are
remaining within your target range given to you by your doctor.  In addition to testing
your blood sugar you will also be testing yourself daily for ketones.You test for ketones in your urine first thing in the morning with strips from your doctor or pharmacy.  This is the most common method but this can also be done through a blood test.  The presence of ketones in your urine during pregnancy is a signal that you need to adjust your diet – usually it means you are not eating enough or enough of the right kinds of food.The presence of ketones signals that your body utilizing energy from your fat stores instead of from the food that you are eating.  This is something you would aim for when you are trying to loose weight but not when you are pregnant.  If you found a low to
medium amount of ketones in your urine after testing in the morning, you should test
again the same day in the evening.  If they are still present, contact your doctor.  If when
you test there is a high amount of ketones in your urine you should contact your doctor
immediately.  If you are unsure it is always best to consult with your doctor.

Once you see your doctor, he or she will review your diet and either help you or refer you
to a dietician to see what dietary changes need to be made.  By acting promptly when you
discover ketones in your urine you can prevent the condition of ketoacidosis from
developing.  Symptoms of ketoacidosis can include stomach pangs and nausea or
vomiting..