Hi everyone. I'm new on here. I just want to find out if others go through the same as me. I'll try to keep it short. I found every time when I ate I felt lightheaded and start shaking and feeling generally unwell. I would eat small portions because of it. The foods that I was eating were healthy foods. No wheat no pastry no cakes just natural foods. About an hour after eating I would get the hypo symptoms. and blood glucose would drop. My tests came back as 49 which is very good but why do I feel this way. This went on for months. I had to beg for a meter yes beg. I had told the nurse over and over what was going on. Eventually I wrote a letter explaining everything. I also need to add that if my blood glucose read under 8 then I would start to get symptoms of hypoglycaemia. Cut a long story short the diabetic nurse has sent more of my bloods off for a specialist test. I have not got results yet but will keep you posted. I have another matter now. I started keto 18 days ago. and have lost 5.7lb which is great and the shaking has stopped. I'm over the moon but I'm finding i have no energy and my glucose reads around 6 but my body is used to 8. I have put up with like a horrible lightheaded draining feeling since I went on this. Usually by now people are starting to feel better. I feel terrible. I am following every rule of keto. Will this pass?. Thank you everyone for reading. Cheryl x
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- Thread starter Cherath
- Start Date
Hi @Cherath and welcome to the forum.
Could you answer a few questions, if you’re comfortable to do so, this will help members help you.
Firstly how long since you were diagnosed with diabetes? what type do you have?
What times of day do you test and when in relation to meals or snacks?
And finally are you on any diabetes medication?
Could you answer a few questions, if you’re comfortable to do so, this will help members help you.
Firstly how long since you were diagnosed with diabetes? what type do you have?
What times of day do you test and when in relation to meals or snacks?
And finally are you on any diabetes medication?
- Messages
- 2,684
- Location
- Harpenden, Herts, England
- Type of diabetes
- Treatment type
- Diet only
- Dislikes
- exercise, phone calls
Low blood pressure?
ziggy_w
Well-Known Member
Hi @Cherath,
It does take some time for our bodies to fully work on a keto diet. For most people it takes about a month, for some people a little more, and sometimes up to three months to fully adapt. According to theory -- the reason for this is that for most of us T2s are almost entirely use glucose metabolism for energy (as consistently high insulin levels, which according to some researchers generally characterizes T2, make it hard to access body fat for energy). Once you lower your insulin levels (by eating lower carb and causing your pancreas to produce less, the impact of which takes some time), you allow your body to switch to fat metabolism (or to use both glucose metabolism and fat metabolism).
So, you might want to give it a few more weeks and see how you feel then. For some, increasing electrolytes may also help (especially salt, but maybe also magnesium and potassium).
It does take some time for our bodies to fully work on a keto diet. For most people it takes about a month, for some people a little more, and sometimes up to three months to fully adapt. According to theory -- the reason for this is that for most of us T2s are almost entirely use glucose metabolism for energy (as consistently high insulin levels, which according to some researchers generally characterizes T2, make it hard to access body fat for energy). Once you lower your insulin levels (by eating lower carb and causing your pancreas to produce less, the impact of which takes some time), you allow your body to switch to fat metabolism (or to use both glucose metabolism and fat metabolism).
So, you might want to give it a few more weeks and see how you feel then. For some, increasing electrolytes may also help (especially salt, but maybe also magnesium and potassium).
HSSS
Expert
Ok working through your post I have a few questions too.
Feeling unwell after food. Which food? Saying natural isn’t enough to help identify potential causes. Would it be predominantly fats, proteins carbs for example or certain items like breads, potatoes etc What would be a typical blood glucose level for you at this time before eating and what would it drop down to? I’m wondering if your levels and food options are causing this drop with a related condition called reactive hypoglycaemia. These questions might help give a clearer idea if this is a reasonable idea or not.
the 49 I assume is hba1c? That’s influenced by both highs and lows and if you have a lot of both can look better than it really is I’m afraid as neither really show up in this test.
I suspect part of the problem is that you are adapted to high levels (outside of the lows) then having normal ones will feel like a horrible hypo even though it’s not. Going keto is retraining your body to be comfortable with more normal levels hence the lack of protest when it comes down.
Feeling wiped when you go onto keto isn’t unusual. It’s even been labelled as keto flu. Often it’s solvable to a degree by ensuring you have enough fluids. Carbs hold water. Without carbs you can dehydrate more. Never underestimate how awful this can make you feel. Conversely if you are drinking more you could be flushing the electrolytes that are essential straight out. Having fewer processed foods adds to this effect. So sodium, magnesium and potassium are the biggest suspects. Make sure you have enough of these. Ideally from food but it’s worth trying a supplement for now to lift you out of this adjustment slump. Are you skimping on the fats and still afraid of them? You need fuel still and now it needs to be natural healthy fats and proteins without the carbs. Finally it takes time to learn to be effective at burning ketones and fats for energy. And it will get easier, especially if you’ve resolved any of the other early pitfalls.
I find I have to have about 30g of carbs or I feel unwell. I think its about what suits your body whilst still keeping your blood glucose controlled and achieving a healthy weight. I have dropped my HBA1c from 84 to 48 in 3 months and lost 1 and a half stones in 12 months. My Nurse is very impressed. I couldnt eat no carb s
