Ketone Checks Diabetes: Why Monitoring Ketones Matters for Blood Sugar Control

When you have diabetes, a condition where the body can’t properly use blood sugar for energy. Also known as hyperglycemia, it forces your body to burn fat instead — which produces ketones, acidic byproducts released when fat breaks down. These ketone bodies are normal in small amounts, but too many can turn your blood acidic and lead to a life-threatening condition called diabetic ketoacidosis, a medical emergency that happens when insulin is too low and ketones build up.

People with type 1 diabetes are at highest risk because their bodies make almost no insulin. But even those with type 2 diabetes can develop ketoacidosis during illness, infection, or if they skip insulin doses. That’s why regular ketone checks, the process of measuring ketone levels in blood or urine. Also known as blood ketone testing, are a critical part of daily management — not just when you feel sick. You don’t wait for symptoms like nausea or fruity-smelling breath. You test when your blood sugar is over 240 mg/dL, during illness, or if you’re feeling off. A simple finger-prick test gives you a number in minutes. A reading above 1.5 mmol/L means danger is near. Above 3.0 mmol/L? Call your doctor or go to the ER.

Many people think ketones only matter if they’re trying to lose weight or following a keto diet. That’s not true for diabetics. For you, ketones are a warning signal — like a smoke alarm for your metabolism. Ignoring them can land you in the hospital. Testing is cheap, fast, and easy with handheld meters. It’s not about perfection. It’s about catching problems before they spiral. The posts below give you real-world advice: how to choose the right test strips, when to switch from urine to blood testing, what to do if your ketones are high but your blood sugar is normal, and how to talk to your care team about your results. You’ll find practical guides from people who’ve been there — no fluff, no jargon, just what works.