Keto blood meter?

I started keto in May 2020 and have lost 33lbs so far--I decided to get one because I am a bit of a geek and wanted to know.  (I also like weighing my food) I started with ketone strips and about 7 weeks later decided to get a blood meter.  I use it to see how changes in my diet may affect changes in ketosis.  It has been useful for me--but I also know you can be successful without it.  As long as I am feeling better--I trust the process and don't get obsessed with what a meter tells me. My 2 cents--hopefully you find this useful.

For me its a game changer. Sometimes it is disheartening when the scale doesn't budge. I start questioning whether I am actually doing as good with my macros as I think I am. I am diligent with hitting my macros but that darn scale has me second guessing myself. The ketone blood monitor shows me that yes, I am in fact doing the right things because I am in ketosis. Measuring my ketones allows me to not stress so much about the scale and funnily enough the weight loss always comes (at least it has so far), it just doesn't always come as fast as I would like. Blood measurements keep me on track and keep me accountable but I have heard many say that they aren't exactly necessary. I guess it boils down to preference and what will ultimately help you succeed on your journey. Good luck =)

What should the reading be? 0.5-3.0? I’ve been Keto about 2 weeks and staying around 4.5 is there any tablets/supplements that can assist with Keto? I’m struggling to get high fat food with low protein I’m about 60 5 35 split. Thank you

RyanCarton  i started  taking vitaraw exogenous pills to help, i just started today so i dont know if they work. 

RyanCarton I'm not a doctor but I wouldn't want my ketones that high.  2.0 is as high as I let mine go.  But it seems your problem is your macros.  5;20:75 is where you need to be for keto to work.  In fact, 5:15:80 is what I did for a few months with good success.  Too much protein and your body won't slow down the production of insulin and if it doesn't slow down, you won't lose fat... insulin stores it and blocks its release into the blood stream.  Look up Dr. Boz on YouTube and listen to c couple of her videos on the Keto Continuum and on Insulin.

Paul The Dane thank you for the reply Ano I’m struggling with the amount of protein everything high fat also has high protein. Do you have any quick food/snack suggestions with high fat for me? Thank you 

RyanCarton No problem... There are tons of fat bombs out there on Google or CM.  Here are a couple that I use.  Kerrygold grass-fed butter, olive oil, MCT oil, cacoa butter, avocado oil.  Search google for healthy keto fats for more options.  MCT Oil and avocado oil have no flavor and can even be swallowed plain in moderation.  Work your way up to using MCT oil as it takes your body a bit to get used to it.  Medium Chain Triglycerides bypass the intestines and go straight to the liver to make ketones. 

FORA 6 Connect

Am I doing it wrong. I use a blood glucose reading and is 4.5-4.7 should I get a ketone one does it matter? I got Keto strips and it’s 8.0. Been 2 weeks now all I read is blood should be 0.5-3 and I’m miles away. Help please? 

RyanCarton  I presume both of those readings are mmol/l.    Your 4.5mmol/l blood glucose reading translates to about 80mg/dl.  I'm more used to the mg/dl numbers, but it's easy to translate.  Are you saying you got a blood ketone tester and it showed a value of 8.0 mmol/l?  If so, that is a very dangerous value.  There is a condition called ketoacidosis which is very dangerous.  You need to see a doctor if those are the numbers you are getting.    However, if the ketone meter or strips are old or faulty, that's something else.  But to be sure, you need to get checked out.  The fact is, some doctors put people into this state for extreme brain issues and such, but they are usually hospitalized during the process.  It could be deadly.  So Ryan... get checked out!

Yes sorry the reading is is mmol/l. I used a GlucoRx Nexus Blood Glucose monitor and that says 4.5-5.0 not changed. I got ketone sticks to put in your urine and it is between 8-16 mmol/l. Why am I not in ketosis? What do I need to change I have 1900 kcal a day 70% fat 5% carbs or less and 25% protein. Normally less that 20g carbs a day and I intermittent fast. Over 2 weeks lost 2 pound but before Keto I lost 20+ pounds in 3 weeks 

I bought the mojo meter I can’t seem to produce enough blood from the finger stick for the strip to read . Keeps giving me an error message. I also  have the Keto urine  test kit which works for me.

RyanCarton  Keto works differently between people.  Actually converting to keto-adapted can take a few weeks.  Once you adapt, the urine strips won't be as useful.  Spend some time and do research online about testing.  No magic answers for you.  I still wonder about your ketone readings.  Are you sure they aren't mg/dl? Your glucose readings are in normal range.  What brand of urine strips are you using? How long do you wait for reading? 

Paul The Dane they both measure in mmol/l. The brand of the strips is. The intelligent health. Ketone strips. I wait the time it says 15 seconds. I read there is different types of Keto diet. Eg more protein than fat. 
 

SKD

CKD

TKD 

high protein

should I try different percentages of what I eat? 

CourtCarpenter keto-mojo. You can buy the kit on amazon but the replacement stips are pricey. 

I have the urine keto strips and can never get my levels to go any higher than 6, but I am losing weight. I have lost 20 pounds in 5 weeks. How do I get my readings to change more alkaline?

RyanCarton said:
I read there is different types of Keto diet. Eg more protein than fat.   
SKD
CKD
TKD 
high protein
should I try different percentages of what I eat?

CKD, Cyclical Ketogenic Diet

As you know, this is a 5 day Keto Diet followed by a 2 day Carb Load Diet.  

Research by Dr Jacob Wilson (formerly director of the Tampa University Human Performance Lab) determined that...

1) After two days of Carb Loading, it takes you 4-5 day to get back in ketosis.

Thus, if you Carb Load on Saturday and Sunday, you are back into ketosis until late Thursday or Friday. 

2) CKD increased body fat storage. 

The body is not prepared for the dramatic increase in carbohydrates. 

As nutritionist, Jay Robb stated, "Insulin is a fat maker..." 

When too many carbohydrates are consumed, the body store them as body fat.

TKD, Targeted Ketogenic Diet

This means you ingest  some carbohydrate prior to a training session.

The body then utilized these carbohydrates (glucose) for fuel rather than burning body fat, ketones.

Secondly,  an elevation in insulin (from carbohydrates) block fat from being burned. 

High Protein

Define High Protein.

If too much protein is consumed on a Ketogenic Diet, gluoneogenesis occurs; protein is converted to glucose.  

Thus, you are not on a Keto Diet.  You are on a Low Carbohydrate, High Protein, High Fat Diet.

Ketosis Protects Protein

One of the benefits of the Ketogenic Diet is that ketones preserve protein; ketone are utilized before protein. 

Research show that it take around 72 hours of fasting before the body starts to really breakdown protein (muscle mass) for fuel. 

Ketones also preserve Leucine (the anabolic/muscle building amino acid).  

Trying Different Percentages

One of the most effective method of learning is through personal experience. 

You learn what works and doesn't.  

Kenny Croxdale

Eve  the problem with the urine strips as you progress is thatiit doesn't reflect your blood ketones accurately because you are now making use of the ketones internally. To know what is going on you'll need to get a blood ketone meter.

Ok now I’m worried. I’ve been doing the relion ketone strips and coming up with around 80ml on my urine strips. I’ve checked my blood sugar. I’m not diabetic but my fiancé is so I used his reader. Every time my blood sugar has been between 106-110. Not bad. I don’t feel I’m in danger but how do I get my ketones lower if that’s a better place to be to lose weight. I drink 5 -16oz bottles of water a day. I’ve lost about 5lbs in the last 8/9 days. Now I’m a little nervous. Any advice?

correction it’s 80mg/dL don’t know if that makes a difference