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Ketone Testing Meters

Goonergal

Master
Retired Moderator
Messages
13,461
Location
London
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Hi

Does anyone have recommendations for a meter that tests ketones, with strips that are not too extortionate?

I’ve been using the Caresens Dual but it looks like ketone strips for that are not going to be available for a while, so I’d like to find an alternative. I’m happy with my BG meter, so this would purely be for testing ketones.

Thanks.
 
@Goonergal . Not sure if this is any help, but in the short term could you manage with ketone urine test strips.
Cheap ( I think ) to buy but not as convenient.
 
therower said:
@Goonergal . Not sure if this is any help, but in the short term could you manage with ketone urine test strips.
Cheap ( I think ) to buy but not as convenient.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I understand that for those in consistent ketosis the urine strips are not very helpful. I only test once a week and have 4 or 5 strips left but they’ve been getting harder to obtain (out of stock, rationed and now out of stock again).
 
Goonergal said:
Thanks. I understand that for those in consistent ketosis the urine strips are not very helpful. I only test once a week and have 4 or 5 strips left but they’ve been getting harder to obtain (out of stock, rationed and now out of stock again).
Click to expand...

have you considered one of these, Goonergal? I don't have it, but @Brunneria mentioned it a while ago, so I have it on my Amazon "List", to bookmark it.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07GGQK...olid=266YF8HXE6ZP8&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it
 
Goonergal said:
Interesting thought, thanks. Might give it a whirl while I still have some strips for comparison purposes. Would work out a lot cheaper in the long run and I happen to have a £10 Amazon voucher in my account.
Click to expand...
Also you're in a great position to do a parallel test blood against breath..as I believe they measure different things.. (I could be wrong)..
 
I just this moment bought 40 (4 packs of 10each) ketone test strips for the freestyle optium Neo meter at £5 a pop on eBay.
I am an avid eBay shopper, I purchase all my test strips on ebay. (I do have multiple brands of meters which also allows me to pick up these so called bargains of mine.)
I use both Glucomen lx ketone strips and the Freestyle optium Neo ketone strips.
I have never had to pay more than £5 a pack for any of them.
It takes patience and being willing to snag a deal whenever you see one.

I also found a fantastic urine ketone strips that I cannot recommend highly enough.
They run £1.99 for a pot of 50.
Once you are able to "Calibrate" the colours to the Ketone values of your meter, they are such a cost effective way of monitoring ketones.

With unerring accuracy I can tell you what a colour reading on the urine strip, will give me on the Ketone meter.
Its saved me to much money.
 
bulkbiker said:
Also you're in a great position to do a parallel test blood against breath..as I believe they measure different things.. (I could be wrong)..
Click to expand...
No you're right -
Blood ketone tests strips check beta-hydroxybutyrate and are most accurate; wee strips test excreted acetoacetate, which I stopped seeing once i was in ketosis and my body was actualy using ketones not just producing them; breath testing checks (waste) acetone in your breath.

AFAIK non of then are directly comparable, and I've not seen any apparent relationship between my blood and breath results. I use an elderly (now) standard (traffic lights style ) Ketonix breath tester which I've had for nearly five years and cost me around £75, and have sometimes more recently bought bargain ketone strips for my Libre reader which can be used with Optium Neo blood and ketone test strips as well as for scanning the sensors.

Robbity

ETA @bulkbiker: Jimmy Moor and BJCaveman(?) published some blood/breath comparisons when the Ketonix was first available, and as far as I remember now, didn't have much joy either...
 
bulkbiker said:
Also you're in a great position to do a parallel test blood against breath..as I believe they measure different things.. (I could be wrong)..
Click to expand...

Duly ordered. Will report back.
 
Free delivery too.. I have a few Caresens strips left so will do a parallel test when the new one arrives..
 
First parallel reading.. my ketones are usually low in the mornings anyway..and I rarely set the correct time on my meters....and yes I should have dusted the screen sorry...
 
Should have mine by the end of the week - and the breathiliser from Amazon too.
 
Goonergal said:
Should have mine by the end of the week - and the breathiliser from Amazon too.
Click to expand...
I'll do a day's fast and another check.. so far the new one seems to read 0.2 lower than the Caresens Dual. Will try not to eat until dinner tomorrow and see... (after dinner tonight that is!).
 
bulkbiker said:
I'll do a day's fast and another check.. so far the new one seems to read 0.2 lower than the Caresens Dual. Will try not to eat until dinner tomorrow and see... (after dinner tonight that is!).
Click to expand...

Great. Look forward to comparing notes.
 
Second test.. nothing to eat so far today just tea and coffee (with cream of course)


Sorry forgot to dust the Caresens Dual again.. but closer results..
 
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