Ketones

Your liver turns fat into Ketones, which work as fuel, and that happens when carbs run low. Type in a number from a urine strip, a blood meter or a breath meter, and read what the result means.

Our ranges draw on 10 studies and clinical guidelines we cite, among them the ADA 2024 consensus, plus ISPAD 2022. How we check

Blood ketones, measured in mmol/L

0Not in ketosis.
0.3Light
0.5A light nutritional level.
1A nutritional level.
2.5A deep level.
3A high level.

Urine strip pad reading, in mg/dL

Pregnancy, insulin, SGLT2 medicines or type 1 diabetes

When your blood reading reaches 1.5 mmol/L or more, contact your care team. Seek urgent care when the result is 3 mmol/L or more and you have high glucose, nausea, vomiting or belly pain.

Chart of ketone levels

Blood ketones (mmol/L)	Stage	Urine strip	Breath (ppm)
0–0.3	Not in ketosis	Negative	0–2
0.3–0.5	Light ketosis	Trace, 5 mg/dL	2–5
0.5–1	Light nutritional ketosis	Small, 15 mg/dL	5–10
1–2.5	Nutritional ketosis	Moderate, 40 mg/dL	10–40
2.5–3	Deep ketosis	Large, 80 mg/dL	20–40
3 or more	High ketones	Very large, 160 mg/dL	40 or more

Every level explained

How to test ketones

On 1 Nov 2026, we checked prices at the manufacturers' own shops.

Using a sensor instead? Have a look at the continuous ketone monitor.

Ketones vs ketosis vs ketoacidosis

Term	What it means	Blood ketones
Ketones	The molecules: beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), acetoacetate and acetone.	Under 0.3 mmol/L most of the day
Ketosis	Your body burns fat for fuel, and blood ketones sit above the line.	0.5 to 3 mmol/L
Ketoacidosis	High ketones with high glucose: an emergency, mostly in type 1 diabetes.	3 mmol/L or more, glucose over 250 mg/dL