Glucose Ketone Index (GKI) is the latest buzzword in the ketogenic community and it is starting to catch on in South Africa. Globally, doctors and researchers are referring to it more and more as a tool to help people with metabolic syndrome. The combination of diabetes, high blood pressure (or hypertension), and obesity is called metabolic syndrome in medical terms. Having metabolic syndrome can increase your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
GKI is simply a way to measure the relationship between your ketone levels and your glucose levels at any moment in time. It is an important indicator of your metabolic health and helps you look at the full picture, so you can make the best-educated decision on your diet and your exercise.
Well-known performance and nutrition coach in the US, Thomas DeLauer, breaks down GKI in layman’s terms and explains why he believes it is a good tool to use.
Is GKI accurate?
On their own, glucose or ketone readings give you an instant picture of where you are, at any point in time. The risk, of independent readings, is in the immediate variables that can influence each reading. These variables could include stress (which worsens blood glucose), or a fatty meal (which heightens ketones). The GKI gives you a better overall indication of your metabolic status and state of ketosis because its calculation takes into account these variables. GKI normalizes these variables, resulting in a more accurate, steady picture of your status.
So, when you start collecting and tracking your GKI readings, you can use it as a powerful and efficient tool to monitor your general metabolic status and ketosis levels. In the medical industry, the importance of measuring therapeutic ketosis is heightened when used to manage chronic health conditions, including certain types of cancer, type 2 diabetes, obesity, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s, chronic inflammatory diseases, epilepsy, insulin resistance, and traumatic brain injury. This is why it is highly recommended by practitioners and researchers alike to keep a watch on your GKI to optimise your health.
We all know that each body responds uniquely to different types of food and with a GKI tool in hand, you can test GKI to see how your body reacts. This in turn helps to figure out the best food and drink options for your own body, rather than following a standardised diet or lifestyle without realising the true impact it has on your health.
How can I measure my GKI for optimum health?
GKI tests should be done at least 2 to 3 hours after a meal, twice a day, if possible. To establish how your diet is affecting your metabolic health, GKI should be tested at least twice daily.
For those who like math, it is measured with the following calculation:
[Blood Glucose Result ÷ 18] ÷ Blood Ketone Result = GKI
If you have all your results in mmol/L then the formula is a bit more simple:
Glucose Result ÷ Blood Ketone Result = GKI
For the rest of us who wants instant and accurate test results, there is a very handy, user-friendly, and cost-effective tool to use on a daily basis. Keto-Mojo is the only blood meter in South Africa that tests GKI.
What do the results look like on a blood glucose and ketone monitoring system?
Once you’ve tested both your blood glucose and ketone levels (which are tested separately), it will automatically calculate your Glucose Ketone Index (GKI) and give you the reading.
If your reading is above 9 it means you are not in ketosis at all. Ideally, you should aim to be in the 6-9 range, or even better, the 3-6 range. When you are in the 3-6 range it means that you’re in a moderate state or level of ketosis. This is ideal for type 2 diabetes, obesity, or insulin resistance.
Why should you consider a GKI blood meter?
Type 2 diabetes is a disease none of us wants to live with, so test yourself and your family from the comfort of your own home regularly, for peace of mind.We recommend the Keto Mojo blood glucose meter for the following reasons:
- Keto mojo tests both your blood glucose and ketone levels
- It is a once-off expense and very affordable
- Bluetooth integration means your meter pairs with the free app on your phone for instant
results - It stores 1000 readings which gives you enough data to track and monitor your levels daily
- You can share your results with your local GP if you are concerned.
Order your own Keto-Mojo multifunction monitoring system and help yourself and others to keep an eye on the only sugar that matters.