Ozempic, intermittent fasting, low carb, problems

[KimWheeler]

Hi. My hba1c was 74 mmol Oct 20th 2021. Weight 82kg. I started intermittent fasting (16/8) and lost 5kg from October to March. My diabetes nurse was pushing all this time to put me on Ozempic .5mg. In March I agreed but she wouldn't do a new hb1c. June 8th 2022 hba1c 43 and weight 75kgs but I'd started to have problems. I asked her about hypos as I was getting blurred vision, dizziness, confusion and extreme hungers.She told me I was type 2 so it wasn't possible.

She would not take me off Ozempic. My only option to regain normality was to ditch the fasting. My weight has now gone up 2 kgs since June.

I want to return to intermittent fasting with low carb diet as before as I felt terrific on it. So I can only assume I need to ditch the Ozempic.

Does anyone see any problems with this? Diabetic nurse won't listen and can't talk to a Dr as 3 Dr's don't " know anything about fasting, ozempic is a good drug and I can't be hypo" their words.

With occasional testing my Bgs were low at 5 but normally 8-10 during this period.

Thoughts on me ditching the Ozempic would be helpful. Thank you in advance. Kim

 

[Oldvatr]

https://www.healthline.com/health/drugs/ozempic-side-effects
Hypo's do occur and may be linked to fasting or diet changes. Extreme hunger is not a reported side effect of Ozempic. It usually has the opposite effect since the weight loss side of the med relies on tricking your body into feeling full so you reduce portion size or else. the med will punish you with nausea and vomiting. It is like being on a restricted calorie diet with a built in watchdog.

 

[Antje77]

Thoughts on me ditching the Ozempic would be helpful. Thank you in advance. Kim

We really can't advise you to ditch a prescribed medication, that's between you and your doctor, and ultimately it's your decision.

With occasional testing my Bgs were low at 5 but normally 8-10 during this period.

Whatever you do, I'd do more than just occasional testing.
Especially, I'd test when you have symptoms, to make sure it is in fact a hypo and not a 'false hypo'. (False hypos are caused by the body being used to higher numbers and panicking when you go lower than it's used to, it definitely does feel like a real hypo.)
That way you can at least prove you are having hypos.

Should you decide to ditch the meds, I'd test even more often to make sure you're not running high all the time.

 

[KimWheeler]

https://www.healthline.com/health/drugs/ozempic-side-effects
Hypo's do occur and may be linked to fasting or diet changes. Extreme hunger is not a reported side effect of Ozempic. It usually has the opposite effect since the weight loss side of the med relies on tricking your body into feeling full so you reduce portion size or else. the med will punish you with nausea and vomiting. It is like being on a restricted calorie diet with a built in watchdog.

Thank you. I'll have a proper read of this. I've had a quick look. It does seem to answer some of my questions. Thanks Kim

 

[KimWheeler]

We really can't advise you to ditch a prescribed medication, that's between you and your doctor, and ultimately it's your decision.

Whatever you do, I'd do more than just occasional testing.
Especially, I'd test when you have symptoms, to make sure it is in fact a hypo and not a 'false hypo'. (False hypos are caused by the body being used to higher numbers and panicking when you go lower than it's used to, it definitely does feel like a real hypo.)
That way you can at least prove you are having hypos.

Should you decide to ditch the meds, I'd test even more often to make sure you're not running high all the time.

Thank you. Cost was keeping me from testing more but I think I'll have to bite the bullet. I wouldn't drive when I felt so light headed. I have wondered about fake hypos but my Dr's rubbish that as well. IF has worked for me. Weight loss and lowering BG figures in 6 months. I wasn't getting these symptoms on Sitagliptin and IF. They only started 6 weeks after I started Ozempic. Once I stopped IF my weight has increased.

Diabetes really isn't easy to fix is it? (Rhetorical question)

Kind regards Kim

 

[Antje77]

Cost was keeping me from testing more but I think I'll have to bite the bullet.

What meter do you use?
The cost of test strips varies a lot from meter to meter, so it might be worth looking into one with cheaper strips!