Keeping track of your health goals in 2025 has never been easier, especially if you are on a ketogenic diet or managing diabetes. One of the most effective tools in tracking is a Ketone test strip. Often called keto test strips, these are small and affordable tools that can give you instant detection of your body’s ketone levels. Accordingly, they help you make real-time decisions about your diet and overall health.
But how do they work? How to use them correctly? and what does the result mean?
Let’s break it down.
What Do Ketone Test Strips Test For?
Ketone test strips are used to detect the ketone level in your body. If you are fasting, on a keto diet, or have uncontrolled diabetes and your carbohydrate levels are low, your body undergoes a state of ketosis. Ketosis breaks down fat, and produces ketones in your blood and urine. These Ketones can be measured through blood or urine tests using a specific strip.
- Keto strips for keto diet, Keto strips are popular for people that are into keto diet. Because it helps them confirm whether their body is actually in ketosis, and their diet is effective.
- For diabetics, ketone testing helps early detection of diabetic ketoacidosis. A life threatening condition where ketone accumulates in the blood, which can be dangerous if untreated.
What Color Should My Ketone Strip Be for Ketosis?
There are 3 colour results in a keto pee strip testing, these 3 colours are Light Pink, Medium Purple and Dark Purple. Each colour is an identifier of the amount of ketone on your body.
Below is the guide for color to level identifier
- Light pink - Low levels of ketones (might be early ketosis)
- Medium purple - Moderate ketosis (ideal for most on a keto diet)
- Dark purple - High ketone levels (could mean deep ketosis or potential risk if diabetic)
Steps on how to use pee strips:
1. Collecting Urine Sample (Urine Stream or Dip Test)
- Mid Stream Urine Stream Test
- Get one strip from the case
- Hold the strip (make sure to hold the plastic end of the strip)
- Begin urinating, mid stream, hold the end of the strip (colored end or the test pad) in the stream
- Make sure only the test pad gets wet.
- Hold it in the stream for 1 to 2 seconds
- Mid Stream Urine Dip Test
- Prepare the collection Cup (Dry and Clean)Begin urinating, mid stream, urinate into the cup
- Get one strip from the case
- Hold the strip (make sure to hold the plastic end of the strip)
- Dip the test pad into the urine sample
- Hold it in the cup for 1 to 2 seconds
2. Remove the strip from the bottle or stream and shake off the excess
- Gently tap or shake the strip to remove excess
- Make sure not to smear or contaminate the test pad
3. Place the strip flat and the test pad facing up
- Make sure the surface is clean, dry and non absorbent
- Test pad should be facing upward
- Avoid contaminating with any moisture or wet substance
4. Wait for 15 to 40 seconds for the Result
- Follow the exact time provided by the brand to check the result
- Do not measure the level of ketone too early or late, as it may cause inaccurate result
5. Compare and read the colour result
- Hold the strip (make sure to hold the plastic end of the strip)
- Place it close to the color chart on the bottle
- Match the test pad’s color result to the closest chart color
- This will indicate the ketone level in your body
If you're following a keto lifestyle, you want the color to fall between light and medium purple. If you're diabetic, high ketone levels (dark purple) can be a warning sign and should be addressed with medical help.
What Is a Good Ketone Level for Ketosis?
Normal ketone levels for someone in ketosis range between 0.5 to 3.0 mmol/L. In keto blood strip testing, there are 3 ketone levels, Light, Optimal and Above.
Here’s how you can interpret average ketone levels depending on your goal:
- 0.5 - 1.5 mmol/L: Light nutritional ketosis (early stages of keto diet)
- 1.5 - 3.0 mmol/L: Optimal fat-burning zone
- Above 3.0 mmol/L: May indicate starvation ketosis or, if diabetic, a risk for ketoacidosis and should be addressed with medical help
Steps on how to use keto blood strips:
1. Wash and Dry Your Hands
- Use soap and warm water to remove contaminants that could affect the result
- Dry your hand to avoid diluting the blood sample
2. Prepare the Lancing Device
- Insert a new lancet into the lancing device
- Adjust depth settings (Advised to start from lowest possible setting, then increase it if needed)
3. Insert the Strip Into The Meter
- Carefully insert the strip into the meter (where indicated)
- The screen will turn on if you have done it correctly
4. Prick your finger using lancing device
- Touch the lancing device on your fingertip
- Trigger the lancing device to prick
- Gently squeeze your finger go get a drop of blood sample
5. Apply the Blood Sample to the Strip
- Lightly touch the tip of your finger to the strip
- Drop the blood sample on to the end of the strip (where indicated)
6. Wait for 5 to 10 seconds for the Result
- Your ketone level (in mmol/L) will appear on the screen
- mmol/L = millimoles per liter, record your result
Do Ketones Show Diabetes?
High ketone levels on the blood and urine are signs of type 1 diabetes. When the body can't process glucose sugar for energy due to the body having low insulin. It will start using fat as the fuel that will result in mass ketone introduction to the body. That can lead to a life threatening condition called diabetic ketoacidosis.
What are symptoms of Diabetic Ketoacidosis?
In Early Signs:
- Being very thirsty
- Urinating often
- Feeling a need to throw up and throwing up
- Having stomach pain
- Being weak or tired
- Being short of breath
In Test Kit Result:
- High blood sugar level
- High ketone levels in urine and blood
That’s why ketone test strips are crucial for monitoring diabetics, as early detection can literally be lifesaving.
Conclusion: Why Ketone Test Strips Are a Must-Have in 2025
Whether you're navigating the keto lifestyle or managing diabetes, ketone test strips give you valuable insights into your metabolic state. They're affordable, portable, and incredibly simple to use. Combine them with a reliable diabetes test kit or blood glucose monitor for a complete wellness setup.
If you're looking to optimize your health in 2025, make sure to visit medcart and check our range of keto test strips and ketone monitoring devices.
