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Can things start to feel worse before they get better?

Dave Russell

Active Member
Messages
39
Location
Huddersfield
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Dislikes
Broccoli, Cauliflower and Cabbage
Can things start to feel worse before it gets better? Why am I feeling I'm more tired than ever?

My diagnosis was 6 weeks ago and i took immediate action. Though I've felt more tired over the last few weeks. I'm following advice, including a low-carb diet. Not drasticly but no more buscuits, crisps or beer in the house, and one or two beers, then coke zero or brandy. Low-carb meals and I have more eggs and fish. I do a little more exercise (I was fairly active anyway). I've lost about 10lb in 4 weeks. My sleep has improved over the last week or two - I can't remember having more than 5 or 6 hours sleep. I'm tracking my BG and staying in range with only one or two highs and lows.

I hope it's just a phase as my body is adapting. E.g. my calorie intake had dropped (around 1400cal). The last couple of days I've increased my intake including carbs, but this didn't help.

Confused! Has anyone else experienced this?
 
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Hi @Dave Russell What is called a glucose tolerance level can vary with both Type 1 and Type 2. If you have maintained higher averages for months on end, your system gets used to this even though you hadn't felt unwell. If you go from a high average to a sudden low intake, you can experience "keto flu", which will make you feel tired etc. Once you have been on a regular and reduced daily carb intake, your body should acclimatise gradually and you will feel so much better. But it doesn't happen overnight unfortunately!
 
@Grant_Vicat that's reassuring, thank you. I was starting to think I was doing something wrong. I'll take it as a sign I'm doing something right. "Flu" is probably not a bad description of it - though I've never had flu before.

Just done a quick look up on keto flu and matches my symptoms.
 
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https://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb/keto/flu-side-effects

Copied from the above link

. Top tip: increase your salt and water intake
Salt & waterSince loss of salt and water is responsible for most keto flu issues, increasing your intake of both can help reduce your symptoms significantly and often eliminate them altogether.
 
Dave Russell said:
Will do certainly. Drinking water has never been my forte... Ive missed my Sunday night pint and a packet salted peanuts too
Click to expand...

I find alcohol lowers my BG & nuts are low carb.
You need to watch the weight but I wouldn't cut them out.
 
But pick which alcohol and nuts carefully. Most beers are very carby, so can soem nuts be, particularly if you eat a large quantity.
Hard, simple spirits such as unflavoured gin, vodka, scotch are OK, just mix with soda water, or wine, or seel out low carb beer.

You needed deprive yourself totally, just be mindful
 
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