So I was doing a week off keto and got strep. Now I have to take antibiotics for 10 days. Was planning on going back into ketosis tomorrow but wanted to ask the intelligent and thoughtful folks on here first if there is any risk or danger or other odd effects to consider?
Going into ketosis while on antibiotics?
lfod14
#2
Shouldn’t make any difference if unless you weren’t keto for long your body shouldn’t really fight you.
siobhan
(Siobhan)
#3
When you’re sick it may be more difficult to enter ketosis, because - at least for some forms of sickness - you become temporarily more insulin resistant for immune system functions.
Your glucose may go up, ketones down, and over all feel pretty cruddy (that’s being sick for you)
This doesn’t mean you can’t eat keto, just that ketones may not be measurable or may be lower than normal.
But as far as danger in attempting, no, not that I’m aware of at least.
On an unrelated note though, I hear they’re suggesting you eat fermented foods (like saurkraut and the like) while taking antibiotics to help not nuke your gut microbe if that makes any difference. I’m not actually sure, just heard it in passing.
Fry
#4
Thank you. So this would likely only apply to the period where the bacteria is still large and in charge right? After they are on the way out (2 or 3 days in to the antibiotics) then it should be as easy as ever to get back into ketosis? The antibiotics themselves don’t affect the process? For example a well person taking antibiotics would have no problem getting back into ketosis?
And thank you for the tip on the probiotics. I have a bunch of yogurt products and kim chi 
siobhan
(Siobhan)
#5
I think it would depend. I’ve gotten labwork done and taken ketones while sick and there seems to be a washout period where ketone production is lower than normal for a little while after.
It’s not necessarily from the antibiotics themselves but from actually being sick in the first place. I wouldn’t worry about it, and production might just be lower not stopped entirely.
I’m not sure I’ve ever seen studies on antibiotics used on healthy people so I’m not sure. Either way, I’d say eat what you usually do for keto, plus some kimchi if you want, and your body will do what it needs until you’re better
zuza
#7
Thank you. just found your post browsing the forum. now I understand why my ketones have been so low and blood sugar so high in the last 10 days. i have a nasty cold. It did cross my mindat a certain point that this might be the reason. Now I know. Thanks:)