Been on Keto diet for a couple months now, my wife one month. We both love it and feel the benifits. But we are confused when checking our Ketone levels with a blood test. So hopefully someone can clarify it for us. I have searched the web and I can’t find the right answer we are looking for. First question, ketone levels in blood are measured in mmol/l, right? Because that is what my testing machine gives. I read that “optimal” levels are between 1.5 and 3 mmol/l, why is this? Lately when we have been testing our blood, any time of the day, even first thing in the morning our mmol/l levels are around 5 all the time. What exactly does this mean? From what I read this is keto fasting… what does that mean? Does this basically mean my body is producing a lot of ketones and is lacking carbs? Should we be eating more carbs? We stick to the 5% Carbs / 75% Fat / 20% Protien.
Confused About Testing Blood Ketone Level
Basically, assuming this is a measurement in blood or serum, it means that you have produced that amount and it is available in your blood stream for use. Over time, you’ll see the number start to come down, because your body becomes more efficient at using the little buggers. I would stay the course, and I wouldn’t change anything that you are doing.
As @tdseest notes, the numbers will change. When you first start on keto, you experience an ‘out of synch’ situation between synthesis and utilization. Your cells and organs are not utilizing ketones efficiently. To compensate, your liver is synthesizing more than necessary to make sure ‘everyone’ gets enough. Over time, as cells and organs become better adapted to utilizing ketones and fatty acids, synthesis in the liver will drop to better match actual use. In other words, they will get in synch.
Just carry on and don’t worry about it. β-hydroxybutyrate which is the stuff you’re measuring with your blood meter does other good things in addition to storing energy. Having an excess of it bathing your innards for a while is beneficial.