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Ketone Test |
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Ketone Test - Information on Defination, Reasons, Preparation and Procedure to Conduct Ketone Test
Ketone Test
Ketone testing is done to check for ketones in your urine or blood. Ketones are responsible for converting fat into energy, in the body. Our body gets the required energy from carbohydrate present in our food. But if our meals do not have enough carbohydrates, then that means that there isn’t enough carbohydrates to convert into sugar or glucose, and then the stored fat is converted into ketones to provide the body with enough energy.
Ketone urine test and blood ketone testing can be done using home kits.
Reason for doing ketone testing
Ketones can be measured accurately through blood tests. This method of testing is recommended for patients with diabetes, when they suffer from symptoms like abdominal pain, vomiting, nausea. A urine test is another common method of measuring ketones. However, a urine test is not as accurate as a blood test. A urine test for measuring ketones is done to keep a check on a person, who is on a low-carbohydrate diet; monitor women who are pregnant and have diabetes or gestational diabetes.
Preparation for Ketone Test
You don’t have to prepare specially for this test. You can discuss your concerns at this point of time with your doctor.
Procedure to Conduct Ketone Test
There are different procedures for a blood test and a urine test.
Blood test
This is a normal blood test procedure, where the technologist will take a sample of your blood. For this, your upper arm will be wrapped with an elastic band to stop the blood flow and make the veins larger. The area is cleaned with alcohol before inserting the needle. A cotton ball and gauze pad is used to cover the skin after the needle is taken out.
Urine test
The urine is collected in a clean bottle and tested by a laboratory technician.
Is this test painful
You might feel a pinch when the needle is inserted into your arm, but you won’t feel a thing while collecting your urine sample.
Risks in Ketone Test
There’s hardly any risk while drawing blood. If the procedure is conducted by an experienced technologist, then there’s not much you should worry about. There might be a bruise on the area where the needle was inserted.
There are no risks involved while collecting a urine sample.
High values of ketones
You will have ketones in your urine if your diabetes is not under proper control; or if you are on a low-carbohydrate diet; have an eating disorder; or if you haven’t eaten for 18 hours; or if you are pregnant.
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Submitted on
January 29, 2010 |
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