Ketone Level 3.0 mmol/L
The blood level for high ketones is 3.0 mmol/L, which equals 31.2 mg/dL of BHB.
- Blood ketones
- 3.0 mmol/L
- Measured in mg/dL
- A level of 31.2 mg/dL
- Usual urine strip
- It is very large
- Approximate breath reading
- 40 ppm or more
- Stage
- High ketones
- Typical fasting hour
- approximately hour 80
Meaning of a 3.0 mmol/L reading
A 3.0 mmol/L blood reading indicates high ketones; that amount of BHB in blood is 31.2 mg/dL.
High ketones at 3.0 mmol/L need urgent care if glucose is over 250 mg/dL. Urgent care is also needed with nausea, vomiting or belly pain.
A 3.0 mmol/L result remains a reason to stop fasting and check glucose, even if you have neither diabetes nor symptoms.
During a fast without exercise after a mixed meal, the expected range's midpoint reaches 3.0 mmol/L around hour 80.
For 3.0 mmol/L, the urine strip usually shows its very large pad. A breath meter gives 40 ppm or more, and both results are approximate.
If you have type 1 diabetes, take insulin or an SGLT2 medicine, or are pregnant, report a reading of 3.0 mmol/L to your care team.
Use the reading checker to compare a strip or breath result with 3.0 mmol/L, or to add glucose for the GKI.