Glucose Ketone Index (GKI) Calculator
Calculate your Glucose Ketone Index (GKI) to monitor metabolic health and ketosis levels. The GKI is used to track therapeutic ketosis for various health conditions.
What is the Glucose Ketone Index (GKI)?
The Glucose Ketone Index (GKI) is a simple numerical value that provides insight into your metabolic state by measuring the relationship between blood glucose and ketone levels. Developed by Dr. Thomas Seyfried and his research team at Boston College, the GKI has become an important tool for monitoring therapeutic ketosis and metabolic health.
Quick Example: If your blood glucose is 5.0 mmol/L and your blood ketone level is 1.0 mmol/L, your GKI would be 5.0 (glucose divided by ketones). The lower your GKI, the deeper your state of ketosis.
The Science Behind GKI
The GKI was originally developed as a way to monitor metabolic status in patients using ketogenic therapies for conditions like cancer, epilepsy, and other neurological disorders. The index is based on the understanding that glucose and ketones have an inverse relationship in the body—as glucose decreases, ketone production typically increases.
This relationship is particularly important because many cells in our body can use either glucose or ketones for energy. When glucose is restricted (as in a ketogenic diet), the body produces ketones from fat to provide an alternative fuel source. The GKI helps quantify exactly where you are in this metabolic transition.
If your glucose is measured in mg/dL (common in the US), you’ll need to convert it to mmol/L by dividing by 18 before calculating your GKI.
GKI Ranges and Their Significance
The GKI provides valuable information about your metabolic state, with different ranges corresponding to different levels of ketosis:
| GKI Range | Ketosis Level | Typical Applications |
|---|---|---|
| 9 or higher | Not in ketosis | Standard diet, no therapeutic benefits from ketosis |
| 6 – 9 | Low ketosis | Beginning of metabolic changes, mild weight management |
| 3 – 6 | Moderate ketosis | Weight loss, improved metabolic health, blood sugar management |
| 1 – 3 | High therapeutic ketosis | Therapeutic applications for epilepsy, metabolic health conditions |
| Below 1 | Very high therapeutic ketosis | Intensive therapeutic applications (cancer, drug-resistant epilepsy) |
Important Note: The optimal GKI range depends on your specific health goals. While a lower GKI indicates deeper ketosis, this isn’t necessarily better for everyone. Always work with healthcare professionals to determine the appropriate target for your situation.
References
- M Pinckaers, P. J., Churchward-Venne, T. A., & Bailey, D. (2016). Ketone Bodies and Exercise Performance: The Next Magic Bullet or Merely Hype? Sports Medicine (Auckland, N.z.), 47(3), 383.
- Klement RJ. The emerging role of ketogenic diets in cancer treatment. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2019 Mar;22(2):129-134. doi: 10.1097/MCO.0000000000000540. PMID: 30531479.
- Pagano, G., Tiano, L., Pallardó, F. V., Lyakhovich, A., Mukhopadhyay, S. S., Di Bartolomeo, P., Zatterale, A., & Trifuoggi, M. (2021). Re-definition and supporting evidence toward Fanconi Anemia as a mitochondrial disease: Prospects for new design in clinical management. Redox Biology, 40, 101860.
- Tan-Shalaby J. Ketogenic Diets and Cancer: Emerging Evidence. Fed Pract. 2017 Feb;34(Suppl 1):37S-42S. PMID: 30766299; PMCID: PMC6375425.
