FreeStyle Optium Beta Ketone Test Strips for self-testing your blood ketones. Compatible with FreeStyle Optium Neo, Freestyle Libre and Freestyle Libre 2 meters. These strips are individually foil-wrapped, require a small sample size (1.5 μL), and have a 10-second test time. The fill trigger ensures the reaction starts only when sufficient sample has been applied, and no coding is required. Using Freestyle Ketone Strips to measure blood ketones during hyperglycaemia and illness allows for timely action to be taken before ketoacidosis develops. High ketone levels may indicate DKA (diabetic ketoacidosis), a serious complication of diabetes that can lead to coma or death if untreated. Symptoms of DKA include excessive thirst, increased urination, nausea, vomiting, dry or flushed skin, shortness of breath, fruity breath odor, and fatigue. DKA is most common in people with type 1 diabetes, who do not produce insulin, the hormone that controls blood glucose. These test strips are used to check for DKA and other conditions that can cause elevated blood ketones, such as malnutrition or eating disorders. Pregnant women may also develop blood ketones, which could indicate gestational diabetes. Normal ketone readings are below 0.6mmol/L. Readings between 0.6 to 1.5mmol/L indicate a slightly increased risk of DKA, and a re-test in 2 hours is recommended. Readings between 1.6 to 2.9mmol/L indicate an increased risk of DKA, and medical professionals should be contacted immediately. Readings of 3mmol/L or above indicate a very high risk of DKA, and immediate medical attention is required. If a previous test was negative but a recent one detects ketones, seek immediate A&E attention. Contact your GP or diabetes team if blood sugar or ketone levels are high or increasing, or if you feel unwell despite normal or slightly elevated levels. These test strips are designed to quantitatively measure blood Ketone in fresh capillary whole blood from the fingertip and are for external use.