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Is this normal . . . .?

tigerlily72

tigerlily72

Well-Known Member
Messages
517
Location
South West, England UK
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
I've recently been diagnosed and have made some big changes to my diet by reducing carbs and cutting out a lot of food i.e. no white bread, white rice, pasta, root veg, chips, curries, takeaways, cakes, biscuits, crisps etc. Instead, I am eating lots of fish (not breaded or battered), chicken fillets and pork fillets with fresh veggies. I am taking salad for my lunch at work and eating greek yoghurt instead of "normal" yoghurts or chocolate bars. If I have any bread it's wholemeal and most days I don't eat any bread or potatoes.

But why, am I feeling so fatigued and tired? :arghh: I changed my diet about 3 weeks ago and my highest reading since then has been 9.6 but I feel totally drained at times with no energy.

I had a full blood test when I had my first fasting test and was tested for other health conditions i.e. thyroid, anaemia etc and they came back as normal.

Does it get better? Do I need medication?

I have my very first appointment with the Diabetic Nurse Specialist on 9 October
 
Your first line states that you have dropped a load of carbs. This means you have dropped a load of calories too. This would make anyone tired. Are you eating enough fat?

It's early days and you are still settling in to your new way of eating so don't fret (it's not good for your bg!) At 9.6 I would be fast asleep so don't worry, you are quite normal. Keep using your meter. It does get better :)
 
I'm not sure if I'm eating enough fat to be honest. I am still eating cheese - mature full fat cheddar but obviously not in the quantities I would usually. I've had butter on my bread and if I stir fry the veggies it's in rapeseed oil. The fish is usually mackerel as well as tinned mackerel in brine.

My Dr told me I needed to lose weight and so far I've lost around 1/2 a stone. However, my hubby is telling me to watch my fat as I won't continue to lose the weight I desperately need to lose.

I will mention all of this when I see the DN.
 
The vast majority on this website preach a low carb diet, but few people actually quantify what "low" means. I personally find that unacceptable. Allowing your body to enter ketosis is an effective low carb diet because you're essentially changing what your body considers energy. However, in order to enter ketosis, you have to RAPIDLY deplete your carbohydrate levels.Your body is simply slowing its metabolism at this point because it's looking for carbs that aren't there.

Think about it this way:
-What you're doing right now is trying to drive your car without ever putting gas (carbs) in it. You're eventually going to run out and your car won't run (why you feel so tired).
-Ketosis is the equivalent of driving a diesel car. It doesn't need gasoline (carbs). It needs diesel fuel (fat)
-Furthermore, you can't put diesel (fat) into a car that requires gasoline (carbs) and expect it to run.
-Someone like me is kind of like a big pickup truck. I need a lot of gas (carbs) to run.
-A 90 lbs little old lady is more like a vespa scooter. She needs very little gas (carbs) to get around.

I hope my analogy makes sense.

The point is, it needs to be understood that you can't just follow a 50g (just throwing that number out there) carb diet and expect good results. 50g for some may be too much/little for others. I mentioned it in another thread, but I need around 300g of carbs per day with my size and activity levels. That would likely be a HORRIBLE intake for 99% of the members on here.
 
TorqPenderloin said:
The vast majority on this website preach a low carb diet, but few people actually quantify what "low" means. I personally find that unacceptable. Allowing your body to enter ketosis is an effective low carb diet because you're essentially changing what your body considers energy. However, in order to enter ketosis, you have to RAPIDLY deplete your carbohydrate levels.Your body is simply slowing its metabolism at this point because it's looking for carbs that aren't there.

Think about it this way:
-What you're doing right now is trying to drive your car without ever putting gas (carbs) in it. You're eventually going to run out and your car won't run (why you feel so tired).
-Ketosis is the equivalent of driving a diesel car. It doesn't need gasoline (carbs). It needs diesel fuel (fat)
-Furthermore, you can't put diesel (fat) into a car that requires gasoline (carbs) and expect it to run.
-Someone like me is kind of like a big pickup truck. I need a lot of gas (carbs) to run.
-A 90 lbs little old lady is more like a vespa scooter. She needs very little gas (carbs) to get around.

