Pre Diabetes and Reactive Hypoglycaemia

[Ians1964]

Hello all.

My name is Ian and I am 55 years old. I have been one of life’s party animals for the last 35+ years. I am overweight and rarely take any exercise. I love nothing more than beer and curry. I started to suffer typical symptoms of T2 mid December just gone. In fact pretty much every symptom on the list!

I decided to buy a glucose testing kit and discovered that my fasting BM is 6.5-7.1 usually and following breakfast (5% Greek yoghurt and some berries with a squeeze of honey) my levels drop to between 5.3-5.7. After lunch however, it shoots up to just over 7. I did my own research before visiting GP and concluded that I was pre-diabetic and possibly reactive hypoglycaemic. My GP ran full blood tests and again fasting level was 6.1. She is saying I have nothing to worry about and should try diet control.

I am doing really well on the food front and have basically stopped drinking altogether for now. I started my new health regime (apart from exercise on December 23rd. I have lost well over a stone but my readings are not moving. I forget what my HbA1C result was but am awaiting a repeat result. My food is high glycemic food where possible with protein by way of fish and the occasional steak with salad instead of chips. I try to graze through the day little and often as suggested on pretty much every site I have visited but my symptoms are worsening. Tiredness, blurred vision, headaches, increased thirst and the list goes on. Most concerning is the weight loss. A stone in 26 days is worrying me! My GP is reluctant to refer me to a specialist also!

I would ask the forum members if they could comment? Is there any advice you can offer regarding the way forward? Am I overreacting? Any tips on diet? I am genuinely concerned and my GP appears not to be..

Many thanks in advance for suggestions and advice.

Many thanks

Ian

 

[Resurgam]

If you have a problem with carbs then grazing all day might not be a good thing. I eat early and late and fast in between.
I suggest getting a meter so you can test your blood glucose, limiting carbs usually helps diabetics and those with RH - and weightloss is often a result.

 

[Antje77]

my fasting BM is 6.5-7.1 usually and following breakfast (5% Greek yoghurt and some berries with a squeeze of honey) my levels drop to between 5.3-5.7. After lunch however, it shoots up to just over 7. I did my own research before visiting GP and concluded that I was pre-diabetic and possibly reactive hypoglycaemic.

Your fasting might be a tiny bit on the high side, but those numbers don't shout (pre) diabetes to me and nowhere close to hypoglycaemic.
I do agree you should look into the cause of your symptoms though.

 

[derry60]

I would forget the honey in the yoghurt as that is sugar, you may be having late spikes because of the honey. What are you grazing on? I would take the advice of Resurgam and not Graze. You say that you eat 5% Greek Yoghurt, go for the full-fat Greek yoghurt. Losing a stone in just over 3 weeks is to be expected if you are going low carb. Stay away from Bread, Pasta, Rice, Grains and Potatoes. Keep away from root vegetables, eat all veg that grows above ground. Many people can eat Celeriac and a small portion of carrots. Do eat Eggs, Bacon, Berries, full-fat cream, full-fat cheese, full-fat butter (Kerry Gold) is a good brand, Olive Oil, nuts, seeds (Not peanuts) Fish, all fresh meat with fat on. Make sure that you eat the fat. Eat lots of green salads, Green veg. I am sure that your carbs will come down pretty soon.

 

[Ians1964]

I would forget the honey in the yoghurt as that is sugar, you may be having late spikes because of the honey. What are you grazing on? I would take the advice of Resurgam and not Graze. You say that you eat 5% Greek Yoghurt, go for the full-fat Greek yoghurt. Losing a stone in just over 3 weeks is to be expected if you are going low carb. Stay away from Bread, Pasta, Rice, Grains and Potatoes. Keep away from root vegetables, eat all veg that grows above ground. Many people can eat Celeriac and a small portion of carrots. Do eat Eggs, Bacon, Berries, full-fat cream, full-fat cheese, full-fat butter (Kerry Gold) is a good brand, Olive Oil, nuts, seeds (Not peanuts) Fish, all fresh meat with fat on. Make sure that you eat the fat. Eat lots of green salads, Green veg. I am sure that your carbs will come down pretty soon.

