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Low carb help please

Mumneedshelp

Member
Messages
13
Location
Suffolk
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Non-insulin injectable medication (incretin mimetics)
Dislikes
Exercise
Hi, I am new to the site although have had diabetes for 17 years, type2, I am interested in this low carb diet but would like to ask a question please. I am on an injection, not insulin, and one tablet I take in the mornings. I have been doing the slimming world diet with out carbs at breakfast or lunch but find I am having hypos at about mid afternoon, so two questions really sorry, what should I use to bring my sugars up and will this get worse if I do the low carb diet for my main meal too. I have found as soon as I have put bread back into my diet I started gaining weight again so would really like to give this ago
Many thanks
 
It would help us to help you if you tell us which diabetes meds you are on.

Generally speaking, the fewer carbs you eat the less insulin you need. Too much insulin and you will hypo. If your meds are the type that stimulate the pancreas to produce more insulin, when going low carb you need to reduce these meds, BUT only with the agreement of your doctor/nurse.

If your hypos are genuine ones (your meter will tell you this) then to bring sugars up you need something sugary or carby - some people use jelly babies, glucose tablets, bananas or similar and keep testing to make sure you go back to where you want to be. I'm not an expert on this because I am unmedicated and my liver takes care of me, so I never hypo.
 
Thanks bluetit1802, I'm taking Victoza injection & Pioglitazone, and yes I would usually have a banana or a sandwich but this would be high carbs and would defeat the object of a low carb diet.
 
Victoza is one of the drugs I mentioned that stimulates the pancreas to produce extra insulin, so the lower carb you go the less Victoza you need (if any) or you will hypo. You have already seen the effects of this.

You may wish to read this about Pioglitazone
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes-medication/diabetes-and-actos.html

How low are you going when you hypo?

Yes, a banana or a sandwich are high carbs, but you have no choice if you hypo. Only carbs will raise BS levels. Just don't overdo them.
 
I think it would help to speak to your Doc or DN about reducing your medication if you are going to carry on with low carb as the medication may be less necessary so you won't need to take the same dose. This is a much better idea than eating carbs to bring your bloods up ... just avoid the hypo in the first place.
 
When I manage to really get good control of my carbs, below 50g a day, then I know from experience I have to drop down on my meds of Gliclazide, otherwise I get a hypo. I do this at the suggestion of my diabetic nurse. You need to discuss this with your doctor or nurse. Hopefully they are in tune with low carbing and will be suitably supportive.
 
Eating low carb is a really effective way to lower your blood glucose, so if you are being prescribed medication by people assuming that you will have high glucose then you will be in some danger from hypos.
You need to get the dose or the drugs altered to be safe.
I have seen a drop in glucose levels of ten or more, from when I was diagnosed, so your medication needs to be adjusted so you can take full benefit from the lower carb eating.
 
Hi. I am not knowledgeable on how Victoza works, but you need to establish what is causing the hypos. It may be the Pioglitazone and you need to avoid increasing the carbs for medication that is possibly too high as it will cause weight gain. BTW you may need to discuss Pioglitazone with the GP. It can be a very effective drug but does have some bad side effects and is no longer recommended. Also watch the SW diet as some of these branded diets try to be all things to all people to keep them captive (sorry to be blunt but they are profit making companies). Make sure you are following a low-carb approach all day and not just breakfast etc. A good target might be to stay below 100gm/day and have enough fats and proteins to balance the diet.
 
Thanks everyone for taking the time to reply, I am seeing my diabetic nurse this week so I hope she is up on this low carb diet. Don't know how well I will do but can only try I suppose, the slimming world diet is full of carbs but after a while it became hard as I am not very adventurous with food, need to find some good recipes.
 

It is unlikely your nurse will support a low carb diet. She is obliged to follow the NHS guidelines, which do not support it. You may be lucky if she is a good'un.

Have a look at the low carb programme on our website. It is very successful and has helped many hundreds of diabetics.
https://www.diabetes.co.uk/lowcarb/

Also have a look at
https://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb/60-seconds

Both these should help you.
 
Hi. Have a look at diet doctor for some good Lchf recipes if you choose to go down that route.
 
So I have got the go ahead from my doctor who said she was happy for me to try a low carb diet, and is going to reduce my Pioglitazone. I have to monitor my sugar levels and then she will speak to me in a couple of weeks. thanks for all your help
 
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