Sarah Howard
Sarah Howard (nee Tackett) has dedicated her career to supporting the T1D community ever since she was diagnosed with T1D while in college in May 2013. Since then, she has worked for various diabetes organizations, focusing on research, advocacy, and community-building efforts for people with T1D and their loved ones. Sarah is currently the Senior Manager of Marketing at T1D Exchange.
Sarah and her husband live in NYC with their cat Gracie. In her spare time, she enjoys doing comedy, taking dance classes, visiting art museums, and exploring different neighborhoods in NYC.
The only time I’ve ever tested (on strips) was when on the Atkins diet (called for moderate ketosis).
I do own a meter that checks keytones, but the keytone strips are too expensive. So, I don’t use it.
Ditto!
What is that I have Dexcom G6
I didn’t know there was a Ketone blood meter. I have always used the strips in a container that you just look at the color. (Kind of like the old days of checking your blood sugar with your urine). I get the strips in containers of 50 strips. I use one or two, and the rest go beyond the expiration date. I continue to use the old strips anyway. I use them only when I’m sick or have long term high blood glucoses.
I own one but rather used the strips. Found it easier.
Anyway I don’t get ketones that often.
I have not used a ketone meter. I’ve never been hospitalized for DKA. I can usually tell based on symptoms if I’m spilling ketones and catch it in time. Ketones make me feel like I’m going to barf and die.
I answered no. Aside from my Dexcom I also get horrid heartburn when my bg reaches 140 – a double alarm system! So I would end up tossing the strips due to expiration. If I cold convince my Endo to Rx something like Ozempic, I would get a ketones meter since there is a DKA risk (that’s the reason he says no to Ozempic)
I have done great on a low dose of Victoza for several years with no DKA since I have been taking it.
No, but I always have keto sticks in the house.
Diagnosed in 1965. Had to do all the urine stick tests several times a day. No thank you.
No, I don’t have a meter and the strips are too expensive. Just as I no longer have “just in case” glucagon for severe lows and a vial/pen of basal insulin for use in pump failure. I’ve thrown away so many expired “just in case”items and I no longer have the finances available to replace them.
Yes but only one strip which might be expired. Too expensive
Don’t have one and never had one. Used strips way back when about 35-40 years ago while trying to get pregnant. Anyway, nowadays ketosis happens very rarely … once in a great while when pump gets occluded and insulin delivery comes to a halt.
Like others have stated, you can tell when you get ketotic by the way you feel … for me it a sludgy syrupy feeling in my gut, slow brain function responses, and an overall feeling of draining exhaustion that makes me want to puke.
Don’t have ketone meter, but use the urine based keystone test strips if I think I need to test for keytones.
Yes. I got it from a the International Diabetes Center in Minneapolis when I was in a year long study for the Medtronic 770. One of their requirements was if my blood glucose went over 250 I had to use the meter. Since then (5 years ago), I have used it maybe once or twice. I still have about 5 strips.
I highly recommend all T1s buy one!
I have one but the problem is that there is no interpretation for the results. The old urine strips had a color coded interpretation that was more useful. Problem was, they stopped selling them foil-wrapped. A can of 50 is too expensive and only one or two get used before the whole thing expires.