Low blood ketone reading

Umm_Leila

Hello all,

I am getting a low 0-.05) reading every time I test the past week. (My first test was a week ago using the blood meter, and I have been testing daily) the first test was 1.4 and O was phyced about it, but since that test it had been 0, 0.1, 0.3 and 0.5

What can I do to increase my number and what is the best time of day to test?

dimaslopes

i think most people test after a fasting period or after waking up and before eating anything.
don't get frustrated because it tests what is in your blood not what is in your cells, in another perspective you might be eating something that is triggering your insulin a little.

baconslave

Due to the Dawn Phenomenon, where your body anticipates waking and releases glucose (simplified I know but the gist), first thing in the morning probably isn't the best time of day for you to test. A lot of people have this problem.

Most things I've read suggest afternoon between 2-5pm is the highest, though that depends on if you workout or snack.

Question though, why do you need to do this? Is it a medically therapeutic protocol where specific ketone level is necessary? Or just for weightloss? The answer to this will help direct further advice.

Umm_Leila

baconslave wrote: »

Due to the Dawn Phenomenon, where your body anticipates waking and releases glucose (simplified I know but the gist), first thing in the morning probably isn't the best time of day for you to test. A lot of people have this problem.

Most things I've read suggest afternoon between 2-5pm is the highest, though that depends on if you workout or snack.

Question though, why do you need to do this? Is it a medically therapeutic protocol where specific ketone level is necessary? Or just for weightloss? The answer to this will help direct further advice.

Hi and thank you!

Mine is just a tool to keep me on track for weight loss. So no specific number is needed, but it helps me try harder to stay focused when I feel like straying from keto. (A feeling I do everything to fight off)

Umm_Leila

dimaslopes wrote: »

i think most people test after a fasting period or after waking up and before eating anything.
don't get frustrated because it tests what is in your blood not what is in your cells, in another perspective you might be eating something that is triggering your insulin a little.

Thank you! I appreciate the insight

baconslave

Umm_Leila wrote: »

baconslave wrote: »

Due to the Dawn Phenomenon, where your body anticipates waking and releases glucose (simplified I know but the gist), first thing in the morning probably isn't the best time of day for you to test. A lot of people have this problem.

Most things I've read suggest afternoon between 2-5pm is the highest, though that depends on if you workout or snack.

Question though, why do you need to do this? Is it a medically therapeutic protocol where specific ketone level is necessary? Or just for weightloss? The answer to this will help direct further advice.

Hi and thank you!

Mine is just a tool to keep me on track for weight loss. So no specific number is needed, but it helps me try harder to stay focused when I feel like straying from keto. (A feeling I do everything to fight off)

So my advice. Since you don't need to be uber accurate on the ketones for your health, then I wouldn't worry too much over it. Obviously, don't test in the morning. I'm going to drop this link here. https://medium.com/the-mission/tracking-blood-ketones-behind-the-scenes-data-on-the-ketogenic-diet-7d35fcab0baa
It's a guy who needed to do medical keto for a heart condition, but in the middle he posts his blood ketone data by time of day. It might help you figure out the best time for you to test. YMMV, of course.

I know you "want to" test, but knowing how this forum is...I have to say the following: it is not necessary for you to test ketones for weightloss. I did keto for 1.5 years and lost all my weight. I never tested for ketones once. Being under 50g total carbs is a guarantee for most people to be in ketosis. For those rare few who need lower, usually 20g net is enough. Increased ketones do not make you lose faster. Ketosis isn't what makes you lose weight, though it does help with hormone balance which can cause some really awesome appetite suppression for some people, helpingthem eat less and achieve the required calorie deficit to lose weight. Lots of folks report feeling better (physically and emotionally) and having more mental clarity. So ketones are good, but if it becomes too expensive to keep buying those strips, then it's not necessary to continue.

Now that that is out of the way feel free to come over to one or both of these groups. The 1st is a support group for all low-carb, so we have a range, but lots of very active keto folk. The second is exclusively keto, but it isn't as active.
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/394-low-carber-daily-forum-the-lcd-group
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/1143-keto

Umm_Leila

Thank you so much, I greatly appreciate all of this advice! I will go join the groups now