It tests for the presence. They would have been concerned that your blood sugar might rise past your bodies ability to deal with it. When you get to that point ketones get produced. This can be fatal.About a year ago, my doctor's practice changed my medication regime. But were concerned that the new tablets may upset my "ketones" (whatever the hell they are). So they gave me a machine to test for the presence of ketones. Or the level of them. Or something.
That's usual for both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetics. The Ketone monitor is only for high blood glucose and is very rarely needed. My daughter is type 1 and uses it maybe once or twice a year.But, as I havent got anywhere remotely near feeling like I am having a hypo, or a hyper episode, with or without ketones, the machine and it's test strips sit up in my wardrobe unused, along with the sharps box that came with it all.