Dangers of low fat?

[IanD]

I followed the NHS/DUK low fat diet for years, until crippling muscle pains led to a radical change of diet. My HbA1c rose to 6.8, which does not seem high enough to cause debilitating cmplications - complications which were reversed by a low carb & increased fat diet.

Could my muscle pain problem have been caused by insufficient fat over a long period rather than elevated blood glucose? My HbA1c was 6.8 which my Dr did not consider unduly high.

Is there a minimum fat requirement?

 

[Squire Fulwood]

I can't offer much advice since I am not a doctor but this article seems to say much on the subject.

http://www.spacedoc.com/why_statins_do_ ... _than_good

 

[librarising]

IanD wrote
Could my muscle pain problem have been caused by insufficient fat over a long period rather than elevated blood glucose?

I wouldn't have suspected either. You don't mention statins so I assume you weren't on one.
I would expect wheat to be a prime suspect as in :

http://www.livestrong.com/article/47155 ... body-ache/

But I'm no doctor :roll:

Geoff

 

[SweetHeart]

That's an excellent article SF. I've sent the link to my father who has many of those problems.

Ju

 

[IanD]

Thanks for comments & links. I can't take statins - they aggravated the neuropathy. My cholesterol was 7.6 on diagnosis, now 5-5.5, & I play tennis so see plenty of sunshine (when available.)

When I spoke to DUK Careline, she suggested that rather than low carb being of any benefit, I might have become wheat intolerant. I don't know whether that suggestion was at all informed, but Geoff's suggestion makes sense. Low carb is necessarily low wheat.

 

[borofergie]

Ian,

If you have body fat reserves to dip into (and in reality even very slim people do), then it's difficult to see how eating low-fat diet would cause problems in itself.

However, as Geoff said, eating lots of wheat might have been the problem:
http://www.wheatbellyblog.com/2012/01/wheatopia/

Stephen