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Hypo on a Keto diet

carolina1209

Newbie
Messages
4
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Hi everyone,
Does anybody has hypo problem on a keto diet? I got diagnosed with T1 3 months ago. And started keto diet around 1 month, everything went well. I used really low dose of insulin(2 or 3 units humalog per day, night time insulin 7 unit)
And most of the time I can keep my BS between 75-130.
BUT I started to do resistance workout these few days. And I found out around 30 hours after my work out , I will got hypo. I workout on Saturday, and Sunday around 7 PM my sugar started to go low. I treated the low with glucose tablet, but I have to set the alarm every 3 hours to take the sugar till morning, and in the morning my BS suddenly become stable again.
Yesterday I workout again, and now I become hypo again.
Does anybody has the same problem?
So far I tried keto diet for 1 month, and I jog every other day. And I never had hypo problem. Only until 2 days ago I decide to do some resistance work out. Beside the resistance workout , there is no other change in my daily routine.

Carolina
 
Hi Carolina,

Exercise is known to have both immediate and long-term effects on blood sugar. These effects can vary depending on the type of exercise, they vary from person to person, and they can also vary over time, especially if you change your diet or lifestyle.

It is quite common for exercise to reduce your basal needs for 24 hours or more. In my case, exercise during the day usually reduces my basal needs most from about 11pm to 3am, even though I do not do keto.

If you are using Lantus be aware that changing your Lantus dosage takes several days to reach its full effect. When I am not using a pump, I use Levemir as a basal because the change is more immediate.
 
Like those statin-pushing doctors, keto people refuse to believe there are any problems with the treatment they advocate. Ask why they won't even let the downsides be discussed at their meetings.
 
Hi @carolina1209 , whilst @nickm describes this as a downside, it is (in reality) a standard side effect of resistance training, except that the timing in your case is slightly unusual.

Typically when you are weight training you burn off the glycogen in your muscles and liver as fuel, as the exercise is anaerobic. Under normal conditions, this is replenished from carbs you eat, but when keto, conversion of some protein consumption is required to refuel the glycogen.

The only option really (and I found this when on MDI, weight training and eating vlc) is to reduce your insulin amounts, or to have a day a week where you do a carb refeed.

The approach you take is up to you.
 
@carolina1209 - I play badminton every Sunday evening and have to decrease my basal for the next two days in order not to hypo.

So, what you are describing is not unusual in my opinion.
 
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