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Confused about the 'low carb' issue

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I have just been reading a post on Diabetes Discussion about nn what danger carbos can have on diabetics, and was going to reply to one of the contributers but it was locked? Anyway, for years my mind was made up regarding 'no' or low carb diets. When I was in my early twenties - I wasn't a diabetic then - I went on a protein diet, leaving out carbs altogether. I lost weight quickly but nearly 2 months in I started to feel drained of energy. It got quickly worse and I got glandular fever. My doctor couldn't understand it. He then asked me what my diet was like. I told him and he was angry with me. He said I had been starving my body of fuel/energy, and my resistance had gone right down. I went straight back onto carbs and soon recovered, although because I was run down I was left with a streaming cold that lasted several weeks. I vowed I would never leave carbs out again, and even keep away from very low carb diets even though I'm a T2 diabetic now. But, reading about all of people's positive experiences of being on low carb or very low carb diets, I now feel confused about it all. Do most people well on low carb diets? And, is anyone on either a very low or no carb diet and had no adverse reactions?
 
People that eat carbs get glandular fever too. I manage fine without carbs. There is a great deal of discussion as to whether carbs are even necessary. I'm quite happy to believe that they are not, until proven otherwise...
 
Dunno. But I have got energy.

Maybe it comes from the fat I eat? I dunno. But I have got energy.

Seems odd, that although you were losing weight, you felt that you had no energy. A lot of people around here find the opposite is true, when they are losing weight, they have an abundance of energy.

Maybe you were addicted to carbs, and the feeling of being run-down was your body going through withdrawl. (Carbohydrate addiction is very real, and so are the withdrawl symptoms).

While you're losing weight, you are also flushing out toxins, (toxins are stpred in fat) so unless you are drinking lots of water to flush these toxins out, they'll be hanging around. That can't help with feeling run down...

Maybe you could try reading up on the lo-carb diet? There has been A LOT of recent research into it. Things might have changed since you last tried it.

I can tell you this - I have NO adverse reactions to a VERY LO-CARB diet.
 
I began low carbng 2 years ago when my endocrinologist said to me "no carbs". I am still waiting for the low energy thingy to kick in. Hasn't happened yet and I lead a very active life which includes being a volunteer firefighter.
My research tells me that my digestion system is ketogenic as I also increased my fats and found as an added benefit my lipids improved and continue to do so. There are small amounts of carbs in the green vegetables I eat but the protein converts to glucose. Really don't think my doctor understands the whole deal either but she has observed me dropping ALL medications and achieving an A1c of 5.0 to 5.3 of late by simply limiting my carb intake. My endo does understand and is very supportive and pesters me for my granola and flaxmeal cracker recipes!
Never would I claim to be on 'no carbs"diet and after changing my mindset totally I know that I want the BGs readings this way of life gives me.
Avoid kissing people with glandular fever! I am off for 4 days of Irish dancing and music. Gotta love this life as it is the one I got given.
Alison
 
Thanx to you all. It's given me a new insite, and I will be able to review my way of eating alot better. Oh, and Alison, enjoy your Irish dancing!
 
Fats' energy count is 9 Calories per gram Carbs and protein are both 4 Calories per gram.
Hence plenty of energy in a low carb high fat diet. It sometimes takes a while for the body to switch from using carbs for energy to a fat fuelled life.
I too am waiting for the"Terrible" consequences of a low carb diet. Today, I've had about 10 carbs in total and I'm absolutely fine. Have been rushing about all day and did a HARD health Walk this morning. Was first one back to the cafe too.
Hana
 
Hi , I`ve been on low carb regime for nine months . I`m Type 2 and on diet and exercise , my nurse doubted that I would make a difference , she had wanted me on meds from day one but I wanted a chance to go it alone . Please dont take this as slur on meds for diabetes , its just that I already take lots of drugs for other problems and had no wish to add to the list ! I soon realised by testing that it was indeed the carbs that caused my BG to shoot up so set about lowering carbs to a maximum of 40 gr per day, occasionally its a little higher, sometimes its lower . I am a 63 year old carer for my disabled husband so I cant afford to have low energy !! All I can say it that my HbA1c has gone down to the low 5`s , I have masses of energy, I walk my dogs for about 2-3 miles every day and have never felt so good !! The added bonus is that I recently bought size 12 jeans ! Good luck x
 
Thanx alot. Before I came onto this forum I was literally scared of helping myself by lowering my carbs after what that doctor told me all those years ago, but you are all giving me alot of confidence now.
 
Joely

Lots of good comments above. Remember, glandular fever comes for all sorts of reasons so it's possible your doctor back then just seized on the one thing he thought was odd and that you had changed ie your diet. Humans love certainty so it suited him to say for definite what caused it – but it doesn't necessarily mean he was right!

I too have found lots of energy since low-carbing, though for all sorts of reasons what I do may not suit everyone.
DG
 
Glandular fever is caused by the Epstein barr virus. My healthy three year old has just been hospitalised by a very nasty bout of it (he is fine now). He eats a full balenced diet and isn't diabetic.
I have done a lot of research into EBV over the past week or so. It is very common (one of the most common human viruses) and something like 90% of adults have been infected with it. Many are lucky enough to be asymptomatic.
 
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