Ketone Levels in Blood are low

(Neal Perkins) #1

So, I’ve been on the diet about 6 weeks and have lost about 15 pounds. It is slowly coming off. I have begun monitoring my blood ketone levels (and just started glucose today). My levels are typically .3 and only once hit .4.
These readings are at different times of the day. I don’t cheat with carbs or sugar. I may be eating too much protein and I have not started measuring all my food. I was hoping I would be in the .5-1.5 range. How do I figure out what I am doing wrong? Thanks!!

#2

I hope someone answers this because you have me wondering what is going on here with you.

#3

Firstly, there are some who say that they are in ketosis with a blood ketone reading of 0.3 thru 0.5. But these are generally people who’ve been on a keto diet for a long while (years) and whose bodies are well adapted to using ketones. It may be that their bodies only make ketones as required.

For the rest of us, we should look for blood ketone readings of 0.5 or higher. Personally, I like to see readings at around 1.0 or higher, but that doesn’t always happen. E.g. this morning’s reading was 0.7. I’ve found that my BK readings are generally higher when I’ve been very disciplined about keeping carbs low and not eating too much protein. I also find that I have higher ketone readings when I do some exercise to exhaust my glycogen reserves.

Also, there are some low carb foods which, in theory, ought to be okay for me to eat, but which for some reason knock my blood ketone levels way down - sometimes all the way to Lo (less than 0.1) on my keto mojo. One example is the Chocolate Cacao Atlas Bar which is sweetened with Erythritol and Stevia.

(Katie the Quiche Scoffing Stick Ninja ) #4

I am fat adapted and I can’t see readings over 1.0 unless I fast for over 24 hours.

You may be adapted now and are using those blood ketones efficiently therefore none spare travelling around the blood stream.

(Chris) #5

Levels look fine, 6 weeks and 15 pounds is FAST, not slow, and chances are you’re closer to not enough protein than too much.

(Neal Perkins) #6

OK! The advice was spot on. So, this morning I rode my AirDyne bike for 25 minutes and test my blood again. This time the result is .8 (it has always been .3 before.) I ‘suspect’ the information from KevinB is spot on. I’ll be interested to see what happens over the next few days.

As background, exercise has become difficult for me as I’m battling a serious fatigue problem. After a lifetime of serious exercise, this is more than a little frustrating! (But, I’m not really complaining…much.)