After posting about testing my blood sugar levels with test strips and a glucometer, someone reached out to me and asked if it was possible to measure ketones with the same meter and test strips.

With diabetes, it’s important to test ketones when you’re sick or have high blood sugar to ensure your body doesn’t go into diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). When I was diagnosed, I was given urine strips to test for ketones and never thought to question that method. Until now.

Generally speaking, individuals with type 1 diabetes should conduct a ketones test when blood sugar is above 250 mg/dL or in case of illness. It’s a good idea to check anytime an unexplained high blood sugar occurs, or even when nausea or other sickness is present, in spite of fine blood sugar levels. – A Sweet Life

And today, when I was reading another guide from JDRF on traveling with Type 1 diabetes, I noticed they listed “ketone test strips.” So, I did a little research and voila! Not only are there test strips that exist for specifically measuring ketones, but testing ketones from your blood is more accurate than testing from your urine.

I’ve had Type 1 diabetes for nine years now. It still astounds me when I learn something new. Thanks Sam. 🙂

This post is part of my 30 Days With Diabetes series.