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Cold hands when your low-carbing

cz_dave

cz_dave

Well-Known Member
Messages
450
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
I have noticed that when low carbing, my hands sometimes turn cold. Typically my blood sugar would be in the low 4s but definitely not below 4.

Has anyone had the same experience?
 
Hi @cz_dave ..
This is a new one on me .. never experienced it personally. In fact, after just about two months of strict low-carb at <40g a day, I can't remember a time when I felt better. I may be lucky but I have had no side-effects at all from my diet or meds ..
 
cz_dave said:
I have noticed that when low carbing, my hands sometimes turn cold. Typically my blood sugar would be in the low 4s but definitely not below 4.

Has anyone had the same experience?
Click to expand...

Quite a few people on the forums suffer from relatively sudden episodes of cold hands and feet. I take insulin and have a moderate carb intake so I don't associate it with low carbs particularly (or extremely low/high glucose levels). I never experienced this before diagnosis, but quite how it's connected to diabetes (or not) is unclear.
 
I sometimes get it when fasting but don't think I have ever had it when eating LCHF are you eating enough F (fat)? Or do you take some extra salt. This has been known to help.
 
bulkbiker said:
I sometimes get it when fasting but don't think I have ever had it when eating LCHF are you eating enough F (fat)? Or do you take some extra salt. This has been known to help.
Click to expand...
I didn't mention I am on LCHF. I low carb with medium fat intake and I don't think it has anything to do with the amount of fat I eat. Salt? Not sure.
 
urbanracer said:
Quite a few people on the forums suffer from relatively sudden episodes of cold hands and feet. I take insulin and have a moderate carb intake so I don't associate it with low carbs particularly (or extremely low/high glucose levels). I never experienced this before diagnosis, but quite how it's connected to diabetes (or not) is unclear.
Click to expand...
Once when I had an episode of cold hands, I was just about to get examined by a GP. My blood pressure was a little bit lower than usual and my blood sugar was about 4.5, so I would probably associate cold hands with slightly lower blood sugar. I have never experienced it when my BS was running higher than normal.

I also think that when eating very low carb, I would experience the episodes of cold hands a bit more frequently than when eating medium carb.
 
Not so much cold hands... but I get really cold feet. I look pretty silly when its happening because the rest of me is warm enough to just wear a short sleeved tee shirt and jeans but I have two pairs of fully bedsocks and sheepskin lined boot type slippers in a size too big on (to allow for the socks) to warm up my feet.
 
Since my BG has been under control and I weigh 50 pounds less I have been colder then before. My feet are always cold unless I wear thick socks and my hands are often cold as well.
 
cz_dave said:
I didn't mention I am on LCHF. I low carb with medium fat intake and I don't think it has anything to do with the amount of fat I eat.
Click to expand...
I think the point is that if you're not eating enough fat to adequately replace all the energy you were previously getting from a higer level of carbs, you might well feel colder in your extremities: with less fuel your body's going to use it where most needed, and amongst other things will conserve heat in its more vital areas, which may well result in cold feet and hands. As I see it... :wideyed:

Robbity
 
Thanks for the additional clarification @Robbity. I was on quite a strict LCHF diet for a few months and I found that the problem with having cold hands occurred much more frequently than when I I have upped my carbs a bit (from 50 to 80 grams per day) and decreased the fat intake appropriately. When on LCHF, I was not losing weight, so I think I had enough energy. So, I am just not convinced insufficient fat intake was the problem.
 
I always thought cold hands or feet were to do with circulation.
Mind u my betablocker side affect is cold hands or in my case cold feet.
Although I too suffered cold feet on lchf so much so I had pain in one leg and got checked for dvt. I was ok. Now seeing cardiologist as palpatations got worse after increasing my carbs again. I eat 100-150g carbs a day on insulin.
I'm suffering with either a trapped nerve or bulging disc but won't get sorted til cardiologist is finished checking for a blockage. Mobility changed as same time as a few months into insulin therapy and start of canagliflozin and lchf diet.
Take your pick for the culprit!
 
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