Newbie carb crash

I personally never had any symptoms from low carbing and I'm usually under 50 per day, but i reduced it gradually. However I have heard people describe the same symptoms you did. it takes a while probably a couple of weeks to adapt. Your body has to get used to ketones circulating in the blood and using them for fuel instead of glucose. If you can manage it, keep going and it will get better. If it's too hard, relax a bit and take it slowly. Then it would take a bit longer.
Hana

why were you taken off all your meds when you were doing so well?

I have been low carbing (for me) at around 80-100g of carbs a day for 5 weeks. The first two weeks I had a headache too. Now I just seem to be cold all the time. However, I have more energy now.

MrsGnu said:

I wonder if you can help me? I have started to follow a low carb regime in a desperate attempt to get my blood sugars down. I have managed 2 days on 60-80g but am really struggling with headaches and lack of energy. Is this normal for the first few days? Will it get better?

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Yes. It takes 2-3 weeks to become "keto adapted". As a "sugar burner" brain needs 100g of carbohydrate to function properly. It takes a few weeks for you to build the metabolic machinery for it to switch to getting (up to) 75% of it's energy from ketones. Stick with it, it's worth the effort I promise.

Also, as you liver becomes depleted of glycogen it sheds a lot of water taking sodium and potassium with it. You need to replace this some how, either by increasing your salt intake or, as Steve Phinney recommends, drinking a salty boullion.

I had the headache as well for about two weeks. I do eat very few carbs, around 20 a day, so maybe you will get over it quicker than I did. I promise you will feel fighting fit very soon

Yup, I was the same. Headaches, fatigue, generally feeling ill. Once I got into ketosis all the symptoms cleared and now I feel great. I am around 15 - 20g of carbs a day, so ultra low, but it will get better.

Didn't get a headache but got tired to start with. I average around 60g / day. Took a couple of weeks for things to sort themselves out. If you don't mind me asking why on earth did they take all your meds away sounds a dreadful thing to do?

Hi Jo

I'm not a doctor but as a Type 2 you will normally have two things going on that will effect your ability to control your levels.

First how much insulin resistance you have. If you have lost a lot of weight then you will have likely lost a lot of resistance so any insulin you produce will work better on the carbs you consume. This maybe why your gp thinks you'll do ok with no meds.

However the big question is also how much insulin you are actually producing in the first place. If prior to diagnosis or getting that outstanding HBA1c :clap: your sugars were running high for some time it is likely to have damaged your beta cells in your pancreas which produce insulin. If that's the case then while low carbing will help you may need meds (or insulin) to actually be able to process any significant amount of carbs regardless of how much weight you have lost.

Do you self test with your own meter? That could give you an very good indication of how well you are coping with carbs. Self testing is what most members on the forum recommend for that very reason.

Oh and I'd go back to your GP and give him a hard time if you genuinely feel you aren't to blame for your suagrs rising. Why he thinks someone who can get a sub 5% HBA1c would suddenly accept a rise to 10%+ is beyond belief. Total and utter madness in my non professional opinion.