Making the Diagnosis
The amount of ketones in the urine should be checked if a person with diabetes has:
- symptoms of DKA
- fasting blood glucose levels above 252 mg/dL (14 mmol/L) for 24 hours
- infection or illness
Ketone levels can be easily measured at home; a positive test requires immediate medical attention. A doctor or health care professional can show you how to measure the amount of ketones in your urine.
Your doctor or health care provider may also take blood tests to measure levels of ketones, electrolytes (e.g., sodium and potassium), pH (a measure of how acidic your blood is), and glucose.