Sugar in my urine, and now ketosis

[havsulen]

I am 28 weeks pregnant. This is my 3. pregnancy and I have never had any complications during pregnancy before.

During my last doctors check up, there were traces of sugar in my urine. The smallest amount detectable. I do not eat sugar and not much carbohydrates usually, but this measurement was done right after a one week holiday where we ate out a lot and I did eat more bread than I normally do and I also didn't have access to all the home made food that I normally eat (I eat a lot of traditional foods)

My doctor wanted me to do a glucose test on an empty stomack after my last visit, but that seemed wrong to me since I never eat sugar otherwise and now I had to drink this sugary stuff. So, I started reading, and I have read a lot written by Ina May Gaskin, "The natural pregnancy book", Henci Goer etc that made me even more sceptical of the test. Anyway: after my doctors visit I immediately reduced my carbohydrates intake. I bought a self monitoring kit for to check for glucose in my urine a few days after, and then there were no traces of sugar in my urine anymore and there haven't been since. (it has been a week) I immediately cut out coffee (I have had a bout a cup a day), and I am drinking red raspberry leaf and nettle tea every day. I eat lots of good fats and protein and lots of veggies, raw milk, home made kefir and butter.

But, the test also looks for ketosis, and now I took another test and my ketosis levels are high. I have read that this could be dangerous if combined with sugar in urine (but the test says no sugar in my urine now), and I also read that one should never be in ketosis while pregnant. I am going to the doctor tomorrow to have blood tests done, but please help me understand this. What does this mean? Should I eat more carbs anyway to stay out of ketosis, but a low enough dose not to set myself up for gestational diabetes? I do not have any other symptoms of gestational diabetes. What can I do to help myself and my baby? I am willing to do any neccessary dietary changes and changes otherwise too. 

I have been advised to have my doctor do blood test to see what the blood sugar is like both now and a "long term measurement" to see what it has been during the last period. I feel that I don't know enough about this to make educated choices, and that scares me.

What is my best plan now?

[havsulen]

I found some links about ketones in pregnancy that explain some of this to me, but I still feel uneasy about the topic:

http://www.plus-size-pregnancy.org/gd/gd_ketones.htm

 

http://www.lowcarbfriends.com/bbs/womens-health/369701-dangers-ketosis-durning-pregnancy-2.html

[elisheva]

In my pregnancy with ds2, I often would spill ketones over night (as measured in the morning by a pee stick) if I went too long without eating. A handful of almonds right before bed took care of the problem. AFAIK, ketones are a by-product of your body burning its own reserves (i.e. you aren't feeding yourself enough calories). 

FWIW, I also bought myself a glucometer and now spot check my own blood sugar during pregnancy to avoid taking the GTT.

[gemasita]

All ketosis is is that your body is out of carbohydrates and sugars to burn so it burns fat.  It's not dangerous in and of itself.  I would say you have ketones in your urine because you don't eat much sugar and many carbs, or because you were really hungry in general when you got that test done.  You can get ketone testing strips and test at home if you want.  But I don't really see it as a problem unless you are losing weight without trying/wanting to.

[havsulen]

Originally Posted by gemasita 

But I don't really see it as a problem unless you are losing weight without trying/wanting to.

I'm definately not trying to lose weight, I just wanted to eat few carbs and eliminate sugar to prevent/avoid gestational diabetes. From what I've read there are two sides to the debate. One side arguing that traditionally, some people have been in a state of ketosis regularly, with health benefits as a result. (eskimos eating lots of fats and proteins for instance). The other side of the debate say that ketosis could be dangerous to the baby, especially to the brain. Not enough research to be sure.

I had blood test done today, no sugar problem. A new urine test, too - no traces of sugar. So, probably my first test was a random one, and I do not have gestational diabetes. However, I will keep up my low carb diet because I like it, and try to stay away from ketosis as much as possible through eating regularly and some slow carbs too. Eating just before going to bed should help, and if I wake up a glass of milk and some coconut oil will help.