Ketone Testing Methods

There are two common ways to check for ketones at home.

A urine test strip is one option. Dip it in urine, then match the color to the label. It is fine when nothing better is on hand.

A blood ketone meter is the other. It uses a small drop of blood from your fingertip. It gives faster, more accurate readings.

Testing matters most when blood sugar stays high or you feel unwell.

General guidance for adults on insulin: check ketones above 240 mg/dL (13.3 mmol/L). Your care team may set a different level for you.

Feeling unwell is a reason to test, even if your numbers look near normal.

A cluster of plump yellow fat cells sits on the left, with a short arrow leading to a tall measuring cylinder labelled Ketones. As the fat cells shrink, ketone drops travel along the arrow and the level in the cylinder rises. A ketone test strip beside it turns amber, then red, with a pointer on the matching colour square, and last a phone and an ambulance show getting medical help now.

Ketone strips lose accuracy over time. A strip past its date may give a reading you cannot trust. Check the expiration date before each use, and never use a strip past it.

Store your strips as the label directs, and follow the instructions each time you test.

Key takeaways

• Urine strips are a backup option, and a blood ketone meter is faster and more accurate.
• Testing matters most when blood sugar stays high or you feel unwell.
• Follow the label, check expiration dates, and share every result with your care team.

Try it

Find your ketone strips today and read the expiration date on the bottle.