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Diet controlled low carb plateau ?

A

annscullamus

Well-Known Member
Messages
50
Type of diabetes
Type 2
I wonder if anyone can help ? I eat low carb/keto and have controlled my type 2 by diet alone for 10 years. I have a glucose monitor but recently was experiencing high levels which were difficult to bring down. I had a sizable emotional upset two weeks ago and soared to 16.1. I decided to get myself a CGM to see if I could ‘read a story’ of what was going on……long story short, it has been working well for a week now and I have been eating @25g carbs every day but it hovers between 9.5 - 11.5 all day, after gentle exercise it remains flat. There are also t no signs of a spike after any meals, it’s like a flatline most of the time….i am flummoxed and don’t know what else to do. My norm for the last few years has been 7……has anyone gone through this high plateau and did it gradually come down over time !? Thanks in advance for any kind soul who has any ideas.
 
annscullamus said:
I wonder if anyone can help ? I eat low carb/keto and have controlled my type 2 by diet alone for 10 years. I have a glucose monitor but recently was experiencing high levels which were difficult to bring down. I had a sizable emotional upset two weeks ago and soared to 16.1. I decided to get myself a CGM to see if I could ‘read a story’ of what was going on……long story short, it has been working well for a week now and I have been eating @25g carbs every day but it hovers between 9.5 - 11.5 all day, after gentle exercise it remains flat. There are also t no signs of a spike after any meals, it’s like a flatline most of the time….i am flummoxed and don’t know what else to do. My norm for the last few years has been 7……has anyone gone through this high plateau and did it gradually come down over time !? Thanks in advance for any kind soul who has any ideas.
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How are your stress levels doing these days? I must admit stress affects my blood glucose numbers in a way food generally doesn't.
 
Apart from the food you eat, there are about 40 reasons for higher blood glucose; and if the CGM is pretty flat then it seems your problem is not your food.
Of course, our bodies change over time and some functions may not run so well as they used to (thinking insulin production here).
Some other potential reasons are:

Illness or Injury
Stress or Lack of Sleep
Medicines such as (but not limited to) Statins and Steroids.
 
Production of adrenalin and cortisol seems to trigger the liver into greater than usual action. Both adrenalin and cortisol are associated with levels of stress.

The slide I'm attaching has a CGM graph - the person involved wasn't me. No food eaten during the day but at the points marked "X" the individual (a) received the news a family member had been in a car crash and (b) went to see the injured person in hospital. The glucose rises are due to the liver reacting to stress.

I don't have any quick fixes, but it may be that your liver has quickly adapted to high(er) glucose levels and is doing its best to keep you there. I have seen people say that a 24 hr fast has helped to recalibrate their system: I have no experience of this myself.
 

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  • slide 11 stress copy.jpg
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Would just support everything already said - the better at control you get, the less it has to do with food, and more to do with other systems.
Exercising is always different, because muscle cells will accept glucose even in the absence of insulin when you exercise.
 
Thankyou all, in many ways I think you all confirm what I felt…..food is not the issue really, except if I am stupid, which I nave not been since the upset. Perhaps my body, as you said has adapted to the higher levels because my CGM line is almost completely straight….i will try a fast and see if it reboots. Stress gets me every time, but this seems a much longer return. I am a fit [emoji[emoji6]], still teaching a bit and living life so I really want to be back to where I was. Many thanks again !
 
Well, an update, and thanks again to all. I tried the 24 hour fast and reduced my glucose by a couple of mmol’s which was great ! It has subsequently evened out at a nine and often below, so I am thinking that it did exactly as KennyA mentioned, and maybe recalibrated a little. I have also taken a closer look at my diet, and perhaps now as an early seventies lady I needed to overhaul that, eat smaller portions and as high quality food as possible. It is taking time but I am trying not to get stressed about it and go with the flow ! Ha Ha ! Thanks to all once again.
 
annscullamus said:
Well, an update, and thanks again to all. I tried the 24 hour fast and reduced my glucose by a couple of mmol’s which was great ! It has subsequently evened out at a nine and often below, so I am thinking that it did exactly as KennyA mentioned, and maybe recalibrated a little. I have also taken a closer look at my diet, and perhaps now as an early seventies lady I needed to overhaul that, eat smaller portions and as high quality food as possible. It is taking time but I am trying not to get stressed about it and go with the flow ! Ha Ha ! Thanks to all once again.
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Ann, my hubby is 78 and been diet controlled type for around 20 years. He is finding it much harder now than it used to be, and we think it's a mix of the diabetes progressing, and simple old age. But hes just carrying on and doing his best! We have found that Dr Bernstein's diet works well for BG levels, but with some tweaks re the high fat levels as husband has heart probs too.
EDIT: his BG is now always high 7s/low 8s.
 
Many thanks for that, and I think age is definitely part of the issue….we just don’t work as well ! I will look at Dr Bernstein’s book. Kind regards.
 
annscullamus said:
Many thanks for that, and I think age is definitely part of the issue….we just don’t work as well ! I will look at Dr Bernstein’s book. Kind regards.
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I was impressed by his story Ann, he really put his money where his mouth is and proved he knew what he was talking about. The main - and only - prob was that it's very rich French style cooking, uses butter & cream & eggs a lot (which is really LCHF when you think of it) and that filled the hubby up and made him well, but it costs money... but now since we've cut back on food due a bit he's gone backwards a bit. Have a wander round the net and read up on it, see if it;s your thing. Or even take out some of the bits that would work for you, and see how it goes.
 
I will indeed have a look. Expensive food is the norm sadly and probably set to get more so ! I will read up on it though, and many thanks for your thoughts.
 
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