@Winnie53 - My experience of measuring very intermittently is that I have to be very low (under 30g) to consistently show ketones. Like you, I don't find any great benefit to being that low. However, there are a number of health benefits that many people consider worth the effort. The ones I hear talked about most are the mental benefits - both in terms of clarity and mental performance (people like Dom D'Agostino, Tim Ferris and others rave about this "side effect"). There are others with mental health issues who find the diet literally keeps them sane - minimises mood swings, stabilises mood, etc. I've read of a number of people with bipolar getting relief from following the diet. The other people who probably should consider it very seriously are those who wish to avert a recurrence of glucose-dependent cancers or with a very high risk of same.
I guess my advice would be to try it and see if it makes a difference to the way you feel - nothing ventured, nothing gained
If you haven't already seen these blog posts from Tuit Nutrition, you might find them useful:
http://www.tuitnutrition.com/2016/01/dont-be-a-ketard1.html
@Indy51 I just spent time reading the three part series of blog posts that you linked to above. Thank you. Definitely worth the read. I always learn something new from your posts and links within your posts.
It farther reinforces my belief that measuring ketones is for weight loss - (even that's questionable) - and athletic performance and is not useful for managing my diabetes so I'll continue on the LCHF diet/LCKD, walking, and monitoring my blood glucose levels throughout the day. (I had forgotten about the therapeutic benefits of the ketogenic diet for conditions such as Parkinson's, dementia, various mental conditions, seizure disorders, specific types of cancer, etc. Thanks for that reminder.)
I found it encouraging to read that I can be "fat adapted" without being in a "ketogenic state". I go in and out of ketogenesis regularly. The only thing that really changes is I might gain a pound of water weight, but this only lasts for a day or two.
I get so much more information measuring my blood glucose levels in pairs: 1) before bed, upon awakening; 2) pre-meal, 1- to 2-hour post meal; 3) pre-walking, post walking.
I also find periodically monitoring my blood glucose levels pre-meal - (this is expensive) - 30 minutes post meal, and every 15 minutes there after for 2 to 3 hours useful too. By doing so, I learned that my blood glucose peaks (on the LCHF diet/LCKD) 1-hour post meal.
Comparing my "upon awakening" to "pre-breakfast" blood glucose readings tells me how much my blood glucose rises after awakening. Surprisingly, even if my blood glucose level is 110 mg/dL upon awakening, it often will have risen by 10 mg/dL in the half-hour it takes me to prepare breakfast, which is not desired.
I'm still trying to determine when is the best time to walk after a meal. I think it's 90 minutes post meal which 1) gives my body adequate time to digest the food I've eaten and 2) does the best job of knocking my blood glucose levels down so my pancreas doesn't have to keep producing insulin. I may change my opinion on this, but for now it's working well for me. If I have a high post meal blood glucose level, I can knock my blood glucose down by 40 mg/dL walking 1 mile; and up to 80 mg/dL walking 2 to 3 miles. (I should add here that this didn't begin happening until I'd been walking a period of months, perhaps six months or longer, can't remember.)
Another question I've yet to answer is how walking before breakfast or at other times of the day impacts my daily blood glucose levels throughout the day. I think it would be problematic because my blood glucose levels are lowest upon awakening, but I haven't confirmed that.
It feels good to have this much control over my blood glucose levels with diet, walking, and glucose monitoring throughout the day.
If I'm wrong, if there is a benefit to blood ketone monitoring specifically for diabetes, I'd like to hear from you. I really want to do what's best for managing my type 2 diabetes.