What is my GKI ratio?
Type a blood glucose reading and a blood ketone reading taken at the same time. The GKI calculator converts glucose to mmol/L if needed and divides it by the ketones to give the glucose ketone index. It is for information, not a medical test.
- Glucose ketone index
- 2.2
Glucose and ketones of these readings give a glucose ketone index of 2.2.
- Reading
- Above 2: above the paper’s zone of metabolic management
- Glucose (mmol/L)
- 4.44
Glucose ketone index: 2.2. Glucose and ketones of these readings give a glucose ketone index of 2.2.
This calculator gives general information only. It is not medical advice and does not replace a doctor or other health care provider. Talk with a professional about your results. Terms of use
How to calculate
Works out the glucose ketone index (GKI): blood glucose divided by blood ketones (β-hydroxybutyrate), both in mmol/L, with glucose in mg/dL or mmol/L.
Example with the default inputs (Glucose unit mg/dL, Blood glucose (mg/dL) 80, Blood ketones (mmol/L) 2): Glucose and ketones of these readings give a glucose ketone index of 2.2.
Method: GKI = glucose (mmol/L) ÷ ketones (mmol/L) = glucose (mg/dL) ÷ (18.016 × ketones (mmol/L)).
- Glucose and ketones are blood readings taken at the same time.
- Ketones are blood β-hydroxybutyrate in mmol/L (not urine or breath ketones).
- Glucose mg/dL ÷ 18.016 = mmol/L, the factor in the GKI paper.
Worked examples
Each example is checked against the calculator on every build.
- Glucose unit mmol/L, Blood glucose (mmol/L) 4.5, Blood ketones (mmol/L) 4.5 gives Glucose ketone index 1, Reading 1.0 or below: the paper’s target for brain tumor management.Source: Meidenbauer JJ, Mukherjee P, Seyfried TN, The glucose ketone index calculator: a simple tool to monitor therapeutic efficacy for metabolic management of brain cancer, Nutr Metab 2015;12:12 (GKI = glucose mmol/L ÷ ketone mmol/L; mg/dL ÷ 18.016), https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4367849/ (retrieved 2026-10-05)
- Glucose unit mg/dL, Blood glucose (mg/dL) 80, Blood ketones (mmol/L) 2 gives Glucose ketone index 2.220249, Glucose (mmol/L) 4.440497.Source: Meidenbauer JJ, Mukherjee P, Seyfried TN, The glucose ketone index calculator: a simple tool to monitor therapeutic efficacy for metabolic management of brain cancer, Nutr Metab 2015;12:12 (GKI = glucose mmol/L ÷ ketone mmol/L; mg/dL ÷ 18.016), https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4367849/ (retrieved 2026-10-05)
- Glucose unit mg/dL, Blood glucose (mg/dL) 95, Blood ketones (mmol/L) 0.5 gives Glucose ketone index 10.546181, Reading Above 2: above the paper’s zone of metabolic management.Source: Meidenbauer JJ, Mukherjee P, Seyfried TN, The glucose ketone index calculator: a simple tool to monitor therapeutic efficacy for metabolic management of brain cancer, Nutr Metab 2015;12:12 (GKI = glucose mmol/L ÷ ketone mmol/L; mg/dL ÷ 18.016), https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4367849/ (retrieved 2026-10-05)
How it works
- Glucose in mmol/L. If glucose is typed in mg/dL, glucose (mmol/L) = glucose (mg/dL) ÷ 18.016, the factor in Meidenbauer and others (2015). If typed in mmol/L, it is used as typed.
- Glucose ketone index = glucose (mmol/L) ÷ ketones (mmol/L), with ketones the blood β-hydroxybutyrate reading.
- Reading, from the GKI shown (rounded to 1 decimal): 1.0 or below, the paper’s target GKI for brain tumor management; above 1 up to 2, the paper’s zone of metabolic management for humans; above 2, above that zone. These words describe the paper; they are not a health target.
Rules. Glucose from 20 to 600 mg/dL, or 1.1 to 33.3 mmol/L; ketones from 0.1 to 10 mmol/L.
Exact arithmetic and output format. The typed readings are exact decimals; the division is exact and rounded once, half up. The GKI shows 1 decimal and the glucose in mmol/L 2 decimals; trailing zeros are dropped.
Assumptions
- Both readings are from blood, taken at the same time.
- This is not a test for ketoacidosis or any disease.
Worked examples by hand
Glucose 4.5 mmol/L, ketones 4.5 mmol/L. GKI = 4.5 ÷ 4.5 = 1.0: 1.0 or below.
Glucose 80 mg/dL, ketones 2.0 mmol/L. 80 ÷ 18.016 = 4.4405 mmol/L (shown 4.44). GKI = 4.4405 ÷ 2 = 2.2202 (shown 2.2): above 2.
Glucose 95 mg/dL, ketones 0.5 mmol/L. 95 ÷ 18.016 = 5.2731 mmol/L. GKI = 5.2731 ÷ 0.5 = 10.546 (shown 10.5): above 2.
Other questions people ask
What is the glucose ketone index?
The glucose ketone index (GKI) is your blood glucose divided by your blood ketones (β-hydroxybutyrate), both in mmol/L. It puts the two readings of ketosis into one number: the lower the GKI, the more ketones there are compared with glucose.
How do I calculate GKI with glucose in mg/dL?
Divide the glucose by 18.016 to get mmol/L, then divide by the ketones in mmol/L. Glucose 80 mg/dL is 4.44 mmol/L; with ketones of 2.0 mmol/L the GKI is 4.44 ÷ 2 = 2.2.
What is a good GKI?
There is no single target for everyone. The 2015 paper that described the GKI, written for brain cancer research, used a target of 1.0 and said the zone of metabolic management is likely entered between 1 and 2. Talk with your doctor before aiming for a number.
When should I measure glucose and ketones?
Take both readings at the same time, from the same finger stick where your meters allow. The GKI paper suggests testing 2 to 3 hours after a meal, twice a day if possible.
Can I use urine or breath ketones?
No. The GKI uses blood β-hydroxybutyrate in mmol/L from a blood ketone meter. Urine strips and breath meters measure other ketones in other units.
Is the GKI safe to use with diabetes?
If you have diabetes, especially type 1, high ketones with high glucose can be a sign of ketoacidosis, which is an emergency. Do not use the GKI to manage diabetes without your care team.