I hope my analogy makes sense.

The point is, it needs to be understood that you can't just follow a 50g (just throwing that number out there) carb diet and expect good results. 50g for some may be too much/little for others. I mentioned it in another thread, but I need around 300g of carbs per day with my size and activity levels. That would likely be a HORRIBLE intake for 99% of the members on here.
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Thanks for replying to my post and your analogy does make sense. I did have to google ketosis as I wasn't quite sure what it was. I did eat a lot of pasta and rice so maybe my body is just screaming out for it!!

I want to try to manage this with diet as I'm needle phobic so the thought of regular blood tests scares me. My thinking is, if that I can get it under control without medication etc, my blood tests won't be so regular. I have to get my hubby to take my blood with my meter and lancet as I physically can't do it myself and have to look away/shut my eyes whilst he does this.
 
Hi

It is normal to feel that way, but I agree with the fact that you may need to add some carbs. Sweet potato is a healthier option, as well as red quinoa (red specifically, though not proven) or barley or buckwheat. If you like bread, granary bread is better than white, or wholemeal. If you like rice, try going for a longer grain rice, or red rice or brown rice. Also, fibre, like porridge or beans.

Try and see if you can see a dietician as well, would be helpful.

Goodluck! :)
 
As a success sorry for Low carb high fat way of eating I would like to advise that First you get yourself a bs meter .. the finger pricker is not showing any needles .. and then you can start to eat to your meter readings. I eat around 20 to 30g of carbs a day .. I also eat quite a lot of cheeses, olive oil, coconut oil and nuts (I am a vegetarian .. so don't eat fish or meat) If you carb count and keep your fat intake up, (no low fat foods as they are full of sugar) you will get carb flu .. it will last a week or two ..then you will feel great ... as time goes on you should notice your weight had dropped ..i lost 5st in 18months ,, still got few more to loose and its going nicely.

Tell your husband he can join you with this new way of eating as LCHF is not exclusive for diabetes .. But you MUST remember to eat the fat part of this diet .. full fat milk ..full fat cheese .. olive oil ..coconut oil is very good .. to keep your fats up .. once you get the balance right you will feel fitter and have lots of energy .

Most (not all) diabetic nurses and Drs will disapprove of the LCHF and show you the eat well plate to follow ..its up to you then what you want to do .. (The eat well plate got me to increase my weight and raise my bs to dangerous levels .)

Hope this helps
 
ausasha said:
Hi

It is normal to feel that way, but I agree with the fact that you may need to add some carbs. Sweet potato is a healthier option, as well as red quinoa (red specifically, though not proven) or barley or buckwheat. If you like bread, granary bread is better than white, or wholemeal. If you like rice, try going for a longer grain rice, or red rice or brown rice. Also, fibre, like porridge or beans.

Try and see if you can see a dietician as well, would be helpful.

Goodluck! :)
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I wouldn't be able to eat any of these foods without getting a big spike in my BG levels. Dieticians typically advise people to eat a lot of carbs.

I have lost a lot of weight on a LCHF diet and I recommend it to anyone wanting BG control and weight loss. You do need to eat enough fats to keep your energy levels up and avoid hunger. If I eat something carby I get carb flu for a few days afterwards, so maybe that is what is happening to you tigerlily, if you cut out bread and potatoes completely, then after a few days you might get past the carb flu and feel better. That's what happened for me.
 
ausasha said:
Hi

It is normal to feel that way, but I agree with the fact that you may need to add some carbs. Sweet potato is a healthier option, as well as red quinoa (red specifically, though not proven) or barley or buckwheat. If you like bread, granary bread is better than white, or wholemeal. If you like rice, try going for a longer grain rice, or red rice or brown rice. Also, fibre, like porridge or beans.

Try and see if you can see a dietician as well, would be helpful.

