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How low is too low?

R

rachaelfox1977

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Hi everyone

I have Type 1 diabetes and have recently gone on a low carb diet. Sugars are fantastic but I am having other side effects such as: very tired, low energy, difficulty remembering names, feeling faint.

Another thing that has happened and it happened last time I did this low carb diet is that I have started bleeding in the middle of my cycle. Has this happened to anyone else?

So, my question is how low is low on this diet. I have been having about 20g carbs per day if that, since 9 days ago.

Please can someone give me some advice as I want to stay on this low carb diet because my sugars are great and I have lost 5lb in 9 days.

Rachael
 
Just a thought - how many carbs were you on before? Maybe the sudden drop is too much. Could you try a middle ground, with a few more carbs? You'll still lose weight, maybe less quickly, and your sugars may still be better than before, but it may be you can find a level of carbs you can stick with long term that way?
 
Even I, a dedicated follower of Atkins, think less than 20g per day is too low! I'd up them a bit to around 30g, and try to get them all from lots of low carb veg so you get your vitamins and minerals.

That amount shouldn't upset your weight loss, which may stabilise at around 2 lb per week depending on how much you have to lose, and will keep you BGs low as well.

Viv 8)
 
Thanks both

I was eating about 200g a day. It's the good sugar levels that I want, not so much the weight. I weigh 9st 9, so I can't really afford to loose much more. I would like to exercise but I have no energy.

I find that as soon as I eat a few carbs I am hungry all the time.
 
Wow! 200 to 20 is a major drop! Why not try going to, say, 80 low GI carbs and see how your sugar levels go. You can always then adjust up or down. The hunger, I found, does go away once you stabilise at a level of carbs that give you the results you want. It's the CHANGE in carbs that makes your body want food. Good luck, do tell us how you get on
 
I have had 68g today and I feel much better. I only had 4g for breakfast, but it raised my sugar and my nurse said that i don't need to take insulin unless I eat more than 10g.

I could try eating carbs throughout the day as that is when I need my energy and just dont eat any after a certain time.

I see you have 150-180g a day. Is that low? I don't know much about it, but I am going to have a look on the web now.

Thanks for getting back to me, really appreciate it.

Rachael
 
My 150 to 180 is considered moderate, not low. Remember, guideline carbs for a non-diabetic male are 300, compared to 250 for a woman. I'm lucky inthat i can tolerate that level, others have to go lower. Your 67 sounds more reasonable to me than 20. You can't starve yourself just to avoid insulin surely? Isn't it better to go with about 70, feel better, and have reduced medication? Good luck!
 
I agree with Grazer, 20 is very low and although i dont know much about insulin and type1 the symptoms are the same as with Atkins induction. It is a case of testing and finding your level of carb intake. I have been on a lower carb diet for 3 weeks now, have lost 7lbs and dont count carbs,well not to the letter! Hope it works out! x
 
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