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Low carb diets hypos

GerryBolger

Well-Known Member
Messages
56
Type of diabetes
Prediabetes
Treatment type
I do not have diabetes
I’m going hypo alot (2.2-4) since I’ve actively stopped eating carbs and am starving all the time and irritable.

Keto diets etc don’t work for me in general and breakfast is my biggest challenge as can’t get to lunch without a headache and no concentration

any advice
 
Are you on any medication for diabetes?
Are those numbers measured by fingerprick or by Libre?

If you're starving, are you sure you are eating enough? If you drop the carbs, other macros should be increased or you'll accidentally find yourself on a low calorie diet.
 
A couple of questions.
Are you on meds?
Have you suffered hypos before your diagnosis?
 
All my knowledge has come from the wise folks on this site, but there are threads already with the whys and wherefores of a low carb high fat diet - but sounds like you aren't eating the right things or enough to fill you up.

I have greek yogurt and a few blueberries plus a full fat babybel or a slice of low carb bread and peanut butter for breakfast and I may sometimes snack mid-morning on 25g peanuts or cashews, (probably more from boredom on work calls than hunger!), but that gets me to lunch without a problem.

What are you eating?
 
@GerryBolger how are you testing your blood sugars?
I ask because it is possible that you are not hypoing.
For example, you may be using old test strips or applying pressure to a CGM.
 
A starvation diet can also cause hypos. Keto is not supposed to be hunger causing done right. Perhaps you need to do a bit more research before continuing. Eg something like this as a starter https://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb/keto

Also a reading below 4 isn’t necessarily a hypo for someone not on hypoglycaemic causing medication or without other conditions to consider. Many healthy people can dip below 4 and then their liver will dump glucose into the blood to raise levels and maintain haemostasis. Do you have symptoms? What happens after you discover the low levels?
 
How long have you been trying keto? Headaches and irritability can be sugar withdrawal and will pass. Adding more water and electrolyte rich foods (or supplements if need be) can help a lot.
 
HSSS said:
How long have you been trying keto? Headaches and irritability can be sugar withdrawal and will pass. Adding more water and electrolyte rich foods (or supplements if need be) can help a lot.
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A week and I’m not able to get enough energy in to make it to the main meal. I’d normally have bread or something to help me get to the next meal but now i’ve so few option (i like or to be honest afford!)
 
GerryBolger said:
I am hypoing! I feel like poo! Sick and hungry all the time. I think I’ve always had a high carb tolerance.
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So a false hypo feels exactly like a real one symptom wise . Just the levels are different. If you are used to high levels and adjust them down quickly your body believes you are “too” low even if not.

Not saying this is what’s happening here as you are having readings that are low but more a general point about “high carb tolerance”.
 
GerryBolger said:
A week and I’m not able to get enough energy in to make it to the main meal. I’d normally have bread or something to help me get to the next meal but now i’ve so few option (i like or to be honest afford!)
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So my point was you aren’t actually eating enough food in your attempt to cut carbs. Which means hunger, lack of energy and feel awful. Any idea what your readings were before you cut carbs?

Also have a bit of salt and read this https://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb/keto/supplements about electrolytes.

what are you actually eating and drinking on a typical day? And what are you avoiding other than carbs/bread? Maybe we can help you feel better
 
I felt a bit weak when I first started no carbs but I found that eating eggs every day. Especially for breakfast. Kept me feeling ok. Or eating a few chicken drumsticks as a snack helps me to the next meal. I do the finger prick test but I’ve never tested that low before so I’m not sure. I’d definitely eat loads more than what you are. That might be the problem
 
GerryBolger said:
A week and I’m not able to get enough energy in to make it to the main meal. I’d normally have bread or something to help me get to the next meal but now i’ve so few option (i like or to be honest afford!)
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If I don't very low carb, I will have hypos. I am completely carb intolerant.
Are you on meds?
I can help if you can give us some readings before and after food, and what that food is.
Feeling awful is your brain telling you not to go low carb, but it will pass within a few days.
I eat only small meals, but do not starve yourself, try and eat some saturated fat foods that will satiate your cravings. And I know about them!
Best wishes
 
thanks. I usually start eating with a 2.5-3.9 range and then 2 hours will go to 9.5+ rarely high. I’m showing as 87% in range and 12% low and 1 % over 12 for the last month.

What i’d normally eat is a cracker with humus but I might get peanut butter which I love anyway.
 

Hi,

If this is with the libre. Have you also double checked these with a meter?
 
No i don’t as I rarely take meter readings as I’m needle phobic. It’s only since i started the low carb diet.

i’m wondering if I should do low GI rather than low carb. Seems less restrictive
 
GerryBolger said:
No i don’t as I rarely take meter readings as I’m needle phobic. It’s only since i started the low carb diet.

i’m wondering if I should do low GI rather than low carb. Seems less restrictive
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When are these lows in the 2s appearing on your Libre graph? If during sleep, it could possibly be a “pressure low” false reading?
(If you happened to be lying on it.)
 
Hi, sorry this isn’t working well for you, you haven’t mentioned that you are fasting so why are you hungry? a Piece of cheese? Some crispy streaky bacon? Double cream on strawberries? natural greek yogurt, etc ect… why would you ever be hungry? Low on energy?
 
I wonder whether the problem is your LIbre is not reporting correctly.
Unfortunately, this is not as uncommon as it should be which is why the recommendation (evcen from Abbott) is to check lows with a finger prick.
I appreciate this can be difficult if you are needle phobic but if you can bring your self to check you Libre one a day (or every other day) it may be useful.
As a seasoned Libre user, I have learned when I can rely on it. AS I take insulin to treat my diabetes, this knowledge is very important. But when you are seeing low values when you are not treating your diabetes with insulin, it makes me suspicious.
As previously mentioned, our bodies get used to blood sugar at a certain level so if you are used to runnig in the teens, a 4 of 5 may feel terrible - this is a false hypo. It is also worth bearing in mind that bringing your levels down too fast may cause problems such as affecting your eyes. Therefore, it is recommended to slowly reduce your carb intake rather than going full cold turkey.
 
A rise of 5.5mmol over the 2 hrs is too much and shows you are eating more carbs than your body can cope with and is likely the cracker. Although humus might have contributed too. Peanut butter depends on the ingredients that might or might not be added. I’d argue that 9.5 is too high as well. Presumably you have your libre set at more generous ranges than I would.

Is that what you are having as a meal? If so no wonder you are hungry, feeling rough and lacking energy etc. it’s not enough.
 
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