feeling spaced out !

Tracey

When you keep your carbs sufficiently low, you body switches to a fat metabolism; this is called the 'Metabolic Switch'. Switching from a carbohydrate to a fat metabolism. Basically you go into Ketosis.

This metabolic switch usually takes around 3-4 days to take full effect. Synthesizing the correct enzymes in sufficient quantities takes a little time. This is why some new comers to low carb diets can feel foggy at the beginning.

Stick with it. Do not confuse this short period for the whole diet; your energy will be back up in no time.

Best of luck!

Hi Tracey.

It's a bit early in the proceedings to make too many judgements on low carbing for you - it takes a while for things to rebalance.

You didn't say what your normal readings are. If they have been pretty high, then your body is used to those levels and getting lower readings can trigger hypo-type symptoms.

I know when my readings were up in double figures I only had to get down to between 6 and 7 and I would get spacey. Now my readings are much lower I can get right down to 3.5 or less before I get the shakes, etc.

It does take a bit of time for the body to respond to the changes.

I was put on to Byetta - but nobody told me it needed carbs to work! Other people seem to be ok on it but it upset my digestion big time. I had much better results from the Vitabase herbal pills I got afterwards than from that with readings at or just above normal. I do take Metformin (and insulin) and have done for about 9 years (insulin for 6), but through the diet I have been able to reduce both meds by two thirds and get my BS much more controlled.

Although I have been ok on Metformin, I know other people who have had issues with it so it doesn't suit everyone.

Hopefully, once your body has adjusted to the changes you may not need to take anything - except the low-carb food!

Think it's known as 'atkins flu' - should subside within a week or two. I have been low carbing six months now and found that my body didn't properly adapt for quite a while. Although the initial fogginess of the first few days passed, I did feel a bit weak and lethargic at times in the weeks and even months after, up until around the three month mark I think ,as my body was readjusting to run on a different fuel, but now I am fine and no doubt if I started eating lots of carbs again would feel ill. Amazing how they can adapt these bodies of ours!

Make sure you are eating enough! There will be a period of transition but it settles.