Goodluck! :)
Click to expand...
I think your information is completely wrong and will increase the OP blood sugars
 
@tigerlily72 Perhaps you could use My Fitness Pal for a while to track your carbs and calories. Being diet only with insulin resistance is a different ball game to taking meds for control, so diet and exercise are the only tools you have to work with at the moment. Although testing is difficult for you, it will pay off in the long run so be brave x
 
Once again, the "Carb Flu" is nothing more than path to enter/leave ketosis. If you're still consuming too many carbs, your body will never enter ketosis and you will continue to feel tired. I've mentioned it in other threads, but there are ways to remove the guessing game. You can buy strips of paper called ketosticks. They essentially measure whether or not your body is in ketosis.

Furthermore, one meal can bring you out of ketosis (why ultra-low carb diets are not sustainable for me).
 
OP Levels? What does that stand for??

My diabetes is different, but my mother has sworn by these foods being a type 2, maybe it works for my mum. These foods also worked for me when I was borderline for 6 years. Though, I don't officially have a type as it is unknown. I think each case is different but this is what I feel works. Of course, Tigerlilly72 should see a dietician.

Goodluck! :)
 
ausasha said:
OP Levels? What does that stand for??

My diabetes is different, but my mother has sworn by these foods being a type 2, maybe it works for my mum. These foods also worked for me when I was borderline for 6 years. Though, I don't officially have a type as it is unknown. I think each case is different but this is what I feel works. Of course, Tigerlilly72 should see a dietician.

Goodluck! :)
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OP Levels? What does that stand for?? OP = Original Poster .. the person who was asking for advice ..
I am pleased to hear that your mum can eat all these foods and has good control of her blood sugars without needing meds ... The original Poster was asking about LCHF way of eating and reducing her blood sugars .. The foods you advise will increase blood sugars in most diabetics that are diet controlled
 
Enclave said:
I think your information is completely wrong and will increase the OP blood sugars
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May I ask what was "completely wrong" about it? Ausasha mentioned low glycemic index foods which are certainly considered to be healthier carbohydrate options than high glycemic index foods.

I don't expect everyone to agree and that's part of how we all learn. However, perhaps next time you can explain your opinion rather than accuse someone of being "completely wrong."
 
Ah I see Enclave. Thanks for that. My mum is on insulin though, but I guess each person is different in how they react right?

It's good to know that information though, I am still learning what I can eat too, etc. It is quite difficult.
 
ausasha said:
Ah I see Enclave. Thanks for that. My mum is on insulin though, but I guess each person is different in how they react right?

It's good to know that information though, I am still learning what I can eat too, etc. It is quite difficult.
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If she's on Insulin then its a completely different ball game ... so to speak ..for T2 diet controlled the lower the carbs the lower the blood sugars .. fat is needed for energy and body repair .. the medical profession are just starting to understand this, but most still roll out the useless eat well plate
 
ausasha said:
OP Levels? What does that stand for??

My diabetes is different, but my mother has sworn by these foods being a type 2, maybe it works for my mum. These foods also worked for me when I was borderline for 6 years. Though, I don't officially have a type as it is unknown. I think each case is different but this is what I feel works. Of course, Tigerlilly72 should see a dietician.

Goodluck! :)
Click to expand...
Everyone is different, and what worked for you may not work for others. People have said multiple times that seeing a dietician may be a waste of time because they typically give dietary advice that leads to high BGs. They can also be quite unprofessional when the subject of low carbing is raised. They seem to be the last of the health professions that are willing to look at the evidence for low carbing.
 
@tigerlily72 I am off now, but just to say, I think you are making good food choices and have hit the ground running. If you still feel tired, keep an eye on the bread. Keep in mind that you were only recently diagnosed which can be a stressful event. Stress can wear you down so be kind to yourself :)
 
TorqPenderloin said:
The vast majority on this website preach a low carb diet, but few people actually quantify what "low" means. I personally find that unacceptable.
.
Click to expand...
That's possibly because the majority of low carbers here are type 2 diabetics, and for them a low carb diet can be anything from around 130 grams of carbs a day down to very low carb/ketogenic levels. How many or few carbs we eat usually depends on our glucose levels and/or whether we need to lost weight, and many of us don't have the "luxury" of a dose of insulin to help us control things, so we have to adjust our levels mainly by diet and medication or by diet alone, and our diet tends to be what does most of our control for us, therefore can vary considerably from individual to individual. There can be no "one size fits all" in our situation.

Robbity
 
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