Should I be scared?

#1

I’m new to this but I’m worried because I am consistently testing as “larger - 18 Moll/l” on my perfect keto brand urine strips. Is that dangerous? I started with a 3 day fast then eating keto diet for 3 days now. As far as I know I’m not diabetic and I feel ok although I am peeing a lot. I’m a little scared based on some stuff I’ve seen on the net, should I be?

(Full Metal KETO AF) #2

People here advise not to put much stock in testing. Keto Diet is good for you, stress is bad. If you’re staying at <20-25 carbs you’re going to be fine. Make sure to get enough water salt and fats especially now during your start. Your body eliminates salt and water faster on keto and the salt will keep you feeling good and functional. I recommend magnesium supplements as well as good large doses of quality fish oil. Some supplement potassium but I don’t think it necessary if you eat plenty of green leafy veggies. I applaud your efforts and wish you the best success.

#3

Thanks, I just want to make sure I couldn’t be experiencing ketoacidosis. I understand that testing isn’t very accurate, but usually I hear about people testing lower than they want. I haven’t really heard of people testing so high

#4

I have no medical background, so this is not medical advice. However, I’ve been eating the keto way since the end of July and can speak a little from my personal experience.

I think that if you are feeling well and getting your electrolytes then you have nothing to worry about. Sodium, magnesium and potassium are important. I use Cronomoter to track what I eat, carbs and even my supplements so I don’t get too much potassium. As long as you are under 20 net carbs, you are in ketosis. Nutritional ketosis is a healthy way to live.

If you have any underlying medical conditions, you should consult with your doctor.

Also, I’ve never bothered with testing for ketones and don’t think it is necessary, although I have seen that some do it. Try not to worry if you feel well otherwise. Best of luck!!

Edited to add: You aren’t a type 1 diabetic, or you would know by now. If you have a belly, you might be pre-diabetic. I don’t know if urine strips are the most accurate way to test ketones. At first the body is less efficient at using ketones and dumps lots of them. Later once you are fully adapted your body will be more efficient at using ketones and won’t dump so many. My guess, (no doctor here) is that your numbers will decrease in time.

You haven’t been on this diet long, so your body is probably still adjusting. It may take more than a week, depending on your physical condition.

(Allie) #5

Throw the pee strips away.

(mole person) #6

Unlike others here I love my pee sticks but do not worry about ketoacidosis. You are at the start of keto so your body is pretty clueless about what to do with all the ketones you’re making so it’s spilling them out all over the place (urine, breath, sweat).

A person’s urine testing at the start of keto is not indicative of their actual blood ketone level and should not be interpreted as a danger signal.

Mine were also in this range at the start, and have since settled to the 4-8 mmol range. If you’re anything like me that high range now may actually be a good thing as I’ve never had to give up the sticks as a method for tracking ketosis. Almost two years in and they are still dark pink every day. For many people they stop working after a few weeks once they are fat adapted.

(Scott) #7

My wife and I bought the strips she ended up using them once and I didn’t. By the time I was thinking about testing I realized that I can taste when I am in ketosis. Before someone asks, no I don’t taste my pee! I get a very pronounced acetone taste in my mouth so I don’t feel the need constantly check. I tend to hit around 50g due to veggies and wine so I often drift in and out of ketosis.

(Banting & Yudkin & Atkins & Eadeses & Cordain & Taubes & Volek & Naiman & Bikman ) #8

If you are not a T1 diabetic, you are highly unlikely to be in ketoacidosis.

If you are not drinking a lot of water, you are probably bumping your concentration of ketones in your urine higher. Drs. Eades put it “Drink till you float.” It’s a solid recommendation imho.

I’m also in the “finish that package of test strips, and do not replace it” camp.

(Bob M) #9

Interesting. I had to give up the urine sticks years ago (5 years low carb on 1/1/18), as they were zero even though both blood and breath ketones indicated ketosis.

(mole person) #10

I’m not sure if this was related, but I also had nasty keto breath that lasted for ages. It didn’t dissipate after the first months as others claim. It’s gone now but was with me for about a year.

(Full Metal KETO AF) #11

Also as I understand it the strips will only show unused ketones in the urine. You may be in ketosis and not showing on pee strips if your body is using the ketones efficiently. Ketoacidosis is a condition that diabetics get, unrelated to ketosis.

(Laurie) #12

I wouldn’t worry.

I tested very high a couple of times at the beginning, and I settled down to a consistent 4.0 for about 4 months. Many ketoers never get up to 4.0. We are all different. (I no longer use the sticks.)

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #13

The reading you get on a urine stick is a measurement of how much acetoacetate your body is wasting. It says nothing about the amount of ketone bodies circulating in your bloodstream, it merely tells you that your body is producing ketone bodies. Ketoacidosis requires at least 10 mmol/dL of β-hydroxybutyrate in your blood serum, and is still impossible in the presence of insulin. Unless you are a Type I diabetic who refuses to take insulin, you are fine. It is entirely possible that your batch of test strips is bad, or the meter is not properly calibrated to the batch, or you have some other measurement problem.

It is possible to have what they call “euglycemic ketoacidosis,” but it is extremely rare, and usually involves lack of food in combination with some serious illness. I’ve seen a case study of a lactating woman on a ketogenic diet who fell ill and could not eat for several days, and who developed ketoacidosis; a case study of an alcoholic suffering from alcohol withdrawal and malnutrition who developed ketoacidosis; and a paper dealing with people who developed ketoacidosis while taking a couple of specific drugs and eating keto (can’t find the reference to that paper, but I ran across the other two while looking for it). The best treatment seems to be to administer insulin in combination with glucose, the insulin to inhibit ketogenesis, and the glucose to prevent hypoglycemic shock from the insulin.