15
professional as soon as possible.
•
Please contact your physician if you determine to make a change on your
current medical therapy based on test result.
2. Blood β-Ketone Reference Ranges
The blood β-ketone test measures beta-hydroxybutyrate, an important ketone
body in the blood.
2
Normally, levels of beta-hydroxybutyrate are expected to be
less than 0.6 mmol/L.
3
Beta-hydroxybutyrate may increase if a person fasts, exercises vigorously or has
diabetes and becomes ill.
2,4
If your blood β-ketone result is lower than 0.1 mmol/L
and your blood glucose result is 300.0 mg/dL or higher, repeat both the β-ketone
and glucose tests with new test strips. If the same result appears again or the
result does not match with how you feel, contact your healthcare professional.
Follow your healthcare professional’s advice before you make any changes to your
diabetes medication programme.
If your blood β-ketone result is between 0.6 and 1.5 mmol/L and your blood
glucose result is 300.0 mg/dL or higher, this may indicate development of a
problem that could require medical assistance. Follow your healthcare
professional’s advice.
If your blood β-ketone result is higher than 1.5 mmol/L and your blood glucose
result is 300.0 mg/dL or higher, contact your healthcare professional promptly for
advice and assistance. You may be at risk of developing diabetic ketoacidosis
(DKA).
3-7
References:
1. American Diabetes Association. Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes.
Diabetes Care 2018; vol.41 (supplement 1): S13-S27.
2. Schade DS, Eaton RP. Metabolic and clinical significance of ketosis. Special
Topics in Endocrinology and Metabolism 1982; 4: 1-27.
3. Wiggam MI, O’Kane MJ, Harper R, Atkinson AB, Hadden DR, Trimble ER, Bell
PM. Treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis using normalization of blood
3-hydroxybutyrate concentration as the endpoint of emergency management.
Diabetes Care 1997; 20: 1347-1352.
4. Harano Y, Kosugi K, Hyosu T, Suzuki M, Hidaka H, Kashiwagi A, Uno S,
Shigeta Y. Ketone bodies as markers for Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes
and their value in the monitoring of diabetes control. Diabetologia 1984; 26:
343-348.
5. Ubukata E. Diurnal variation of blood beta-Ketone bodies in insulin-dependent
diabetes mellitus and noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus patients: The
relationship to serum C-Peptide immuno reactivity and free insulin. Ann Nutr
Metab 1990; 34: 333-342.
6. Luzi L, Barrett EJ, Groop LC, Ferrannini E, DeFronzo RA. Metabolic effects of
low-dose insulin therapy on glucose metabolism in diabetic ketoacidosis.
Diabetes 1988; 37: 1470-1477.
7. Hale PJ, Crase J, Nattrass M. Metabolic effects of bicarbonate in the treatment
of diabetes ketoacidosis. Br Med J 1984; 289: 1035-1038.
