Read Ketone Strips Accurately

what are ketone stripsI am explaining here the accurate methods to read ketone strips.

A ketone strip is a thin plastic strip with a small reactive area at one end to detect the presence of ketones in the urine.

These strips are also called keto strips or ketone test strips. It is easy to read ketone strips by matching it with a simple ketone strip color chart. 

The ketone strip results are easy to match as the colors are distinct. 

When you follow a low-carb diet for a long period, it increases the ketones in urine and blood.

Especially when you are on a Keto diet plan or sometimes Atkins diet plan then the body starts using fat as the main source of energy and ketones are produced. 

Usually, the body uses glucose as the main source of energy. You get glucose from sugar and carbohydrates that you eat.

Keto diet is one of the best ways to burn your body fat and ketones are produced for energy.

To know if you are in this stage, also referred to as ketogenesis, you can use ketone urine strips. 

How do ketone strips work?

In simple words, these strips have reactive agents at their tip. When it reacts with the urine it changes it’s colors depending upon the concentration of ketones in the urine. As the body increases and fully shifts to ketones as the main source of energy, more ketones are produced. Thus with the ketone urine strips, you can know the progress of your fat-burning too.

The ketone strip results can be matched with the ketone color chart provided on the container.

Ketone strips color chart

ketone strip color chartWhat color should the ketosis strip be?

There are usually 7 different colors on a keto color chart. This chart is printed on the ketone urine strip container.

In simple terms, you can read it from zero to highest as the color darkens

If there is no change in color or it is the lightest color on the chart then it means that your body is still using carbohydrate and glucose as the main source of energy.

If it is the second lightest color then you can be assured that the process of producing ketones in your body has started.

The darkest color represents a full ketogenesis process within your body and your body is now using ketones and not glucose as the source of energy.

How to Use Ketone Strips

Follow the below-given guideline to read ketone strips.

  1. Learn and follow the keto diet to achieve ketosis faster, if you want to test these strips. In case you are not following keto or Atkins diet, most people will have negligible levels of ketones in their bodies. 
  2. Urinate into a cup to test.
  3. Let the strip dip in the urine cup for about 40 seconds or read the instructions on the product box.
  4. Wait for some time for the reagent and color to develop. After the given period you can see the ketone strip results. 
  5. Once the color on the strip develops, match the color with the color chart on the bottle. Match it to the closest color for the accurate or most close measure of ketones in the urine.
  6. Dispose of the strip after the test.

How do you read ketone strips for urine tests more accurately?

According to a study, the first urine of the day or that after dinner is the best to use for the test. At these times the urine will have the highest and detectable levels of ketones. 

Other times of the day it might not be an accurate reading.

For more accurate results, follow these tips:

  • Do not expose strips to direct sunlight or moisture.
  • Make sure the cap is replaced tightly after taking out the strips
  • Use different testing methods. People have seen different results when peeing directly on the strip than dipping the strip in the urine cup. You can also use different brands of strips.
  • Do not touch the testing area with your fingers.
  • Do not remove the drying reagent or desiccant.
  • Check the expiry date of the strips.

What is a good ketone level for ketosis?

If you are trying to lose weight, 1.5-3 mmol/L is the optimum level of ketones. If the reading is less than this, it is considered to be a trace amount. 

How accurate are ketone strips?

The level of ketone keeps varying according to the time of the day. Ketone strips are a simple way to confirm if you are in a state of ketosis. The results can vary depending upon the strips and the time of urination also.

Blood and breath tests are more accurate as compared to urine strips. There are very fewer chances of human errors

How to read Ketone strips for diabetes

ketone strips in diabetesThere is a separate glucose color chart for the ketone strips box.

Diabetic ketoacidosis is the name of this condition in diabetic patients. The body is unable to produce insulin and thus the glucose cannot be burned.

The body starts using fat as an energy source. In this condition the blood glucose level as well as ketone levels, both increase.

This is a telltale sign of diabetic ketoacidosis.

A ketone urine strip with ketone and glucose can help you in detecting this condition easily. The container box has both charts. One is for sugar level and another is for ketone level.

If you find both levels high then you should consult a medical professional immediately.

Can the keto diet lead to diabetic ketoacidosis?

If your body produces insulin then you should not worry about ketoacidosis. Diabetic ketoacidosis usually happens with Type 1 Diabetic patients.

As their body doesn’t produce insulin the body cannot burn glucose for energy. So the body switches over to the fat deposits and starts using fat for energy. Thus, Ketones are produced in this process.

As mentioned above the best sign to detect ketoacidosis is to match the colors on the ketone strips. It will show high ketone levels along with high glucose levels.

In normal conditions when you are on a keto diet the glucose levels are low and ketone levels are high.

Other easy methods to read ketones

There are various other methods to read ketones.

One of the simplest and most accurate ways is to use an electronic gadget to read the blood ketone levels. The results of the ketone strip are displayed on the instrument.

You just need to prick your finger with a painless needle pen and use it to read ketones.

Where to buy Keto urine strips?

You can easily buy urine ketone strips online. 

Watch for offers before you buy these strips online as there is a great deal of competition in the market and every company wants to push their product for loyal customers.

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