Ketone production

[Beverle]

Hi all:
I'm sure this has been asked ...and answered ...but I don't know where to begin looking. Dr. Bernstein says that glucose can only be obtained from protein and carbohydrate. When does the body begin ketone production in place of protein-to-glucose production in the absence of carbohydrates? I am concerned about protein-from-muscle conversion. Sure hope I worded that in an understandable way.
Thanks,
Beverle

[matawguro]

Re: Ketone production

You don't have to worry about protein-from-muscle conversion as long as you're eating enough calories. Your body uses protein from your muscles and organs when it believes it is starving or what people on this board refer to as "starvation-mode". If you're eating enough to satisfy your body's needs, this won't happen.

[Beverle]

Re: Ketone production

Thank you. I don't think getting enough to eat is a problem for either my husband or me <VBG> but I didn't/don't understand when the ketone process begins. As long as he has BG readings above 100 can I figure that he isn't producing ketones?
Bev

[2big4mysize]

Re: Ketone production

nope

having sugar in the blood at a normal amount doesn't mean he isn't buring ketones for fuel.

Say your hubby is diabetic and had no insulin making at all then he can't move the sugar to his tissues to burn so it will stll be there which is why diabetics not eating controlled carb plans have such HIGH blood sugars.

if you are concerned if he is making ketones you can get the strips and test his urine.

If a diabetic is eating high carb and can't process the sugar the body thinking no sugar isd availible does the converting proteins to sugars and fat burning too but even those muscles or dietary proteins to sugar converstion will not result in any energy for the body cause it can't use the sugar so more energy is needed and more protein is converted and diabetics get sugar coming out in the urine cause it can't be used by the cells and sugar damage to the tissues cause they can't move it without the insulin.
if hubby has insulin production and is on meds then low carbing will keep the amount of sugar fairly stable once his meds are titrated for a low carb way of eating. you don't want his blood sugar too low cause some body parts that lack mitochondrias like red blood cells and some areas of the retina and some brain areas can only use sugar for fuel. { they now know one of the 3 forms of ketones in the body is water soluble and can cross the blood brain barrier and nurish most of the brain too.}

Oh and guess what Dr Bernstein "lied". fats have a carbohydrate backbone and 3 fatty acids in each molecules of fat so when we burn fats for fuel step one is to fracture the fat into fatty acids and that carbohydrate, glycerol, which the human liver is very effiecnet at making into glucose with the least amount of added energy.

[Beverle]

Re: Ketone production

Thanks again. Hubby's BG levels are slowly stabilizing. We are both doing low carb. It is just that this time (been there done that, before) it HAS to be for life. Luckily, he is concerned for his own health and will do whatever is necessary.
Bev