Keto Strips: How Do They Work?

Ketone strips are used to measure the level of ketones in your urine or blood. Ketones are acids produced in the liver and used as an alternative fuel source for the brain and other organs when glucose is in short supply. Ketone strips are particularly useful for people on the ketogenic diet, which is a low-carb, high-fat and moderate-protein diet. The strips are usually small and made from a special type of paper that contains chemicals that change colour when they come into contact with ketones in the urine. The darker the colour, the higher the level of ketones.

How to use keto strips

Keto strips are used to measure the level of ketones in your body when you're on a ketogenic diet. There are two types of keto strips: urine strips and blood strips.

Urine Strips

Urine strips are ideal if you're new to the keto diet and want an easy and affordable way to ensure you're headed towards ketosis. They are usually small strips that are used to measure the level of ketones in your urine. These strips have colour codes that indicate the level of ketones in your urine—the darker the colour, the higher the level of ketones.

• Wash your hands and then take a urine sample in a clean container.
• Hold the absorbent end of the strip in the urine sample for a few seconds. Some strips may require you to shake the strip in the container to remove any excess liquid.
• Wait for the amount of time outlined on the package for the strip to change colour. Typically, this takes around 40 seconds to a few minutes.
• Compare the colour of the strip with the colour chart on the packaging. The colour will correspond to the concentration of ketones in your urine, which can range from no ketones to high concentrations.
• Dispose of the urine and strip appropriately and then wash your hands.

It is important to note that urine strips have some limitations. They are not always accurate, especially for detecting mild ketosis. Additionally, your hydration levels can affect the concentration of ketones in your urine, giving you an inaccurate reading. Therefore, it is recommended to use blood strips if you want a more accurate reading of your ketone levels.

Blood Strips

Blood keto strips are more accurate but also more expensive than urine strips. They are usually found at any place that carries urine strips, such as pharmacies, supermarkets, and online stores. However, you will need a meter to read the blood strips. Many blood glucose readers will also read blood keto strips. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to use blood keto strips:

• Load the lancet with the needle, following the directions provided.
• Insert a blood ketone strip into the ketone meter.
• Prick your finger to draw a small drop of blood using the lancet.
• Let the strip come into contact with the drop of blood.
• Check the results on the meter.
• Dispose of the strip and lancet as per the directions.

General Recommendations

• For the most accurate results, always follow the directions on the package and use kits that are not past their expiration date.
• To keep results accurate and reliable, collect a clean-catch urine sample and replace the cap of the strips after every use.
• Do not expose the strips to sunlight or moisture, and do not remove the desiccants.
• Do not touch the testing area with your hands.
• Check the expiration date before testing.

What are keto strips testing for?

Keto strips, also known as ketone strips, are used to test for ketosis. Ketosis is a metabolic state in which the body uses fat as its primary energy source instead of glucose. This happens when the body does not have enough glucose from carbohydrates to meet its energy needs, causing it to break down stored fat into fatty acids and ketones.

There are two types of keto strips: urine and blood. Urine keto strips are small strips of paper that react with ketones in the urine and change colour to indicate the level of ketones present. The darker the colour, the higher the level of ketones. Blood keto strips, on the other hand, provide a more accurate measurement of ketone levels in the blood.

Keto strips are particularly useful for people following a ketogenic diet, which is a low-carb, high-fat, and moderate-protein diet. The goal of the keto diet is to achieve ketosis, and keto strips can help monitor and adjust the diet accordingly. They are also used to detect dangerously high blood ketone levels, which can lead to a condition called ketoacidosis, a serious complication of diabetes.

How accurate are keto strips?

Keto strips are not 100% accurate. There are two types of keto strips: urine and blood. Urine strips are a good tool to measure whether you’re in ketosis during the first few weeks of starting a keto diet. However, as your body gets deeper into ketosis, it adapts to using ketones for fuel and becomes more optimised in producing them, leaving less unused. This means that if you’ve been in a keto-adapted state for several months, a urine keto strip may indicate that your urine contains only trace amounts of ketones, if any. This can mislead people into thinking they’re no longer in ketosis, which may not be the case. Urine strips are also affected by hydration levels, which can give an inaccurate reading.

Blood keto strips are a more accurate way to measure ketosis, but they are more expensive and require you to prick your finger to draw blood. Blood keto strips are a more suitable option if you've been on a ketogenic diet for several months and want a more accurate picture of your ketone levels.

When is the best time to test?

The best time to test your ketone levels is in the morning, after you've had a good night's sleep, as your body will have rested and cleared the food you ate the previous day, giving you the most accurate results. It is also recommended to test at the same time of day for the best comparison. For example, you could test first thing in the morning or several hours after your last meal of the day.

If you have diabetes, your doctor will probably tell you to test your ketone levels when:

• Your blood sugar is higher than 250 milligrams/deciliter (mg/dL) for two days in a row.
• You're sick or injured.
• You want to exercise and your blood sugar level is over 250 mg/dL.
• You've missed an insulin injection.
• You're on your period.
• You've been unable to eat.
• Your insulin pump stops working.

If you are pregnant and have been diagnosed with gestational diabetes, test your ketone levels every morning before you eat breakfast.

What do my results mean?

Urine Test Results

The results of a urine test will show the presence of ketones in your body, which indicates that you are in ketosis. The darker the colour of the strip, the higher your ketone levels. Typically, the colours on the strip will correspond to a colour chart on the packaging, with options ranging from negative (no ketones) to high concentrations.

Blood Test Results

For blood tests, a preferable blood level of ketones for dietary ketosis is 0.5–3 mmol/L (9–54 mcg/dl).

Interpreting Your Results

If you are testing for ketosis, a negative test result is usually considered normal. However, you can also have trace, small, or moderate amounts of ketones in your urine or blood, which indicate that you are in ketosis.

What Your Results Mean for Your Diet

If you are following a ketogenic diet, urine strips are a good tool to measure whether you are in ketosis, especially during the first few weeks. However, as your body adapts to using ketones for fuel, urine strips may indicate lower levels of ketones, even if you are still in ketosis. Therefore, if you have been on a ketogenic diet for several months and want a more accurate picture of your ketone levels, blood keto strips are recommended.

When to Seek Help

If you are testing for high ketone levels due to diabetes, a urine test will show:

• Trace amounts of ketones
• Moderate levels of ketones
• High amounts of ketones

If your results show moderate to high ketone levels, you may have diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), which is a medical emergency. Call your doctor or go to the emergency room right away if your ketone levels are very high.

Frequently asked questions