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KETO METERS
- Thread starter jclegg73
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- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
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- Diet only
I doubt very much you will get a ketone meter on the NHS as a T2 unless you are on insulin and even then you may struggle, they are given to T1s to check their ketones when they have very high blood sugar and can’t get it lowered so they can check they aren’t going into DKA.
I’ve never used a meter for ketones as they can be quite expensive to fund. I just use ketostix. If you are wanting it just to check if you are in ketosis and burning fat then a pot of 100 sticks are about a tenner
- Messages
- 4,229
- Type of diabetes
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I've never used one although my meter apparently will take keto strips (Gluco RXQ, I think obsolete now). Ketostix are less expensive and give you a close enough indication. As you are unlikely to get a glucometer and strips on prescription as a T2 it is less likely you'll get a prescription for keto strips.
Mentioning ketosis to an NHS nurse may get you a lecture - there is sometimes confusion between ketosis (the normal process of using bodyfat as fuel) and diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) which is a serious and life-threatening condition.
D
Deleted member 527103
Guest
I have one (or rather my BG meter also takes keto strips) because I have Type 1 treated with an insulin pump.
If the insulin pump fails my blood sugar levels could raise to dangerous levels very fast so I need to be able to test my ketos for DKA.
Before I had a pump, I did not have any method to test ketos.
If the insulin pump fails my blood sugar levels could raise to dangerous levels very fast so I need to be able to test my ketos for DKA.
Before I had a pump, I did not have any method to test ketos.
Ushthetaff
Well-Known Member
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- 1,190
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- Type of diabetes
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- Mountain out of mole hill makers ,queues , crowds , shopping on a Saturday hmm just shopping I guess no matter what day it is
I am using the Libre system the meter reads both ketones and glucose , not a solution to you unless your on the Libre system but that’s how I check ketones myself
Rokaab
Well-Known Member
I also wasn't allowed ketone blood testing scripts on prescription as Type 1 taking insulin until I got a pump (where you're more likely to get ketones especially if it all goes horribly wrong as you have no basal insulin running at all)
I agree - so often people don't listen properly to what we say because they have already formulated their answer.
Robbity
Expert
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- 6,700
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
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- Diet only
I'm T2 so self-funded meter and strips wise.
Initially when I started low carbing, I used Ketostix to test urine but I found they barely gave me any clear results which I discovered was due to them measuring waste ketones, and I was already in ketosis and burning them up as fuel rather than weeing them out.
After that I discovered and bought a basic Ketonix breathalyser which gives colour coded "traffic light" ketone levels. It was a high initial but a one-off expense . There was also a more expensive/complicated model which did give numerical results, but I think it needs a computer for this. Some cheaper alcohol breathalysers will work for ketones as they apparently both measure breath acetone , so they may be a reasonable and cheap and accurate way of testing. But I believe there are also cheapish ketone breathalysers available too on Amazon UK now , so maybe worth a look as again they would be a one-off cost.
I also used the original Libre 1 sensors for a while, and my initial purchase package came with a reader which would also act as both a ketone and glucose meter. This all was self-funded. and ketone strips can be costly, but I like it as it's been a handy 3-in-1 gadget!
And finally{ cheapest of all if you're lucky: it's sometimes possible to taste or smell "ketone breath" - I've experienced this a few times but not enough to be a regular measure!
Initially when I started low carbing, I used Ketostix to test urine but I found they barely gave me any clear results which I discovered was due to them measuring waste ketones, and I was already in ketosis and burning them up as fuel rather than weeing them out.
After that I discovered and bought a basic Ketonix breathalyser which gives colour coded "traffic light" ketone levels. It was a high initial but a one-off expense . There was also a more expensive/complicated model which did give numerical results, but I think it needs a computer for this. Some cheaper alcohol breathalysers will work for ketones as they apparently both measure breath acetone , so they may be a reasonable and cheap and accurate way of testing. But I believe there are also cheapish ketone breathalysers available too on Amazon UK now , so maybe worth a look as again they would be a one-off cost.
I also used the original Libre 1 sensors for a while, and my initial purchase package came with a reader which would also act as both a ketone and glucose meter. This all was self-funded. and ketone strips can be costly, but I like it as it's been a handy 3-in-1 gadget!
And finally{ cheapest of all if you're lucky: it's sometimes possible to taste or smell "ketone breath" - I've experienced this a few times but not enough to be a regular measure!
