Ketone testing, ketone meters and ketosis!

[Skeptic]

Wanted to make a dedicated thread about ketone testing and ketosis.  As I learn, more and more of this makes sense. 

I finally bought a blood ketone meter, and have been testing my ketone levels each morning now.

I have to say that I was really surprised by the results, and further surprised that I was NOT achieving functional ketosis nearly as quickly as I had hoped.  My levels have been languishing in the .8 realm without additional fasting!  For the record, I eat a really clean diet, but the foods that keep me from reaching good keto numbers were things that should never contain any form of sugar or carbohydrate, yet I saw a small rise in blood sugar, as well as corresponding lower keto numbers at the next morning's test.  We bought smoked brisket the other night from one of the local restaurants in the area.  Who wouldve thought that BRISKET would have added sugars?!  Anyway, the meter has added a lot of clarity to the picture for me, and although the stinking test strips are about a dollar each, at this point in the game, its WORTH IT to me to know!

This will surely be a lot of review for many here, but I will post what I have learned anyway:   When we begin to strive for ketosis, we often have leftover glucose stored as glycogen in the liver.  This stored glycogen must be depleted FIRST before ketones are produced and we begin entering ketosis.  This is glycogenolysis.  Stored glycogen is typically exhausted within the first day or so of either fasting, or a proper diet as we strive for here.  Fasting does bring about functional ketosis much sooner.

I also now know that our bodies produce three types of ketones!  Acetoacetate ketones will only account for roughly 20 percent of the ketones our body is producing, and are the variety that can be detected by the cost effective urine test strips.  Beta Hydroxybutyrate will make up the remaining bulk of the ketones being produced, with a slim number given to acetone, being the third type.  Beta Hydroxybutyrate can only be sampled via the blood test strips, as in the meter I have.  
I purchased the KETOBM meter, for better or worse.  All meters I researched have a small number of negative reviews that do claim inaccuracy.  While this was disheartening, I have also ordered the urine test strips (which havent arrived yet) to remove any uncertainty about test results.  Ideally, the strips and the meter will agree,

Let me know your thoughts!

[Scott F.]

I am not sure about all strips but the ones I bought just show excess ketones in the urine. There is a correlating number with the color chart. For me, the strips just showed I had excess ketones in my urine. I could have had an over abundance and not using all of them or a smaller amount and using slightly less than a smaller amount. 

I am planning to buy a meter for my next fast. 

From what I read the glucose meter and the ketone meter are far better data points than the bathroom scale. 

Interesting thread. I am interesting to see if I am deep in ketosis or lingering around the edges. I'm mostly interested in the week after the fast. I had boat loads of energy coming off the fast that lasted for a week or more. I'm only on meats, salts and water. I do eat a lot of fat. I wish I had bought the meter for the last fast because whatever the energy source, I felt like I was wired with focus. 

Scott

[Skeptic]

2 hours ago, Scott F. said:

I am not sure about all strips but the ones I bought just show excess ketones in the urine. There is a correlating number with the color chart.

This is a lingering question I had in the back of my thoughts.  Ive been doing a fair share of reading about all this, and many folks are saying that urine strips are an accurate way to test, albeit for a different type of ketone than the blood test will show.

[Geezy]

The strips and breath meters are almost worthless because they are only measuring the excess ketones that are being expelled, not what’s being used in your body. You could have plenty of ketones being used in your body but not any extra and the strips would show almost nothing.

Our bodies make all of the glucose we need without adding anymore to it and that can show up on your tests. More so in the mornings if I remember correctly.
Eating meat can raise your blood sugar readings as even meat does have carbs in it to a small degree. Add to that, the smoked brisket you bought had a rub on it. What was in the rub? Many restaurants will use sugar based rubs on their meats, especially if it’s pork but they will do it with beef also.


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[Skeptic]

2 hours ago, Geezy said:

The strips and breath meters are almost worthless because they are only measuring the excess ketones that are being expelled, not what’s being used in your body. You could have plenty of ketones being used in your body but not any extra and the strips would show almost nothing.
 

Now THIS makes sense!  

[Scott F.]

Interested in your results around how you feel at certain levels. "Like i feel normal and my readings are XX but when my ketones/ketosis XXXX my energy levels are _____________". 

I'm off the next couple days and I think I will buy the meter whenever I go into town. 

Scott

[Skeptic]

Today has been a dry fasting day.  Began the day at .8 but have now reached 1.2 from the fasting.  I feel good! 

[Scott F.]

How long do you typically fast? 

Funny just seeing your numbers move make want to run out this morning and get the meter. 

Interested in your results. 

Thanks for sharing.

Scott

 

[Skeptic]

1.8 this morning!  Gosh I love this meter.  If anyone is on the fence, just go spend the $35 already.

I typically do a 24 hour fast.  If Im feeling adventurous, Ill do a dry fast like yesterday.  If dry fasting, its hard for me to go much longer than 24 hours at this point, as I really miss the electrolyte water, and my head gets swimmy.  My goal this month is to work up to two separate 24 hour fasts during the same week stretch.