3 weeks into Keto - ketone levels and blood sugar

(MC) #1

Hi guys,

3 weeks in…I used the urine ketone strips and it came out dark purple (80). Does that mean I’m in deep ketosis? Is it safe to be that high? Or perhaps maybe I’m not hydrated enough because I don’t have a great habit of drinking lots of water and usually just coffee in the morning.

In addition, I tested my fasting blood sugar one morning and found it to be 106-107. Type 2 does run in my family and I’ve had high blood sugar levels before. But for this, I’ve read elsewhere that this is normal on Keto in the beginning and the levels will eventually lower. Just wanted to check with you guys to see if this is true. My doctor says it should be okay to continue but he doesn’t really know much about Ketogenic diets.

(Carl Keller) #2

Hello and welcome MC.

The pee strips will answer the question “Am I in ketosis?” but will not provide an accurate measure of blood ketones. What the pee strips measure is the excess ketones that your body is disposing of. It’s basically as good as a urine pregnancy test. They will tell you, yes or no, you are or aren’t pregnant, but they cannot accurately tell you how pregnant you are…

The dark color might be something to worry you if you have type 1 diabetes or have severe issues with insulin resistance. Mine typically showed purplish to dark purple when I was [spoiler]pissing[/spoiler] my money away while testing with pee strips and I’m still here, 4 months later and feeling great. :slight_smile:

There are blood ketone meters (most accurate) and breath ketone meters (more accurate than pee strips) but all of that isn’t real necessary for casual keto.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetic-ketoacidosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20371551

(MC) #3

Thanks! I’m guessing the high ketones would also come with some debilitating physical symptoms if I was really treading towards ketoacidosis?

Seems like most of the people on the forum don’t use the strips, I’ll do the same. Thanks again for the insight

(Lonnie Hedley) #4

This is only a concern if you’re type 1 diabetic. I know you said type 2 runs in your family, but they’re completely different.

Also as mentioned, the pee strips are not a good indicator of anything other than ketone waste.

(*Tame Those Ghrelin Gremlins) #5

Normal healthy people cannot get Keto acidosis from doing Keto that’s a myth. As far as I am aware no one has ever died from doing Keto either. However as stated diabetics need to be careful, of course talking to your doctor first is good too.

(MC) #7

Seems it only relates to Type 1, it sounds like it should be fine. I thought Keto would normally help reverse type 2 or prediabetes?

Was hoping to get into a healthy weight with this, along with lowering my blood sugar.

(Running from stupidity) #8

Which is WHY they need to be careful.

(MC) #9

So…you’re saying ketoacidosis also can apply to Type 2? If that’s the case, then perhaps the diet is too risky for me, seeing as I already have high ketones and my fasting blood sugar was at 106-107 after 2 weeks of doing this.

Sorry for the questions, just trying to learn more about it.

(Katie the Quiche Scoffing Stick Ninja ) #10

It’s possible, but it is VERY VERY rare and far less severe.
You needn’t worry.

(Jane) #11

Why would you worry about ketoacidosis with blood sugar levels in the low hundreds? Wouldn’t it need to be in the mid-to-high 200’s to be a health risk?

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #12

If your pancreas is still producing insuln and you are not pregnant, it is virtually impossible for you to become ketoacidotic. The warnings that come with the strips are for Type I diabetics, who are not producing their own insulin, and who do have to worry about ketoacidosis if they forget to take their shots. Not only that, but your β-hydroxybutyrate level would have to be ten times the normal level of nutritional ketosis in order for there to even begin to be a problem.

There is a phenomenon where pregnant women on a ketogenic diet can sometimes slip into ketoacidosis, but that seems to happen during a serious infection, after a few days of no appetite, etc. It’s not common.

As for your serum glucose level, don’t worry about it just yet, but if your readings haven’t come down by six months of eating keto, then it would be time to be concerned and start looking for what’s going on.

Absolutely. Type II diabetes is the result of insulin resistance, and the best treatment for insulin resistance is to eat in a way that doesn’t keep your insulin chronically elevated—in other words, a well-formulated ketogenic diet.