Urine test strips colours?. (2025)

Hello,

Zero carbohydrates? Wow, that's impressive.

If you are on a no-carb diet then you may find that you have ketones in your blood due to your body being in a state called nutritional ketosis.

However, that said - if you BGL runs high then this will only increase your ketone level, and then you run the risk of becoming seriously unwell.

If it were me, I'd certinaly be aiming to be closer to the negative side of the chart. But I eat carbohydrates and therefore I expect to have a low ketone count.

Grant

GrantGam1337 said:

Hello,

Zero carbohydrates? Wow, that's impressive.

If you are on a no-carb diet then you may find that you have ketones in your blood due to your body being in a state called nutritional ketosis.

However, that said - if you BGL runs high then this will only increase your ketone level, and then you run the risk of becoming seriously unwell.

If it were me, I'd certinaly be aiming to be closer to the negative side of the chart. But I eat carbohydrates and therefore I expect to have a low ketone count.

Grant

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Hi Grant,
I probably mislead you by saying ''no carbs diet'' I should have said a low carb diet or putting it realistically only potatoes once a week---still love me roast on Sunday, never mind the heat----1 slice brown toast for breakfast and half a roll with my salad daily. frozen veggies with chicken slices some days so I do eat some carbs.
So I need to be aiming for the left hand side of the scales---the lighter/paler coloured side?.
I realise that it's not quite like reading your numbers on a blood glucose meter when I was always maybe adjusting my diet to keep around 6.5 on my uk meter if possible and of course there are no corresponding numbers on the scales.
It's a case of getting used to a different type of testing really.

You need a roast on a Sunday

Yes, you need to be aiming for the lowest value on the scale, typically I've found that to be on the left. It should also say negative as well. The lightest of the colours is normally negative from the urinalysis kits I've used in the past. The strips work by changing colour on reaction with whatever substance is being looked for. So I'd assume that the negative result should be very similar to the colour of the strip before it's used. The leaflet in the box will keep you right though.

I've just had another read through your original post and I apologise because I think I've misread it... Are you testing for glucose or ketones? I read 'Bayer Keto - Diastix' and assumed it was a ketone related query. Sorry for my ignorance there!

Regardless whether you're testing for ketones or glucose, the same applies. You'll want to be as far to the left (assuming that's the negative side) as possible.

Regards,
Grant

GrantGam1337 said:

You need a roast on a Sunday

Yes, you need to be aiming for the lowest value on the scale, typically I've found that to be on the left. It should also say negative as well. The lightest of the colours is normally negative from the urinalysis kits I've used in the past. The strips work by changing colour on reaction with whatever substance is being looked for. So I'd assume that the negative result should be very similar to the colour of the strip before it's used. The leaflet in the box will keep you right though.

I've just had another read through your original post and I apologise because I think I've misread it... Are you testing for glucose or ketones? I read 'Bayer Keto - Diastix' and assumed it was a ketone related query. Sorry for my ignorance there!

Regardless whether you're testing for ketones or glucose, the same applies. You'll want to be as far to the left (assuming that's the negative side) as possible.

Regards,
Grant

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Thanks Grant, I thought as much but just needed reassurance---cheers.

Enclave said:

Unless you on a ketogenic diet .... then you need to need in the red on the keto testing strips .. or its not working .. if you stay low on the scale you are not in ketosis and need to cut carbs more.
Unless your sugars are reading high .. then you don't want to be seeing ketones
For blood sugar testing you are best to stick with your finger prick testing

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Hi - you do need to be specific and accurate about the type of diet you eat: ssince NO carbs and LOW carbs are quite different diets you may well get different answers for each of these.

The strips you bought test for both glucose levels and ketone levels in your urine - and I believe will be intended mainly for type 1 diabetics who need to test for ketoacidosis - a dangerous combination of both high glucose and high ketone levels, in which case they'll be hoping to see results towards the lower end of the colour range, to ensure they're OK.

What are you wanting to use them for, and have you read the information leaflet? If you're wanting to check for dietary ketosis which will be unlikely to happen if you're eating starchy food such as bread and potatoes, you may be best using the Ketostix which just test for your ketone levels. Again you'd only need to see results towards the mid to lower end of the scale - unless you're not drinking enough when your urine and waste ketones will therefore be concentrated and possibly showing higher and often inaccurate results.

And I agree with @Enclave - your meter will be a much more accurate tool for testing your glucose levels.

Robbity