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February 2, 2005

Hyperglycemia and DKA

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Question from USA:

Can a diabetic tell when they are producing ketones? Is there any way to smell your own breath to check for them or tatse them?

Answer:

From: DTeam Staff

By the time you can smell ketones, you are fairly intensely ketotic. It is really a bad idea to wait that long. Blood or urine is the way to go to test. Test when the glucose is sustained high and/or you are ill. If you are vomiting, you must check right away. High glucose; high ketones, nausea and vomiting are reasons for an emergency call to the doctor.

LD