Ketosis: how to detect?

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

ZioNemo - 07 May 2006 20:26 GMT

This should be a FAQ, but a quick search showed nothing (or too much
to browse) so here it is:

I've been put on low-carb diet by my physician.
I've followed it faithfully (i believe) for 4 full days now.
I lost some weight, but I feel otherwise "normal".
Is there an "easy way" (no blood/urine analysis) to "know" I entered
the ketosis phase?
Alternatively put: Should I feel somewhat "different" when I'm running
on ketone?

TiA
ZioNemo

Reply to this Message

Susan - 07 May 2006 21:01 GMT

> This should be a FAQ, but a quick search showed nothing (or too much to
> browse) so here it is:
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> Alternatively put: Should I feel somewhat "different" when I'm running
> on ketone?

There's no reliable way to measure ketosis at home, other than keeping
your carbs under 50-100 per day (100 at the beginning).

Susan

Reply to this Message

Marengo - 07 May 2006 23:33 GMT

|This should be a FAQ, but a quick search showed nothing (or too much
|to browse) so here it is:
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
|TiA
|ZioNemo

The only way to test unfortunately is the urine test -- which is
easy. You can buy the ketostix in the pharmacy section in any WalMart
or OTC at a drugstore. Other than that, no. it's like asking, "Is
there an easy way to know my cholesterol is lower? No blood tests."

Some symptoms that may let know that you're running on ketones are:
- Increased energy
- Less fatigue
- Not getting sleepy after your meals
- Not getting hungry between meals or at night
- Losing weight

Signature

Peter

Reply to this Message

ZioNemo - 08 May 2006 07:32 GMT

> |This should be a FAQ, but a quick search showed nothing (or too much
> |to browse) so here it is:
[quoted text clipped - 21 lines]
> - Not getting hungry between meals or at night
> - Losing weight

Thanks.
My problem is I live in Europe (Italy) and so I see no WalMarts around

:) :) (let alone "pharmacy sections").

This is a general problem.
Most of the buying/product advices on the N.G. are useless to us.
Is there some European-minded group or site available?

Thanks.
ZioNemo

Reply to this Message

Aramanth Dawe - 08 May 2006 08:26 GMT

>My problem is I live in Europe (Italy) and so I see no WalMarts around
>:) :) (let alone "pharmacy sections").
>This is a general problem.
>Most of the buying/product advices on the N.G. are useless to us.
>Is there some European-minded group or site available?

Talk to a pharmacist/chemist/person at the place you go to when your
doctor gives you a prescription for medication. Ask them for 'test
strips a diabetic uses to test for ketones in the urine'. They may
only have the kind that tests for both ketones and glucose in the
urine but that's OK - they'll work just fine for you.

I find I have a very distinctive 'sharp' body odour and breath odour
when I'm in deep ketosis but I didn't recognise it as such until I'd
tested myself with the strips.

Aramanth

Reply to this Message

Hamburger - 08 May 2006 10:09 GMT

> My problem is I live in Europe (Italy) and so I see no WalMarts around :)
> :) (let alone "pharmacy sections").
> This is a general problem.
> Most of the buying/product advices on the N.G. are useless to us.
> Is there some European-minded group or site available?

Bayer Ketostix should be available in Italy...

E.g.: http://www.emmj.it/aziende/az2.html

Take care,
Hamburger

Reply to this Message

Hueyduck - 08 May 2006 20:20 GMT

> Thanks.
> My problem is I live in Europe (Italy) and so I see no WalMarts around
> :) :) (let alone "pharmacy sections").
> This is a general problem.

If your pharmacist doesn't have Ketostix, I bet they have KetoDiastix
wich are basically the same but is much more common since it also
measures sugar in the urine. So KetoDiastix are used quite often by
diabetic people.

Huey

Reply to this Message

Doug Freyburger - 09 May 2006 19:55 GMT

> My problem is I live in Europe (Italy) and so I see no WalMarts around
> :) :) (let alone "pharmacy sections").
> This is a general problem.

There are no pharmacies in Italy that sell products to diabetics?
I think you haven't looked in the phone book yet.

There are ways to tell but they don't apply to all people. So
they are reliable to specific people and don't apply to others.
Also, the symptoms are obvious to some for the first two
weeks then disappear, while others continue to be able to
tell.

There's a smell on the skin or a taste in the mouth. Some
describe it as sweet, acidic, metalic or garlicy. If you have
this taste after two weeks you're lucky because you won't
ever need the sticks.

Reply to this Message