Medical conditions such as diabetes can also result in excess production of ketones. This occurs due to the body's inability to produce insulin—a hormone that helps the body burn glucose for fuel. After eating, the level of glucose in the blood rises. In a person without diabetes, the pancreas releases insulin. The insulin helps the liver and muscles store extra glucose. This, in turn, lowers the level of glucose in the bloodstream. In people with diabetes, however, either the pancreas doesn't produce enough insulin (type 1 diabetes) or cells are less responsive to it (type 2 diabetes). As a result, the body can't use glucose for energy. Instead, it must burn protein and fat stores. This results in two things happening: Glucose builds up in the bloodstream, leading to dangerously high blood sugar levels, and The liver produces too many ketones for the body to fully eliminate, which can lead to a potentially life-threatening condition known as diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).