Have a question about blood keto readings

#1

Hi!! I’ve been doing keto for 3 years. Doing it for an autoimmune disease but have also lost 50 pounds and my arthritis is gone.

I need to stay in keto because it is a piece of my remission from my illness. I’m doing a highly nutritious diet (as it is going to be life-long at this point) and sometimes I eat a little too many carbs… mostly from snacking on nuts or seeds…

Anyways - lately my blood ketones have been showing lower numbers -

Yesterday 9am .9, MCT oil 10am, 1pm 2.1, 5:30 1.1, 10pm .4

It’s that last .4 that concerns me (I am not athletic - just starting to exercise again - cause I’ve read that athletes can show low numbers when in keto)

How do I know that I am still in keto when that number drops below .5?

I’m trying to find some answers but haven’t found any so far…

I’m cutting back on carbs to make sure - staying under 30 -

Kafka

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #2

If you are keepting your carbohydrate low and are still breathing, then you have to be producing ketones. It is most likely that your body has become more efficient at matching ketone production to ketone consumption, so there is less floating around in your blood.

Bear in mind, however, that the higher your insulin level, the more inhibited your ketone production, so it might be a good idea to consider seriously how the importance of the pleasure from eating those extra nuts and seeds compares with the importance of keeping your autoimmune disease in check. Whichever you go with, this is an issue that you will very likely find helpful to have clear in your mind.

(Terence Dean) #3

Everyone is different but this rings bells for me. If you are snacking between main meals it may mean you are keeping insulin levels high during the day and therefore shutting off access to stored fat. I made a slight adjustment to my schedule by cutting out snacks and eating TMAD, it made a huge difference to my ketone production.

#4

Yes - I wasn’t considering this and it makes a lot of sense. See below…

Ahh… I see what I have been doing. I was doing TMAD (12 and 5) and the past few months started snacking at night - plus drinking a small amount of bourbon - guess I’ve got to stop that too! Long term marriage fell apart recently - hence the snacking and bourbon. I’ve never been a drinker and got to say I’m enjoying my little glass… but all (good things) carbs must end… my autoimmune issue takes precedence.

Thanks @PaulL (love bacon too) and @tdean for the replies!

So glad to have found this forum

(Kathleen Rose) #5

Does food that has no carbs raise your insulin?

(Terence Dean) #6

According to Dr Jason Fung, too much protein may raise insulin levels despite your BGL being low. But generally low carbs usually mean low insulin.

(Kathleen Rose) #7

Thank you!

#8

I’ve stopped the bourbon & snacking and back to TMAD (18,6)

Success!! Ketones .8 in evening. For my purpose I don’t need to be deep in ketosis - just in ketosis.

My citric acid cycle doesn’t work properly - and bypassing it as my energy source is one part of my remission (along with 2 other things I am doing) I’m currently recovering from severe mold exposure and not yet back at 100% functioning, and don’t need the added worry of falling out of keto…

I will stick around the forum - great resource here!!

#9

UGGGG yesterday evening I tested .2 even though I’m keeping carbs down, eating in a 6 hour window, stopped all snacking and bourbon.

I’m wondering if something else is going on - maybe it’s the hormones I’m taking or that my body is more efficient with ketones and not as many floating around in my blood… this only happens in the evening - the rest of the day I am above .5 when I test.

Maybe I shouldn’t worry about these numbers… and just keep doing what I’m doing. Glad I stopped the bourbon though!!

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #10

Sorry about the marriage. Been through that, and the feeling of having been punched in the gut lasted a long time. If you are even willing to contemplate avoiding your coping mechanisms, you have my admiration, whether you actually succeed or not. :+1:

P.S.—Don’t worry about fluctuations in your ketone levels, if your eating pattern is good. Do you have a sense of being fat-adapted? That’s the real goal.