Ketone testing involves checking how many ketones, or acids are in your blood or urine. Testing for ketones gives an early warning of a medical emergency, called ketoacidosis.
What are Ketones?
Ketones are a type of acid that is left over when your body burns some of its own fat for fuel. Your body burns fat if it can't get enough glucose to use for energy. When your body burns too much fat too quickly, there may be ketones in your blood. Ketones pass from your bloodstream into your urine.
Why Would My Body Have Trouble Using Glucose?
Glucose is the first fuel your body burns for energy. To help move glucose from your bloodstream into body cells for fuel, your body needs insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is made in the pancreas. If there is too little insulin in the bloodstream to help the glucose get into cells, the body looks for other kinds of fuel to burn. When the body burns stored fat, ketones begin to build up in the body. Too many ketones in the bloodstream can lead to a serious problem called ketoacidosis.