I have been on a keto diet for 4 years, but am now trying (for the last 6 weeks) to get out by increasing my carbs. I now eat a lot more carbs, but keto stick test results show that sometimes I'm in ketosis, sometimes a trace and sometimes out. I'm finding this situation very difficult to manage my glucose levels and wonder if anyone has experience of this and can advise me.
-
Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »
Trying to get out of Keto
- Thread starter Janet E
- Start Date
Hi @Janet E , welcome to the forum.
Just to make sure, how are your blood sugars in general? If you're running mid teens or higher, ketones can be a warning sign for DKA, but I assume you know this.
Some people go into ketosis overnight, simply from not eating between eavening meal and breakfast. Blood ketones should be much more useful than urine strips to find out, as urine is just sitting in the bladder for hours and giving you a glimpse of the past, not the present.
Can you share how popping in and out of ketosis makes managing your glucose levels more difficult?
Are you testing with a fingerprick or urine?
Just to make sure, how are your blood sugars in general? If you're running mid teens or higher, ketones can be a warning sign for DKA, but I assume you know this.
Some people go into ketosis overnight, simply from not eating between eavening meal and breakfast. Blood ketones should be much more useful than urine strips to find out, as urine is just sitting in the bladder for hours and giving you a glimpse of the past, not the present.
Can you share how popping in and out of ketosis makes managing your glucose levels more difficult?
Thanks for your reply.
I have been testing with urine strips & see that this is not always a reliable test of current situation. My blood glucose whilst on keto diet has been pretty steady (av 6.2) but looking back at last 7 days it is 7.4.
When my glucose levels rise more than expected I feel out of control. I have experimented altering basal dose as well as mealtime insulin.
Hi, I initially increased basal dose thinking I would need more insulin for more carbs, but my glucose levels started dropping low in between meals and night time. So I assumed that my insulin resistance was improved when out of keto, and have reduced basal doses. I adjust mealtime insulin to food intake, but have a lot to relearn on that score.
7.4 is good, within the meter error allowance of 1.5 mmol either way. You say it is the average though, how high do you go?
What insulin to carb ratio are you using? Even in the best of times this ratio often needs adjusting which requires keeping track of your blood glucose readings as well as what you've eaten and then slowly increasing or decreasing the insulin in small amounts until you find the optimum ratio. Keep in mind the ratio often changes even during the same day and that your blood sugar may be responding to something else (like a bug or stress). Gradual changes are safest. It seems to me that you are doing well with the adjustment to more carb.
Thanks for your reply. I have had a few spikes, the largest of which was yesterday after lunch (14.1). More insulin & a brisk walk brought it down.
I guess I need to be more accurate in carb counting & insulin ratio, which I have got out of during my 4 years on keto, and as you say make small adjustments.
