Keto Mojo GKI Woes

(Bean) #1

Well. I really wanted to double down on my GKI to see how tightly I can manage my RA while adding some new foods. I went ahead and, after years of not having a keto blood meter, bought one.

Well. turns out the glucose readings on the Keto Mojo, while in EU tolerances, run about 10-20 points high on my meter. Which makes it useless for calculating GKI.

Support has escalated my case, so hopefully I get some refund, but if you are tempted by the new focus on GKI… buyer beware. No returns on opened products unless THEY deem it defective.
:-/
I guess I’m back to the old gluc meter, urine strips, and a spreadsheet. And out $100.

#2

How old is your normal meter? Sure it’s right? Can either one of them be calibrated? Could always get some control solution to double check both of them.

(Joey) #3

You’ve determined your glucose readings are 10-20 points high, so (notwithstanding your feeling rightly frustrated) here are a few thoughts…

  • Subtract the overage you’ve determined in glucose and then recalculate GKI. The formula as I recall is fairly straightforward.

  • Pickup a cheap glucose test device for (about $10) and use those glucose figures in your GKI calcs instead.

The pricier part of the GKI calculation comes from the ketone side of things, not the glucose. Fortunately, your overage is a cheaper one to address.

:vulcan_salute:

EDIT: Upon re-reading your post I realize you are already armed to accomplish what I’ve suggested. Sorry - nevermind.

(Bean) #4

@lfod14 My other meter was verified earlier this week because I checked my glucose within minutes of having a blood draw for my rheum, so I’m good there. It’s usually accurate within 2 points.

I have calibrated the Keto Mojo- it comes with the control solution.

@SomeGuy You are right, of course. I can at least run out the box of ketone strips. Hopefully at that point I’ll have the data I need.

Thanks guys. Just a little frustrated. As long as I can accomplish my goals I shouldn’t worry. I’ll set up my routine so I don’t have to haul around two meters.

(Joey) #5

Well, in fairness, you do currently haul around multiple fingers. :wink:

(KM) #6

Am I wrong in thinking that the info you need is really a comparison of the ratio given by the machine from one test to the next? It might not be a true number but wouldn’t the fluctuations be equally usable data points? Or do you need to compare with old, accurate data points?

(Bean) #7

Sadly, not in this case. I am targeting a GKI window of 3-6, which does really require both numbers be accurate. I’m managing RA and some areas of concern, but for someone who is monitoring active cancer, the range of inaccuracy would be unacceptable.

There’s something to be said for consistently wrong, but it isn’t really that, either. Glucose gave me really wacky low readings this morning off the same bead of blood as my ol’ trusty meter.

The Mojo ketone meter side at least agrees with my urine strips. I’m not sure how accurate those are though. I’ve been low carb in some form for 18-20 years.

Anyhow. I suspect it’s a $100 paperweight with a pretty screen. :-/

(Bob M) #8

You may never have a good GKI. My ketones are lower and my blood sugar is higher every morning,so my GKI sucks. Every day. In my 12th year of keto. Ketones typically 0.2-0.4 mmol/l, blood sugar around 110 (6.1).

I can get higher GKI at night, because my ketones go up and my blood sugar drops during the day.

I got a blood sugar monitor in the US that supposedly tests within 10 percent of the real value. But even that is not great, as it means that if I have a blood sugar of 100 (6.1), the meter could read anywhere from 90 to 110.

And I have a picture of 3 ketone monitors, with readings of 0.2, 0.4, and 0.8 mmol/l. Same time.

And if you look at the outputs of the continuous ketone monitors, ketones seem to fluctuate a ton.

(Bean) #9

Interesting. Do you have an eating window? I’ve been testing late morning and I run around 95 (I usually eat around 1pm), but I suspect if I tested very early it would be higher.

(Joey) #10

Urine strips become irrelevant after one is fully “fat adapted.” The urine contains what level of ketones are being wasted - pissed away. The body stops itself from squandering ketones after just a few months.

That’s different than serum levels which are ketones in transit to tissues where they are actually used.

(Bean) #11

So neither is probably accurate on my new meter.

Hmm. I know fasting helps me control my flares. But there are limits to how long one can fast. Especially while conditioning for a 10K.

I need to ponder this. I was hoping for a way to quantify ketones while maintaining enough calories and protein. Without triggering flares.

(Joey) #12

I hear you. As another data-geek, I too am always striving to measure stuff… keep records… find associations, etc.

Eventually I come around once again to remind myself that it’s the results that actually matter. And so how I actually feel becomes the best and most reliable data available.

And yes, you can only fast for so long. :vulcan_salute:

(KM) #13

So the issue is not that it reads high, but that it’s not accurate? Because if it reads high, you just need to adjust your target.

(Bean) #14

At first I thought that it reads high, but it turns out it is inaccurate.

I’m annoyed with myself, really. I’m not a “go buy the new, shiny, $100 thing” kind of person.

I’m also cranky because I’m flaring on my left side this week for the first time, which is likely disease progression. And 4 hours of sleep because of pain. Ack. Anyhow. Yoga, shower, fasting until dinner. Bumping my run to tomorrow.

Maybe time to try MCT oil?

(KM) #15

I totally understand that, nothing makes me feel more unhappy with myself than drinking the Kool-Aid, only to see the truth after my wallet’s already flattened out.

I’m sorry to hear you’re feeling so bad, and this must be terribly frustrating, too. I sure hope you can find some relief. :face_with_head_bandage:

(cheryl) #16

Just a couple of quick tips:

  1. Before testing, make sure to clean your finger with an alcohol swab—this helps reduce any chance of contamination.
  2. After you prick your finger, wipe away the first drop of blood, then gently squeeze out a second drop to use. That one tends to give a more accurate reading.

I’ve had some results that didn’t make sense before, but since I started doing this, my numbers have been much more in line with what my CGM shows.

(Bean) #17

Yep. A good reminder. Already doing all this. Still get wonky numbers. Thanks, though. I’m all for any tips that might help.

(E P) #18

I was so close to buying one for the exact same purpose as you, @beannoise. Keto mojos are too expensive not to work!! Grrr. An ebay keto scan mini was cheap for me to buy and to operate since it’s breath acetone, but there’s no real formula for translating breath acetone ppm to blood mmol/L so…I can’t calculate an exact GKI either.