Do you monitor Blood Ketones? What have you learned?
Options
Replies
-
GREAT INFO HERE FOR US NEWBIES, tHANKS !0
-
I can't really answer your question but I, too, have low blood sugar on this diet. It's generally 70-80, and I've seen a reading in the 50's after eating protein powder. How do you feel when you are in the 50's range? I was very, very tense and grumpy and anxious and disoriented. I can't imagine waking up to that kind of feeling every day, I hope you don't feel it like I do with that low number
I have no symptoms with my readings, mornings are typically my best time. In fact, I have gone on five mile runs with a 50 blood sugar reading. All of this is so new to me, that once I realized a 50 could indicate hypoglycemia, I immediately went to a diabetic specialist. She said that on occasion, to test equipment, she will wear the monitors they use on patients and that at times she will get a 40 reading without symptoms.
On a side note, I did read on one keto site that a low blood sugar reading may be the part of the process of the body's transition into fat burning. During that period of time when your body is low on carbohydrates but hasn't yet become fully fat-adapted.
"This type happens during the first several weeks of carb reduction because the body has not had time to create the enzymes or metabolic state to burn internal fat stores for fuel. Basically there is a gap in the amount of carbohydrate available for fuel, and the process of accessing fat stores for fuel. The lack of fuel sources results in transient low blood sugar."
from: http://www.ketogenic-diet-resource.com/reactive-hypoglycemia.html
@knit - If you have symptoms, you may want to have that checked out. The first thing the doctor asked me was if I had symptoms or not.
I just become utterly confused when I read diligent keto-dieters struggling to achieve a 2mM reading and I have no trouble getting a 5+ mM reading. I don't understand why that is.
@Allen - I have liked having my monitor. I use it occasionally to confirm ketosis. Especially after starting back at a ketogenic diet, or after a day of indulgences, to know where I am at.
Jill
edited to add site address
I have been Keto for about 45 days and lost 21 pounds so far and my BG is completely normal at about 5 mmol/L and my ketones tested with a separate blood ketone tester has alway come up at about 5.1 mmol/L - 5.7 mmol/L and my lowest so far has been 4.4 mmol/L so I have the same questions as you do here.
The only thing I can think of is that it may be due to the fact that I have Bulletproof coffee every morning which includes 2 tbsp of MCT oil with 2 tbsp of butter and 1 tsp of cocao powder. I believe that the high ketone readings may be due to the MCT oil as it can generate a lot of ketones on it's own. Not all ketogenic dieters use MCT (or coconut oil) so I'm thinking the ones that don't may have the lower readings.
Do you take coconut or MCT oils?
I am also trying to discover why my readings are so high by comparison and that's all I can come up with so far.
I use the Precision Xtra blood ketone tester to see if I'm still in ketosis.
I would really love an answer to the high ketone question as well.0 -
...
I just become utterly confused when I read diligent keto-dieters struggling to achieve a 2mM reading and I have no trouble getting a 5+ mM reading. I don't understand why that is.
...
Jill
I have been Keto for about 45 days and lost 21 pounds so far and my BG is completely normal at about 5 mmol/L and my ketones tested with a separate blood ketone tester has alway come up at about 5.1 mmol/L - 5.7 mmol/L and my lowest so far has been 4.4 mmol/L so I have the same questions as you do here.
The only thing I can think of is that it may be due to the fact that I have Bulletproof coffee every morning which includes 2 tbsp of MCT oil with 2 tbsp of butter and 1 tsp of cocao powder. I believe that the high ketone readings may be due to the MCT oil as it can generate a lot of ketones on it's own. Not all ketogenic dieters use MCT (or coconut oil) so I'm thinking the ones that don't may have the lower readings.
Do you take coconut or MCT oils?
I am also trying to discover why my readings are so high by comparison and that's all I can come up with so far.
I use the Precision Xtra blood ketone tester to see if I'm still in ketosis.
I would really love an answer to the high ketone question as well.
The Precision Xtra is the monitor that I use. I do not regularly take coconut or MCT oils. I do try to take the coconut oil, but I just can't stand it.
I am going to start toying with my carbohydrate tolerance. I guess I'll slightly up my carbohydrate intake one day and measure ketones the next morning and see what level gets me into the 2 - 3 mM range. I sure don't know what I am doing, so if anyone has a better recommendation, I'd love to hear it.0 -
I have been on ketogenic diet for almost a year. I had very good success with weight loss and glucose levels. I just got my blood ketone meter and the readings are only 0.6-0.8 in the morning. My carbs are generally below 30 grams, but I think I need to drop my proteins which are now about 125-140 grams per day. I would like to be friends and share diaries, and food choices, with those who had success getting the blood ketones up.0
-
Nice thread bump - hadn't read this one yet...
Anyhow, yes - lower your protein. I have found that both protein intake and overall caloric level impact blood ketone levels. However, I have previously noted that higher readings don't necessarily correlate to increased/faster fat loss. As long as your morning fasting blood ketone level is above 1.0 I think you're in a "good" place with the diet. I'm now 5 days in after my vacation and I'm still not hitting 1.0+ on my FBK reading. Although I haven't been limiting my calories yet while re-adjusting to the diet.
To the OP, I've found that for me I have to watch caffeine, artificial sweeteners, protein, and calories to keep things on the right track. The caffeine and the sweeteners don't necessarily impact my measured ketone levels, but they do induce hunger pangs that I don't normally have doing keto.0
