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Do you regularly check your blood ketones? Why and whats your score?

emmastewart said:
Do you regularly check your blood ketones? Why and whats your score?
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I test for ketones whenever my glucose readings stay above 14 for more than half a day, AND if I have a temperature and virus. Extra insulin brings the readings down most of the time, but I have had to call paramedics when extra insulin and fluids have not worked. I used to use keto sticks (urine testing), but now I use FreeStyle Optimum ketone sticks.
 
emmastewart said:
Do you regularly check your blood ketones? Why and whats your score?
Click to expand...
Big difference between diabetes types and reasons to test for ketones here.

If you're on a keto diet, so trying to get into ketosis you can test to see if you are.

In T1, it's often adviced to test for ketones if your blood glucose is over 15 for more than a couple of hours, as ketones can be a sign of ketoacidosis a very dangerous condition you can develop from lack of insulin, and not at all the same as dietary ketosis.

From your profile I get you're a T2, diet only. Are you on a keto diet to be interested in ketones, or are you having very high blood glucose and are you worried about DKA?
 
I'm currently a diet controlled T2, and sometimes check my nutritional ketosis/fat burning status - figures are in normal nutritional ketosis range and vary.

I originally used urine keto strips for a short time when I first started low carb, but they were essentially just showing me the low levels of waste ketones that I was weeing out before I'd properly got into nutritional ketosis . Since then, I've used a Ketonix (which checks breath acetone) and also used the Libre reader which came as part of my original sensor pack and uses expensive test strips for checking more accurate β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) levels in blood.
 
Yes, I check my ketones every few days, to see how my keto diet is going. I average about 1.6, which is fine.
I generally test in the evenings, although I would be pleased to hear from anyone who has any advice on the best time of day to test.
I am T2 by the way.
 
Should all diabetics be testing for ketones if so is it a separate meter to buy?
Might sound like a daft question but no one outside of hospital has ever mentioned ketones to me o_O
 
valann said:
Should all diabetics be testing for ketones if so is it a separate meter to buy?
Might sound like a daft question but no one outside of hospital has ever mentioned ketones to me o_O
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It's a potential issue for people who don't make enough insulin ie DKA. So mainly T1 and T3c though certain drugs can make it relevant for T2s. (And the NHS say DKA is possible for T2s.)

As a T1 my GP gives me one pack of 10 strips per 90 days, so I use if my bg is high or I am feeling "off". On a fairly low carb diet I generally run at less than 1 (usually less than 0.5). But as a T1 I have the option to have a bit more insulin and carbs if I feel my ketones are too high.
 
valann said:
Should all diabetics be testing for ketones
Click to expand...
No. I've never tested for ketones.

You can test for ketones if you're over about 15 mmol/l for more than a couple of hours if you're T1 (or possible T1) to rule out diabetic ketoacidosis.

Or you can test for ketones if you're on a keto diet and want to know if you're in dietary ketosis. (Because that's a goal on this diet.)

If you're not on a keto diet, and you don't usually see numbers in the higher teens, there is no use in testing for ketones as far as I know.
 
THAT S A FUNNY THING USEING DIPLO results KETONE S DID REGISTER SO HAVE AN OLD BOOTLE TEST STIPS
SO DID NOT USE
BUT AT A CLINIC 10 DAYS LATER NHS KETONES ALL CLEAR BUYING OR GETTING BOOTTLE TO MANY AND CAN BE WASTED
LOOKING ON INTENET YOU CAN BUY SOME IN STRIPS FAR BETTER IDEA

[mod edit to align with forum rules.]
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Thank you EllieM.

I'm T2D and am now following a low carb diet and didn't even think of ketones. My numbers have come down big time since joining this forum and now very rarely go above 8.5 so hopefully I don't need to check them..... I hope! :)
 
I did check a few rimes since Febuary when I got a couple of Hi readings and one ore two readings in the twenties but ketones were normal about 0.3 so have not tested ketones since then.

My grandson tests his ketones occasionally he is not diabetic but a body builder following a Keto diet.
 
vic hill said:
THAT S A FUNNY THING USEING DIPLO results KETONE S DID REGISTER SO HAVE AN OLD BOOTLE TEST STIPS
SO DID NOT USE
BUT AT A CLINIC 10 DAYS LATER NHS KETONES ALL CLEAR BUYING OR GETTING BOOTTLE TO MANY AND CAN BE WASTED
LOOKING ON INTENET YOU CAN BUY SOME IN STRIPS FAR BETTER IDEA

[mod edit to align with forum rules.]
Click to expand...
yes that fine moderator nice to know we are being studied and vetted wish they could do more on all these chat lines and sites were a person can be led down the wrong way vic
 
I used to test a lot. I think it is a good feed back mechanism for those on a Keto diet in the beginning. I question long term testing due to cost / reward in my case., as my low readings I am educated is proof of usage, after starting with mid-range values.
 
T1D here. I only check it when BGL is High and won’t budge with a correction for more then 6 hours or if unwell.

Usually the result is .2 or less. More often then not .1
 
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