BK's too high or okay?

(Jessica A) #1

Hey all!! So I switched my glucometer to a Pricision Neo so I could use ketone strips. So far I’m impressed with my results. Twice now I’ve read 3.2 mmol later in the afternoon. I haven’t eaten anything all day, just my BPC and another coffee with HWC. I haven’t eaten because I just haven’t felt hungry. It’s kinda great.

However, some info online says that stepping over 3 mmol can be indicative of starvation. So my multi-leveled question for you is should I fuss over that .2 mmol? should I make an effort to eat more even if I don’t feel hungry to keep my ketones a little lower? I’m only 5 weeks in, but I have stalled. So I don’t know if that’s because I should be consuming more calories and my higher ketones are telling me this. I am not diabetic and my glucose number was fabulous at 4.6 mmol right before testing my ketones.

Thoughts?

(Chris W) #2

Well I will tell you not to chase ketones its of no use.
The two fat intakes you have had before the test are SCT’s and MCT’s which both go straight through the gut wall and to the liver to be processed to ketones. Hence higher ketone level.
Short of being in ketoacidosis I don’t beleive there is a too high level of ketones, but don’t freak out if they are low either, your body will do what it will do.

#3

Hi Jessica,
I read up on this on the site extensively when I first started testing ketones, and it appears you have nothing to worry about. Doing just keto, my ketones are typically in the 2.0 - 3.0 range, but when I am fasting I’ve gotten anything from 4.0 to 6.9. I think I’m becoming fat adapted so my highest readings this past week even with fasting haven’t been higher than 4.4, I expect they will continue to decrease. I think you’re totally fine, your fasting is working. :smile:

#4

Don’t worry about it, it’s not an indication of starvation anymore than the saturated fat we eat will “clog our arteries”. Unless your a Type 1 diabetic your not going anywhere NEAR a level that’s too high. Our bodies have checks and balances to not allow it.

#5

Unlike BG, ketone levels can be very individualistic. It’s more useful to determine what your personal normal levels are under feed, fasted, and various feeding conditions. I find it useful to track my GKI, which is simply a ratio.

Rest assured that your body is not harmed by ketone levels < 10 so long as you feel well. Feeling sick is a sign that something is wrong.

Here are some opinions on optimal ketone levels.