New to Keto, blood ketone readings makes no sense. Please advise!

(Pilar) #1

Hello, I started Keto on October 3. I have since then felt wonderful, my back pain and headaches are gone, lots of energy, not craving carbs and lost 2 lbs total since then. I used a blood testing device last Sunday Oct 14 and the ketone level was 0.4, not bad to start! I didnt feel discouraged. I continued eating very minimum amount of net carbs this week. Today the blood test said L for Low, I repeated it and same result. Not even 0.1!

How is that possible? what do i have to do to enter ketosis and have high numbers like the rest? How can I go to a worse number if I continue not eating carbs?

Just feeling a bit discouraged and confused…

Also, does it matter at what time of the day you measure the ketones? can your level fluctuate in early morning or evening?

(mole person) #2

Yes. It can matter greatly. I never measure early in the day, after a meal, or after exercise. I only measure either before dinner or before bed.

Also, are you sure your carbs are under 20 g a day?

(Pilar) #3

Hi Ilana, thanks for the tip of measuring around bedtime. Last Sunday I measured in the evening and today in the morning. Do you know why the time of the day makes a difference?

Regarding the carbs, yes, I basically consume no more than 15 - 20 net carbs a day. That has helped me to lose 2 lbs in 2 weeks and i feel much better overall but the keto numbers concern me…

(mole person) #4

Yes. It’s called the “dawn phemomenon”. Your body gives you a lovely charge of glucose in the morning to get you started after the night’s fast.

(Mike W.) #5

Did you have bloodwork done or just testing ketones? Title is a little confusing.

(Pilar) #6

I have a blood ketone meter

(Robert C) #7

Remember what you are measuring!

You are measuring ketones in the blood - generally, but not necessarily an indicator of ketosis.

It is really more of a measure of a traffic jam between production and consumption.

Maybe you are producing a low amount of ketones and they are quickly being used.

But, maybe you are producing a high amount of ketones and they are quickly being used.

It is true that people, in the beginning, generally over produce ketones and their body doesn’t know what to do with them (their body undergoes keto flu symptoms - basically complaining about not-enough-glucose).

It could just be an “individual variance” situation, I would not rely on the ketone meter to measure progress if I was in your situation. Instead I would focus on the weight loss, higher energy, loss of carb cravings and pain going away.

(Pilar) #8

Thank you so much! :grinning:

(Running from stupidity) #9

It’s not a numbers arms race. The goal is to be in ketosis (and lipolysis). Everyone who is in that state is a winner, not just the one with the highest numbers, so you can relax.

(Allie) #10

Numbers are up and down all the time. Focus on how you feel and don’t stress about chasing numbers.

(Hyperbole- best thing in the universe!) #11

I don’t measure, so not an expert on this, but I thought I’d throw out there that there is a net carb/total carb controversy. I don’t have a dog in that race, but if you find net carbs aren’t working for you it may be worth trying for 20 total carbs and seeing if that helps.

As a non-ketone-measurer, I think if your body is responding well to the changes you’ve made, then it’s all good. You can always tweak if you think more improvements can be made. I know some people are looking for therapeutic ketosis, and others like the data. Both are good reasons to measure. But if you are following the most basic protocol, it’s not something I’d worry about.

(Pilar) #12

Thank you. I never had keto flu, I did experience the bad breath the first week, then it was gone. I used to have terrible back pain, sciatic pain and headaches, for some reason all of them have dissipated. I even asked my doctor to check if maybe i have been gluten intolerant and I wasnt aware of it. I lose weight very slowly but I feel good overall, so even if my numbers dont improve, I think I will stay in this diet. I think my body is responding well to it. Thanks again!

(Hyperbole- best thing in the universe!) #13

Dr Bosworth on YouTube says that the keto diet is exponentially more powerful as an anti inflammatory pain reliever than either ibuprofen or prescription steroid pain killers. If you’ve had that dramatic pain relief, I’d say that’s a good sign you are doing the right thing for your body.