Do It Yourself Testing!

I don't have a doctor. It's just not worked out for me. So I basically serve as my own doctor! Part of that is doing some testing from time to time.

Some tests I do fairly regularly right at home, such as checking my blood glucose to blood ketone ratio. To do that test, it just takes a blood glucose monitor and strips which can be found at most pharmacies, and a blood ketone meter and strips. The ketone meter will likely have to purchased online, as well as the strips. I've been able to find some better priced strips on eBay.

Another simple home test is urine testing. I usually have to buy urinary test strips online. You can find combination strips which test multiple parameters such as leukocytes, pH, blood, specific gravity, and bilirubin.

You can also check your blood pressure at kiosks found at pharmacies and some workplaces.

There are many tests that can be ordered online and done at home, then sent in for results. There's vitamin D, thyroid, A1C, CRP, and omega 3/6 tests available. There are also some basic cholesterol tests that can be taken this way as well, although basic cholesterol tests don't tell you very much.

There are other tests which you can order online and then go to nearest blood draw lab, then wait for results. These often have many options available. You can get full blood panels, NMR cholesterol tests, oxidized LDL, etc.

Personally, I find that cholesterol tests, even the very detailed ones such as NMR, are not very helpful. I have found there is really no correlation between cholesterol numbers and actual disease risk.

A better risk assessment for cardiovascular health is a heart CT scan and/or a trivascular scan. If you check your local heart centers, they may offer specials on these tests and they can be very affordable! These will show your actual artery buildup and real risk.

If you have digestive issues, you can order lactose, fructose, and SIBO breath tests to be done at home and sent in for results. There's also casein and gluten peptide tests which can be done at home and sent by mail.

Once you've settled into keto and are keeping a good solid glucose/ketone ratio, and feeling good, then you won't need to do testing so regularly. But if you make any changes in your diet, you'll want to keep testing to make sure your ratio is good and close to 1 (or at least the golden mean of 1.62).

Please feel free to ask me if you want to know more about any of these tests! I wholeheartedly support taking personal responsibility for our own health!

Pastured chicken eggs and uncured pork side with smoked salt and homemade clotted cream