Best Time To Test Mojo Keto Meter: Morning Or Night?

Testing ketone and glucose levels is essential when starting a ketogenic diet to ensure your efforts are effective. The Keto-Mojo meter is a blood ketone monitor that can determine if you are in ketosis, at what level, and what your blood glucose level is. The best time to test is when it is convenient for you on a regular basis, as testing at the same time each day is important for tracking your progress. However, since sleep and meals can affect test results, it is recommended to test in the morning while fasted and before lunch or dinner, at least 2-3 hours after eating.

How to test your ketone levels with a Keto-Mojo meter

To test your ketone levels with a Keto-Mojo meter, follow these steps:

Firstly, prepare your hands to avoid a contaminated test result. Wash your hands with warm water and dry them thoroughly. Alternatively, use an alcohol swab to sterilize the part of your finger that you will prick.

Next, prepare your lancing device. Twist off the top of the device, insert a new lancet, and press down firmly on the expansion gap. Twist off the plastic lancet cap and place the device cover over the lancet. Adjust the depth selector to a setting that suits your skin type.

Now, prepare your hands to encourage better blood flow. Rub or massage the area to be pricked, as warm hands result in better blood flow. Shake your hands energetically, or grip the finger you are going to test and squeeze for about 12 seconds before using the lancet. This increases hypostatic pressure.

Insert a fresh, unused Keto-Mojo ketone strip into your Keto-Mojo meter. Make sure the strip is pushed all the way down in the port and that you do not touch the top of the strip where the blood will be absorbed. Wait for the meter to display a flashing droplet icon.

Prick your finger with the lancing device. Test on the side of your finger where the skin is softer and the prick is less painful. Wipe away the first blood droplet with a clean paper towel or tissue to ensure a more accurate result. Apply gentle pressure to help form a blood droplet, and avoid excessively squeezing your finger. If you are having difficulty forming a blood droplet, lower your hand below hip height and gently squeeze your finger, starting at the part closest to your palm and working your way down until a blood droplet forms.

With the strip still in the meter, bring the tip of the strip to the droplet on your finger. On contact, the strip will draw the blood into the blood channel via capillary action. Make sure you get a good fill—if the blood sample is too small, you may get an inaccurate reading. Keep the strip to the blood droplet until you see the channel is completely full with blood and the meter starts to countdown. Then remove it.

Finally, watch the meter screen for your reading. Ketone readings will show up in 9 seconds.

The best time to test your ketone levels is at the same time each day, as this is important for tracking your progress. The most convenient time is in the morning while fasted, as this gives you a good baseline to compare over time. However, if you are insulin-resistant, it may be better to wait 2-3 hours after waking up to allow your body to adjust to the cortisol spike.

How to test your glucose levels with a Keto-Mojo meter

Testing your glucose levels with a Keto-Mojo meter is a simple process, but it's important to follow the steps correctly to ensure accurate results. Here's a detailed guide on how to test your glucose levels:

• Prepare your hands: Wash your hands with warm water and dry them thoroughly. Alternatively, use an alcohol swab to sterilize the part of your finger that you'll prick. This step is crucial to avoid contaminating the test results.
• Prepare your lancing device: Twist off the top of the lancing device. Insert a new lancet into the device, pressing down firmly on the expansion gap. Twist off the plastic lancet cap and place the device cover over the lancet.
• Adjust the depth selector: The lancing device has five depth settings to accommodate different skin types, ranging from the lightest to the deepest puncture. Choose the setting that you think is most suitable for your skin. For average skin, it is recommended to start with the middle setting (number 3).
• Prepare your hands for better blood flow: Rub or massage the area to be pricked, as warm hands improve blood flow. You can also try shaking your hands vigorously or gripping the finger you'll be testing with your other hand and squeezing gently for about 12 seconds to increase hypostatic pressure.
• Insert a fresh Keto-Mojo glucose strip: Make sure the strip is pushed all the way down into the port of the Keto-Mojo meter. The meter will automatically turn on when a strip is inserted. Ensure the strip is facing up, with the blue or brown side facing you. Wait for the meter to display a flashing droplet icon, indicating that the strip is ready to accept your blood sample.
• Prick your finger: Choose a soft area on the side of your finger to minimize pain. For men or individuals with calloused hands, it is recommended to use the ring or pinky finger. If you test regularly, alternate fingers for comfort.
• Wipe away the first blood droplet: Use a clean paper towel or tissue to wipe away the initial blood droplet. This step ensures more accurate results by reducing the impact of interstitial fluid, which can affect the reading.
• Form a new blood droplet: Apply gentle pressure or gently squeeze your finger to create a new blood droplet. Avoid excessive squeezing, as it can increase interstitial fluid and impact the accuracy of the results. If you're having difficulty, try lowering your hand below hip height and gently squeezing your finger, starting from the part closest to your palm and working your way down.
• Bring the strip to the blood droplet: With the strip still in the meter, touch the tip of the strip to the blood droplet. The strip will draw in the blood via capillary action. Ensure you get a good fill by waiting until the blood channel is completely full before removing the strip.
• Wait for the results: Keep the meter still and wait for the countdown. Your glucose results will typically appear within 5 seconds.

By following these steps, you can effectively test your glucose levels using the Keto-Mojo meter. Remember to follow the testing procedures consistently and maintain good hand hygiene to ensure accurate and reliable results.

