Ketonuria is the presence of ketone bodies in urine, indicating the body is burning fat for energy. It can be tested with a urine test strip and can be caused by diabetes, starvation, exercise, or an unbalanced diet. It’s important to determine the underlying cause.
Ketonuria is a term that describes the presence of ketone bodies in the urine. Ketones, as they are also known, are produced in the body as part of the breakdown of fatty acids. When they are present in the urine, it indicates that the body is burning fat for energy. There are a number of reasons someone may develop ketonuria, with this symptom sometimes being a cause for concern. Especially in diabetic patients, ketones should not be found in urine.
You can test for ketonuria with a test strip that can be dipped in a urine sample or held under a stream of urine while someone urinates. These test strips react to ketones in your urine, changing color to indicate if ketone bodies are present and at what concentrations. This test is instantaneous and very convenient, and can even be administered at home by people who may have reason to monitor ketone bodies.
In patients with diabetes mellitus, if there are ketones in the urine, it suggests that the diabetes is not well controlled. When switching insulin types, ketone body testing can be used to confirm that the medication is working well. Ketonuria can also occur due to starvation, strenuous exercise, unbalanced diet, hyperthyroid syndrome, pregnancy, breastfeeding, fever, or simple fasting. Indeed, it is not uncommon for hospitalized patients to have ketonuria.
This symptom appears when the body is unable to use carbohydrates. In the case of a patient with diabetes, the body does not metabolize carbohydrates properly, so the body burns fat for energy. In other patients, the body may not be getting enough carbohydrates, or stress may cause the body to use its energy from carbohydrates and turn it into fat for further energy. When people have ketonuria, they also commonly express ketones in their breath, with the breath having a distinct sharp odor.
When someone has ketonuria, it’s important to find out why. The condition may be relatively benign and not a cause for concern, or it may be worrisome. An interview with the patient can be conducted to find out what she ate last and when, how heavy the patient has been exercising lately, and so on. The interview will also be used to determine whether or not the patient has an underlying medical issue that could be contributing to problems with carbohydrate utilization.
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