Diagnosis & Early Detection/December 10, 2025/2 min read

New International Guidelines for Continuous Ketone Monitoring in Type 1 Diabetes

Experts have published the first global consensus framework for using continuous ketone monitoring technology to help prevent diabetic ketoacidosis, a serious condition that can develop quickly in people with Type 1 diabetes.

News report — unverified, pending corroboration

Evidence label explains the kind of source behind this article (for example peer-reviewed literature vs community video). It is not medical advice.

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Key takeaways

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a life-threatening condition that can occur suddenly when the body breaks down fat for energy due to insufficient insulin, causing ketones to build up in the blood.
Current methods for detecting ketones—blood and urine strips—have limitations and are not widely accessible to all people with diabetes.
An international team of diabetes experts has created the first standardized guidelines for continuous ketone monitoring to help healthcare providers and patients use this emerging technology consistently and safely.
These consensus recommendations will help guide how continuous ketone monitoring is integrated into diabetes care as the technology becomes more available.

Understanding the Need for Better Ketone Monitoring

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a serious medical emergency that can affect people with Type 1 diabetes. It occurs when the body lacks sufficient insulin and begins to break down stored fat for energy. This process produces ketones that accumulate in the blood, making it dangerously acidic and potentially fatal.

DKA can develop at any time, sometimes alongside illnesses like the flu. Currently, people can check for ketones using blood strips or urine strips, but these tools have significant limitations and are not universally available to everyone who needs them.

A New Framework for Continuous Monitoring

Breakthrough T1D, a leading Type 1 diabetes research organization, has led the publication of the first international consensus guidance for continuous ketone monitoring (CKM). The paper, published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, was created by an international team of diabetes experts including Breakthrough T1D Chief Medical Officer Thomas Danne, Dr. Ketan Dhatariya from Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals, and Dr. Richard Bergenstal from the International Diabetes Center.

This new framework provides standardized guidelines that healthcare professionals and the broader Type 1 diabetes community can follow as continuous ketone monitoring technology becomes available and integrated into everyday diabetes care.

What This Means for People With Type 1 Diabetes

The consensus guidance is designed to help ensure that continuous ketone monitoring technology is used safely and effectively across different healthcare settings and countries. As this technology becomes more widely accessible, having clear, internationally agreed-upon recommendations will help doctors and patients understand how to incorporate it into their diabetes management plans.

These guidelines represent an important step toward giving more people with Type 1 diabetes better tools to detect and prevent diabetic ketoacidosis before it becomes life-threatening.

Evidence label

Origin: prnewswire.com (News report). Evidence: News report — unverified, pending corroboration. Type1Cure is an information and intelligence hub, not a medical advice service. This article summarizes published research and does not provide diagnosis, treatment, or personal medical guidance. Always talk to your own care team before changing anything about your Type 1 diabetes management.

Type1Cure is an information and intelligence hub, not a medical advice service. This article summarizes published research and does not provide diagnosis, treatment, or personal medical guidance. Always talk to your own care team before changing anything about your Type 1 diabetes management.

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