Ketonenmeting bij adolescenten en volwassenen met diabetes mellitus: indicaties en technieken

Diabetes mellitus and ketones Ketones are produced when glucose is lacking as an energy source or in case of absolute insulin deficiency as in diabetic ketoacidosis, a potentially lifethreatening condition. 796 C. De Block, F. Nobels, J. De Schepper, et al. Assessing β-OH-butyrate, the most important and copious ketone body in capillary blood, reflects better the degree of ketosis than the urinary ketones. A β-OH-butyrate level exceeding 3 mmol/L by reagent strip furthers the diagnosis and follow-up of the treatment of ketoacidosis in the hospital. The assessment of β-OH-butyrate is also advisable for the home management of insulin pump-treated patients and diabetic children. Insulin treatment guidelines based on the level of blood glucose and β-OH-butyrate during „sick days”