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Blood Glucose Level while in Ketosis

L

Lopert

Member
Messages
7
Type of diabetes
Don't have diabetes
Treatment type
I do not have diabetes
Hi There
New to this so apologies if there is a more dedicated thread.
I do not have diabetes, but I am on a ketogenic diet as I am quite obese and this seems to be a good way of life for me.
I had my cholesterol and blood glucose levels checked today after being on a LCHF diet for 3 months. Cholesterol was 4.99mmol and glucose level was 1.3mmol. From my reading, 1.3mmol is very low on a "normal diet", and indicates hypoglycemia, but is this to be expected on a keto diet?
A bit in the woods and just want to ensure I am not doing something harmful.
Thanks in advance!
 
1.3mmol is very low, I would suggest you get that checked out - even on LC your liver should ensure you don't go that low, assuming of course you are getting appropriate nutrition to ensure that your liver can produce glucose - get it checked.
 
Hi @Lopert 1.3mmol is an extremely low glucose level. That surprises me as you'd be feeling very rough at that level.
 
I would confirm that those figures are correct.

Glucose at 1.3 mmol/l is usually a severe hypo needing urgent treatment.
I think most people would be in a coma, or dead.
If they let you out of the surgery then you were obviously neither.

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/what-is-a-hypo.html?utm_source=top&utm_medium=dd&utm_campaign=dd defines a hypo as below 4.0.
I know many people can go below 4.0 without any symptoms but 1.3 must be wrong!

Edit: if you are a non-diabetic on a ketogenic diet you would expect your BG to be in the normal range because all the normal mechanisms should be working.
 
Hi all,
Thanks for the responses.
That is what was showing on the device and what was written down on the chart. Feeling 100% so not sure what the deal. May call them and ask them to recheck. Def not in a coma or dead
 
Lopert said:
Hi all,
Thanks for the responses.
That is what was showing on the device and what was written down on the chart. Feeling 100% so not sure what the deal. May call them and ask them to recheck. Def not in a coma or dead
Click to expand...

Yes, do ask for confirmation. As everyone else has said, most would be in a hypoglycaemic coma at that level. I would say the reading was corrupted in some way.
 
Could I ask who did the checking and did they print these results out for you?
 
Lopert said:
Hi all,
Thanks for the responses.
That is what was showing on the device and what was written down on the chart. Feeling 100% so not sure what the deal. May call them and ask them to recheck. Def not in a coma or dead
Click to expand...

Yep, get the reading confirmed. If it was a nurse who took that reading and it really was that low, they'd have commented.

Double check the reading, that it was a blood glucose reading, and the units used.

Edited to add that if it was done by a non-professional, it could simply be a mistake and a faulty reading.
 
Got it rechecked, 4.4mmol. Nurse said she wasn;t worried as I was fine, no shaking or any signs of a hypo.
Getting another fast check done in the AM. Hopefully not an issue.
Thanks all for responding.
 
Lopert said:
Got it rechecked, 4.4mmol. Nurse said she wasn;t worried as I was fine, no shaking or any signs of a hypo.
Getting another fast check done in the AM. Hopefully not an issue.
Thanks all for responding.
Click to expand...

That's sounds far more likely I hope that's put your mind at rest a little
 
Very low BG reading with no visible health issues have been reported when people 'eat' very high fat (including their own), with limit protein and few carbs, it is not normal, but does happen. The body can "learn" overtime to live on ketones.

Personally I would be increase the carbsa little.
 


Hi
Thanks - this might be the case as I have really axed the carbs, and the pharmacist did say that some people are out of normal ranges but cope well regardless. I'm going to increase good carbs and keep an eye on this. You guys got me a bit worried, thought I was circling the drain!
Take care
 
If you had diabetes and where on some of the common meds, you would not be able to say you name at such a low level! Even without meds most people would no be able to stand at such a low level.
 
Lopert said:
I'm going to increase good carbs
Click to expand...

Can you tell me your definition of "good carbs"? If you want to achieve weight loss I would caution against increasing carb intake too much. There are a few reasons for this
1. Eating more carbs may well cause further carbs cravings and hunger pangs
2. Loosing weight on keto is usually assisted by having low insulin levels so you can access your body fat for energy rather than insulin triggering fat storage. Eating more carbs may cause raised insulin.
3. 4.4 is a perfectly normal level so I wouldn't sweat it
4. The 20g per day "carb limit" is generally thought to be where we could all maintain nutritional ketosis which is what you are aiming for. Increasing carbs could knock you out of ketosis.

I'm sure there are others here who will disagree but as someone who has lost a fair bit of weight first by going LCHF then a keto way of eating I will just share what has worked for me.
Hope that helps a bit.
 


Hi

I was just going to up my veg intake, (aubergine and courgettes) and possibly some coconut milk. I'll go back to using my app to record carb intake so I know the values I'm getting to ensure I'm around 20g a day. I know often I'm around 10g, which is prob the reason it was so low this AM? I may have been overdoing it more "no carb" than "low carb."

I guess any changes will depend on what tomorrows reading is after another fast (as requested by Pharmacist). Hopefully it'll be normal range and the 1.3 was just a calibration blip.

At the mo I have no carb cravings or hunger pangs, and down to eating 1 normal meal and 2 lighter meals a day.
 
Lopert said:
Hi all,
Thanks for the responses.
That is what was showing on the device and what was written down on the chart. Feeling 100% so not sure what the deal. May call them and ask them to recheck. Def not in a coma or dead
Click to expand...
Hello @Lopert, so glad to read your not dead or in a coma and feeling 100 percent.
 

I seriously doubt that the 1.3 was a correct reading but best to see what tomorrow brings. Sounds like you know what you are doing. I try to stay between 10-20g of carbs a day mostly from cream and lactofree milk and a few greens but rarely go below mid 4's unless fasting. Aubergine and courgette sound good as LC veg so in the immortal words "Keep Calm and Keto On"!
 
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