How Valid are Blood Ketone Readings?

(Failed) #1

I got a keto mojo and some strips for my 70th birthday a week ago. I’ve been really enjoying checking my glucose and ketone readings and doing the math for the GKI and Dr. Boz ratio.

I started taking metformin twice a day on Sept 30, and have been taking inositol, taurine, choline, cysteine, & carnitine at least twice a day (most days for at least 6 weeks) to help with insulin sensitivity & diabetic retinopathy

I’m just wondering if the GKI and Dr Boz ratios are really indicative of how well I’m doing.

Here’re the numbers I’m getting, the best for each day shown.

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(Cancer Fighting Ketovore :)) #2

I’m curious as to what has been making your ketones go up. Were you fasting at all?

(Failed) #3

I fasted for 72 hours starting Oct 1, so Oct 1, 2, & 3. I ate breakfast Oct 4 (yesterday) then had celery & pickles late yesterday evening. This morning, I had breakfast again.

If the small amount of calories from the celery & pickles don’t break a fast, I’m going 23.5 hours between meals when not fasting.

(Jennifer Allen) #4

I know that the keto mojo people and Dr. Boz believe that the lower the number the better I would love to see the research on this. I don’t believe it. I’ve stayed in low numbers, <40 for the Boz Ratios and <2.2 for gki for weeks long. During that time my weight loss was no faster than when my number are a little higher. Remember that the ketone in your bloodstream is what is available for your body to use as energy, not how much it really uses for energy.

(Cancer Fighting Ketovore :)) #5

Higher ketones when fasting make sense. I expect they may go back down as you eat more.

(Failed) #6

I hear what you’re saying. However, I thought ketones were largely for metabolic repair, chucking the old mitochondria and proteins and building new.

That’s what I’m aiming for. Weight loss is just a bonus. I have severe damage from eating SAD for decades and not even trying to control diabetes. When I started keto, my BG was 450 / 24.9.

(Failed) #7

I’ve been eating OMAD for 2 days now, but the numbers keep getting better. The next few days on OMAD or 2MAD should be informative.

(Cancer Fighting Ketovore :)) #8

I’m usually around 1 or 2 for ketones before my OMAD. However, when fasting they really jump up.

(Murphy Kismet) #9

I see your numbers really improving within days of starting metformin.
I am wondering if these good numbers are solely from metformin, and not the food or fasting. Which makes me feel a bit defeated if numbers like these are possible with help from big pharma, or if simply more time with this woe could give the same numbers…

(Joey) #10

@DeeCS The data you’ve shared suggests you’re doing incredibly well!

As you know from numerous other postings on this forum, weight loss is just one of many indications of improved health … most of what really matters is what’s going on internally, well below the skin. Your ketone and glucose measures (and the associated ratios between the two) are highly indicative of a significant change in your metabolism for the better.

I, too, had my ketones rise (based on Mojo testing) into the 4-6 mmol/L range for weeks on end by eating strictly keto and eating 1.5 meals/day, typically within an 18/6 window. My GKI hovered around +/- 1 during this time.

To answer your thread title question… Yes, there can certainly be variations in the results of the Mojo test (or any other blood test, for that matter). I’ve found this in successive tests, even from the same finger prick. But such variations are not THAT significant - nothing on the order of magnitude of what you’re seeing pre vs post fast + medications.

What’s hard to know (at least, hard for me to know!) is the extent to which the medications are contributing to the sharp rise in ketones. If I understand correctly, you started some/all of the medications around the same time you began your fast? Even if so, my strong suspicion is that the fast had a great deal to do with the ramping up of ketone production evident in your comparative before/after data series. Someone with far more knowledge might chime in with science-based facts on the matter.

Again, looks like you’re doing great! Congratulations :+1:

BTW: More recently, my ketones have fallen to between 1-2 mmol/L with stable glucose levels, such that my GKI has risen to between 5-6x. There’s been no change in my eating, exercise, sleep, stress, etc… and I feel fantastic. Better than ever. So I just chalk this up to my body becoming more efficient in producing levels of ketones more consistent with what I actually need to burn, thereby leaving less (excess) BHB to circulate around my bloodstream unused.

(Cancer Fighting Ketovore :)) #11

I suspect that both fasting and metformin contributed to the lower glucose while fasting ramped up the ketones. I’d be interested to see numbers over the course of today. I usually measure a few times a day when fasting, so I can see the trend. And when I break my fast I try to test right before eating.

(Failed) #12

Before starting keto I was unmedicated and my blood sugars were in the high 300s, mid 400s, 21.3-25 mmol.

After a month on low carb/keto (I wasn’t counting carbs) my BGs were around 150, 8.3 mmol.

On August 15, I received the metformin I bought from an online pharmacy (I have a well-earned loathing of doctors) and started taking it. I took it sporadically, so until I started taking it morning and night a few days ago, my BGs crept back up to around 175, 9.7 mmol by the time I decided that I need the metformin. I was still in good ketosis, but the high BGs negated their benefits.

I was sure I could fix everything with diet & supplements. I was wrong.

Taking metformin, which is not a horrible thing-it’s been used for many years and has mild, if any, side-effects, is a small concession. Perhaps in 6 months or a year I will try going off it again.

As with anything, you may have a different experience, but every day your BG is above optimal is a day you are hurting yourself.

(Failed) #13

Good information, thank you, Joey.

I suspect it’s a combination. After I’d been keto for a few weeks, I did a 7 day fast (before I started taking metformin). My starting BG was 270, 15 mmol. When I ended the fast, it was 98 / 5.4. I thought to myself hallelujah I’m cured! Not so much.

In just 2 days, BG was back up in the mid-100s, 8s.

Metformin is my friend…for now,

(Cancer Fighting Ketovore :)) #14

That process is more associated with autophagy. Autophagy is when your body cleans up old, dead, and excess cells and proteins.


(Failed) #15

Yep, I knew that :relieved: what I didn’t explain very well is that I thought that the ketone/blood glucose formulas told you whether or not you were in autophagy.

(Cancer Fighting Ketovore :)) #16

Its thought to be a good indicator of autophagy :slight_smile:

(Failed) #17

Fingers crossed. I’d really like to get some of my eyesight back. Right now I’m legally blind, even though I can function close up. I have aneurysms in both retinas and it’s very scary.

(Joey) #18

As a data geek, I can easily relate to wanting to test repeatedly throughout the day. As a frugal keto’er, I try to keep my Mojo test strip budget in line with the likely (actionable) benefits of the info … squandering the savings on more meat. :wink:

(Cancer Fighting Ketovore :)) #19

I hear that, but when glucose gets to under 60 then I try to keep a close eye on things (and certainly when its under 50).

(Joey) #20

Makes good sense. Whenever acute health issues are at stake, measuring is well worth the cost. How wonderful to be living in an age where we can have such devices near at hand in our homes. :face_with_monocle: