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Insulin resistant for no reason

S

studiogemini

Member
Messages
5
Type of diabetes
Prediabetes
Treatment type
Other
HI, I am so frustrated. I am insulin resistant and take 2 g of Metformin day. I eat a low carb, low sugar diet, no processed food, low BMI, BP, tri-glycerides, cholesterol,. I exercise everyday, and yet....even with a low carb diet, hi fiber etc, after breakfast esp. I get incredibly sleepy.
I simply don't understand why and not do my doctors. if I forget my Metformin in the am, or don't eat for a few hrs after getting up, I get a really bad headache and such severe fatigue that I have to sleep it off-I literally feel drugged and can't stay awake. I normally never sleep in the day, and am very active. This is really CRAZY!!!
ANY suggestions would be SO much appreciated-I cannot explain what is going on. I had a GTT a while back and it was OK-nothing adds up except a hig hsCRP which no-one can explain either, as I eat a very anti-inflammatory diet and take fish oil, curcumin etc!!!
Thank-you!
 
Hi and welcome to the forum,
Do you have a meter to test your blood glucose levels? Any other meds? Do you exercise a lot? If you work does that make you fatigued?
I believe that by your description your are having hypos! Have a read around and look at threads regarding hypos. Also have a look at threads concerning low carbing as you may not be eating enough to compensate for your lifestyle.
Let us know and give us more details.
 
Are you on any other drugs besides metformin?
 
Just thowing a few ideas out there:

Mr B ended up giving up coffee because he was addicted to it. Had it every day. Double espresso. loved it.
If he missed his morning jolt, he would get headaches and mood swings, felt dreadful.
Coffee is a likely target, but any food intolerance could do this.

If I have carbs for lunch (e.g. sandwiches) I am nearly asleep at my desk. What do you eat for breakfast? What happens if you vary your breakfasts, and have completely different ones on different days (e.g. meat only, no dairy on one day, then cheese the next...)

What are your blood glucose readings when your headache and fatigue hit?
If they are low, it could be a hypo.

Those are the only things that spring to mind... others will be along in a mo
 
Are you eating enough extra fat and protein on your low carb diet to make up for the energy you were previously getting from your carbs?

Robbity
 
Hello everyone- thank so much for all your helpful comments. I haven't a glucose monitor as I've never before had issues with low blood sugar, but it's a very good point- think I will get one. That should give me some useful info
I don't drink coffee and I def eat enough fat and protein. Exercise energizes me- but...only if it's later in the day. I play a lot of r. Ball( used to be squash when in the uk!), but early in the day I play like a zombie- brain doesn't connect to the body!! Yes I work, but afternoon and evenings- when I used to work am- not good- would be falling asleep and couldn't get things under control. Also if I have a long drive in the am- like 2 hrs or so after about an hour I'm again falling asleep- it's really bizarre- I have to take stimulants when I have to drive early in the day. I DO take other Meds HRT( bio identical) and quetiapine for sleep, but was taking them long before this started , but I suppose They could be an issue. I also felt a lot better since I gave up gluten100%. Thanks again for all your input- I so very much appreciate it-I'm have just got nowhere really over the last2 yrs with my docs!
 
Have you had your Vitamin D3 tested? Also B12. Both can be related to unexplained fatigue. Metformin can block absorption of B12.
 
Yes- vitD-72 and B12-just over 1200, but thanks!the fatigue happens first thing in the am if I don't eat for a few hrs, or after I eat a low carb b'fast. I'm thinking maybe I should try 0 carbs for b'fast?

Wondering if anyone has tried taking Metformin an hour or so before breakfast?
 

I think metformin needs to be taken with food. But check the instructions.

What do you usually have for breakfast?
 
Protein shake/ flaxseed/ baby greens/ few berries/ olive oil/ almond milk- virtually no carbs- that's what I don't understand:-( feel way better before I eat in am!!!
Thank- you to everyone for your helpful comments and useful links-(B) much appreciated
 

Is the protein shake soya? or whey?

I've discovered that if I eat soya it makes me feel dreadful. Sleepy, unable to concentrate. I tried some soya powder in green smoothies for a while. The symptoms crept up on me, so it took a while to pin down the cause.

Whey protein can (I think) have similar problems.

I would definitely change your breakfast to something with absolutely none of the ingredients the same. Just to see what happens.
 
Whey actually, but hadn't thought of it as a culprit! Interesting- thanks- I'll give it a miss for a few days and see what happens maybe I should just radically change breakfast. I do vary the shakes but the whey has been a constant. Eggs don't seem to work too well so I'm wondering if I've just developed multiple food allergies. Going gluten free helped v significantly, but it all came on pretty quickly- confusing! Really would like multiple allergy test, but Dr not convinced ATM.
 
That's a pain! It means that to test the theory you can't have any milk products at breakfast.
How about a protein based brekkie for a few days?

If it turns out to be the whey, there's a nice, nutty/green flavoured hemp protein powder at holland and barratt, if you wanted to try something that will still give you a shake option. Think it may be organic too.
 
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