25 Comments
Do you currently have unexpired ketone strips (blood or urine)?
You must be logged in to post a comment.
© 2022 T1D Exchange. All Rights Reserved.
Not my Dex G6, but I extended the G5 almost every time.
No
I don’t have any keytone strips.
They need to make ketone strips in smaller bottles, like maybe 10, or individually wrapped. Some of us might need/want to check occasionally. If you’re not on a keto diet a bottle of 100 is overkill.
I use GlucoMen ß-Ketone Test Strips, ma’am, and they do come in a pack of 10, with each test strip being individually wrapped in foil. These work in the GlucoMen areo 2K blood Ketone meter. I hasten to add that I’m in the UK (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland).
I’ve just checked the A. MENARINI diagnostics website, but I’m afraid it’s only available in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and UK. Sorry about that.
Although on the United States website it states the above, you can take a look at what I’m talking about here: https://www.menarinidiagnostics.com/en-us/Home/Diabetes-care-products/Meters/GlucoMen-areo-2K/Features
@LizB, apologies for not looking this up earlier, ma’am, but ABBOTT Laboratories also do a blood glucose meter that can also check ketone levels. It’s called the FREESTYLE OPTIUM / PRECISION NEO, which is similar to the meter I used to use (Optium Xceed) and, I believe, these are available in the United States of America. You can check out this page: https://www.diabetescare.abbott/products.html
The ß-Ketone Test Strips also come in packs of 10, which are individually wrapped in foil.
in my 19 years as a T1D, I’ve never had ketone strips.
I have strips but have no idea if they’re expired or not. I have never used them.
I miss the ketone strips that were individually wrapped so you could take a few with you wherever you went. Getting the bottle now is a waste.
Answered Other as I would have to look! I might use one every 2-3 years so it is very likely! You used to be able to buy a box of 10 maybe that were each foil wrapped that lasted a Long time. So much more practical.
Have some but have actually never tested for ketones. Keep my numbers pretty tight
Never have figured out when or how to use them.
I have a plastic bottle of ketone strips with 50 strips in the bottle. I’ve used them once or twice. The expiration date on the bottle is April 20, 2021. I still would use them, if needed. I used them recently when I was taking Prednisone for 9 days. I think they should be packaged in containers of 5, not 50. I check when my blood sugar goes above 250, remains high, and I am sick.
Mine are expired, but I have control solution I can use to verify they are still accurate – which they have been for 3-4-5 years. They are about 1$ per foil wrapped strip. & you need the Precision meter. Urine strips are about 7$ per 50 & should not be used 6 mos after jar opened…. Hmmm.
Just be proactive: high sugars, feeling ill / nauseous, strongly consider you are ketotic & so MORE insulin resistant (besides the extra resistance from just being above 250). So give a bit more insulin, tell a partner / friend / diabetes team that you are sick, check sugars every 3 hours & follow your sick day plan. Throw up twice, go to the ER.
I have not had ketone test strips for the last 30 years. As medical person I don’t see the need if your BG is kept below 10(180) a majority of the time, provided you have adequate insulin on board.
Yes, but they were purchased to Dx my pug. She was displaying the classic T1D symptoms, so I bought some of the old school clinitest visual strips. Yep – Dark black. Based on that, they squeezed her in for an appt. I also used a Libre to track her bg’s – charting her scanned readings as an overlay on a chart that displayed the action timing of her NpH insulin. So… to answer the question I have some should I need them for me (haven’t used them in years – like others I work to stay in very tight range) I also “borrowed” one of her Libre sensors when my Dexcom shipment was delayed.
Hi Kristina –
I’m so glad you were able to help your pug! It’s fascinating that they allow Libre sensors for pets. Do you have to shave a spot on them? And, how does it work so that the pet doesn’t try to lick it off or scratch it off? Do you have to wrap it with a bandage?
I don’t currently have a diabetic pet, but I guess I just want to be prepared in case it happens again.
Thank you!!
I have not tested for ketones since I started using blood glucose test equipment in the early 80s. Used tablets back in the day when glucose was tested via urine testape!
Like Steve Rumble, haven’t done Ketones since early 80’s
Actually, I have both the urine test strips, which expire in August 2031, and the blood strips, which also expire in August 2031.
I don’t have any ketone strips! I never use them.
I have never had a doctor prescribe ketone strips for me.
I’ve only been DXd for about 12 years now – never had them recommended or prescribed, though it would have been useful 10 years ago when I was using blood test strips and totally ignorant about diabetes. It might have prevented my hospitalization with DKA. Now with a DEXCOM G6, my BS is very well controlled.
No, thankful that I’ve never once needed them in my 35 years as a T1D.
Ketone test strips are like nuclear missiles. They cost a gadzillion dollars and you hope you never have to use them.
In 71 years I have only run ketones twice.
Well, maybe they really are like nuclear missiles. ¯\_( ͡눈 ͜ʖ ͡눈)_/¯