The best times to test your ketones and glucose

Testing your ketone and glucose levels is essential when starting a ketogenic lifestyle. It offers valuable insights and confirms whether your approach is successful. Testing is the only way to know whether you are in ketosis and at what level. The best time to test is when it is convenient for you to do so regularly. Testing at the same time each day is important for tracking your progress.

In the morning while fasted

Testing before you ingest anything but after you've been awake for a while helps you avoid the "dawn effect", an early-morning increase in blood sugar/glucose caused by a natural rise in cortisol before you wake. In the morning, glucose will generally be higher and ketones are generally at their lowest. A fasted test result will give you a good baseline to compare over time.

Before lunch or dinner

For the most insightful ketone readings, test right before lunch or dinner, at least 2-3 hours after you've eaten any other food or drink (other than water). Consumption of almost any food will cause your glucose to rise and your ketone levels to fall, so testing well between meals ensures you get a truer reading of your progress.

Before and after meals to determine food sensitivities

Testing just before a meal and then 60 minutes and 3 hours afterward is a great way to find out how your body responds to various foods, snacks and drinks. Glucose strips are a better indication of food reactions because glucose fluctuates faster than ketones.

Twice a day

The Glucose Ketone Index or GKI gives you a better overall view of your metabolic status and state of ketosis. We recommend testing your GKI twice a day: after waking and before lunch or dinner.

When first starting a ketogenic diet

When you first start a ketogenic diet, test often, perhaps twice a day, and test for food sensitivities. The number of times you test each day depends on what you want to achieve. If you just want to verify that you're in ketosis, once a day is adequate. However, if you're turning to the ketogenic diet for therapeutic benefits, you may want to test before each meal to see how your day is going and, if necessary, make adjustments. After several months of keto living, you may not need to test as often.

When to test for food sensitivities

To test for food sensitivities, it is recommended that you test at the same time each day, as this will help you track your progress. The best time to test is when it is convenient for you to do so regularly. This will ensure that you are more likely to continue testing on time and be able to compare your results with prior days at the same time.

Since sleep and meals can skew test results, it is better to test at certain times. The ideal time to test is in the morning while fasting, and after you have been awake for a while. This helps you avoid the "dawn effect", which is an early-morning increase in blood sugar/glucose caused by a natural rise in cortisol before you wake up. In the morning, glucose will generally be higher, and ketones are usually at their lowest.

If you are testing for food sensitivities, it is recommended that you test just before a meal or a particular food, and then 60 minutes and 3 hours afterward. This will help you understand how your body responds to various foods, snacks, and drinks. Advanced users may also want to add additional tests at 30 minutes and 2 hours.

When testing for food sensitivities, it is important to note that glucose strips are a better indication of food reactions because glucose fluctuates faster than ketones. For example, glucose reaches its peak one hour after eating, while ketones take much longer to generate.

If you suspect that you have a food sensitivity, it is important to rule out food allergies, which can be quite serious. Doctors commonly use skin tests, blood tests, and oral food challenges to diagnose food allergies. Skin tests involve pricking your skin with a probe that contains a small amount of food allergen and monitoring your reaction. Blood tests help determine whether you are allergic to specific foods by measuring the amount of certain antibodies in your blood. Oral food challenges involve consuming small amounts of a suspected allergen under the supervision of a doctor, who will have emergency equipment and medication on hand in case of a severe reaction.

How to use the control solution with the GKI Keto-Mojo Meter

The GKI Keto-Mojo Meter is a blood ketone monitor that can be used to determine if you are in ketosis and what your blood glucose level is. Control solutions are used to test the meter and ensure it is giving you accurate results.

• Prepare the meter: Check that your meter is turned on and ready for testing. Remove a test strip from its foil pouch, ensuring that it is not expired. Insert the test strip into the meter. The meter should turn on with a beep, and an image of a flashing blood droplet should appear, indicating that the meter is ready for testing.
• Prepare the control solution: Shake the control solution bottle well. Gently squeeze the bottle and discard the first drop. Squeeze out a second small drop onto a clean, non-absorbent surface.
• Apply the control solution: Do not apply the control solution directly from the bottle to the test strip. Instead, immediately touch the tip of the test strip to the drop of control solution. The strip will draw in the solution. If the control solution does not fill the window, do not add a second drop. Discard the test strip and start over with a new one.
• Wait for the results: Hold the test strip in the drop until the meter beeps and begins to count down. The meter will then display your control test results. It will automatically recognise and mark the control result.
• Understand your control test result: Compare your control test result with the ranges printed on the test strip box or label. These ranges may differ depending on whether the strips are for glucose or ketone testing.
• Take action if the control test result is out of range: If your control test result falls outside the expected range, there are several steps you can take. First, check the expiration dates and discard dates of both the test strip and control solution. Ensure that the control solution bottle has not been opened for more than 6 months. Confirm that you are testing within the appropriate temperature range for glucose (10-40°C) or ketone (15-40°C) control. Make sure the control solution bottle is tightly capped, and the test strip was used immediately after opening the foil pouch. Check that the control solution was mixed well and that you are using the Keto-Mojo brand control solution. Finally, confirm that you followed the correct test procedure. If, after checking all these conditions, your results are still out of range, your meter or test strips may not be functioning correctly. Do not use the system to test blood. Contact Keto-Mojo customer support for assistance.

Frequently asked questions