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Is this normal

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Byambaa

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Sale in Cheshire & Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia
Hi just a quick question, I have just started a low carb way of life to try and stop the onset of diabetes (I’m pre-diabetic and been advised to lose 10kilos to help). Is it normal when first going on the type of diet to have “false hypos” :shock: (light headed, shaking & feeling very weak) it only lasted about 10 mins, but it happened when I was out shopping, to be honest it frighten my wife more than me. :roll: Later that night it happened again :? , is there anything I can do or will it settle down :?: :mrgreen:
 
Hi Byambaa,

It could well simply be a symptom of your blood sugar levels readjusting to a more normal range. Your body may have become accustomed to higher blood glucose and started to wonder where the carbs have gone.
Keep an eye on it and it should disappear in a few days. If not, it might be symptomatic of something else, but I'd give it a chance to settle.
Do you have a blood glucose meter? That would be useful.

fergus
 
I have been low carbing for a couple of months now and BG levels have fallen nicely - but I do suffer from the false hypos - the shaking is the worst part for me, often leaving my muscles feeling as if they have taken a severe beating! I have been assured that although unpleasant, they are harmless and should cease once my body has got used to considerably less sugars than it had previously experienced.
 
Hi Fergus & PeppiB

Thanks for the reassurance; it was a shock having 2 of these false hypos in one day, before the most I’ve ever had was 2 in a month. I did check my BG which was 5.2 which is why I now it was a false hypo and not the real thing. I was hoping it was just my body adjusting but always good to have others saying the same thing.
 
There are two possible phenomena: one as you have discovered is "false hypos" where your body is overreacting to normal BG, having not experienced one in a while, or possibly to rapid BG changes.

The other may be longer term "Atkins Flu" where your body reacts over a few weeks to the lack of excess glucose levels until it's "thermostat" readjusts

Your best bet is to test whenever you start to feel the symptoms, and if necessary take a few extra carbs. You will probably find the level which induces symptoms drops down significantly.
 
When I first reduced my carbs I too noticed I was having those low sugar symptoms. Indeed when I checked my levels were low but no where near as low as they should be. It was suggested that I had probably running 'high' for quite sometime before and now my body needed time to adjust. Similarly my eyesight suddenly became bleary. The good news is that both have now settled. If I get wobbly I check my bloods and if normal reading is found I use this as motivation not to be tempted to eat too soon. The weight is coming off and the temptation to eat unnecessarily reduced with the added advantage of a reading giving me motivation.
 
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