What Does It Mean When You Have High Ketones in Your Urine?
A high ketone count in urine can indicate ketoacidosis, a potentially dangerous or even fatal condition that afflicts diabetics, according to Healthline. Ketones form when someone does not have enough insulin to burn glucose, causing his body to start burning fat instead. Ketones are a by-product of this fat burning.
This condition most commonly occurs in type 1 diabetics but can also be found in type 2 diabetics if they are sick and their insulin level is low. Nondiabetics can have ketones present in their blood if their diet is low in carbohydrates and they consume few calories and nutrients. For someone with a normal blood glucose level who is losing weight, the presence of ketones is typically not a cause for concern unless the person has diabetes, states Healthline.