Thanks for the tips. Let’s hope the old ticker doesn’t give in with all that saturated fat. I guess it’s better than sugar though.

 

[Ians1964]

Your fasting might be a tiny bit on the high side, but those numbers don't shout (pre) diabetes to me and nowhere close to hypoglycaemic.
I do agree you should look into the cause of your symptoms though.

For me as a novice it’s the fasting level of 7.1 after 13 or 14 hours with only water and then dropping to 5.6 two hours after a large portion of yoghurt with honey. I would have expected a rise not a fall in blood sugar ‍

 

[Listlad]

Hi Ian. I too have prediabetes. I am trying to get to grips with managing it but finding it difficult to work out how far to go with carb suppression in the diet. Just now I have moved over to brown rice and brown bread, Jacket potato’s, mainly because advice that I read or received suggests I should do this. Am also using sweetener instead of sugar in everything I can possibly have a say in. And cutting out chocolates, cakes and sweets. I have also reduced the amount of dried fruits and fruit juice that I previously have indulged in.

I asked my GP to give me access to an NHS dietician but was turned down on the grounds of not being heavy enough.

I am due a 3 month non fasting blood test (Hb41c ?) in a few weeks and I too cannot remember my last test results but my GP assures me it is within the Prediabetes window.

My question is essentially, how low do I need to go with the the low carb diet?

 

[VioletViolet]

Good for you for acting before it gets worse. No point waiting until you've tipped into diabetes to get started!

Try the Diet Doctor website https://www.dietdoctor.com/how-low-carb-is-low-carb
Start with the liberal low carb recipes and see how you get on.

You'll find lots of support on here, they're a knowledgeable and friendly bunch.

 

[Antje77]

Hi Ian. I too have prediabetes. I am trying to get to grips with managing it but finding it difficult to work out how far to go with carb suppression in the diet. Just now I have moved over to brown rice and brown bread, Jacket potato’s, mainly because advice that I read or received suggests I should do this. Am also using sweetener instead of sugar in everything I can possibly have a say in. And cutting out chocolates, cakes and sweets. I have also reduced the amount of dried fruits and fruit juice that I previously have indulged in.

I asked my GP to give me access to an NHS dietician but was turned down on the grounds of not being heavy enough.

I am due a 3 month non fasting blood test (Hb41c ?) in a few weeks and I too cannot remember my last test results but my GP assures me it is within the Prediabetes window.

My question is essentially, how low do I need to go with the the low carb diet?

Hello, @Listlad , and welcome to the forum! I think your question would be better placed as a new thread. (Go to 'forums'. Find the green 'post new thread' button on the top right and just copy your question)
You'll get some useful answers without muddling Ian's post about hypoglyceamia

 

[derry60]

Thanks for the tips. Let’s hope the old ticker doesn’t give in with all that saturated fat. I guess it’s better than sugar though.

All the above is how diabetics bring their BGL's down and gone into remission. I am Pre-Diabetic and my numbers have come down. I have also lost weight. My Cholesterol is good, my Blood Pressure is good. I had a heart attack 15 years ago and ate all low-fat foods. I took the advice of my Doctor back then. I ate low-fat Yogurts, brown pasta, brown rice, couscous, root veg, Bread. I thought that I was eating healthy balanced meals, as I followed doctors diet sheet. Guess what? I became Pre-diabetic. What the doc did not tell me is that pretty low-fat everything contains lots of sugar. Take a look at W/W's product full of sugar, all low-fat fruit yoghurts are loaded with sugar. I ate my 5 a day fruit, big mistake. Low-fat cheese and cream was bad for me

 

[Ians1964]

Your fasting might be a tiny bit on the high side, but those numbers don't shout (pre) diabetes to me and nowhere close to hypoglycaemic.
I do agree you should look into the cause of your symptoms though.

I saw my GP yesterday and following my blood results where my Bb1AC was 50. I am now on Metformin once a day and diagnosed as Type 2 I have completely changed my diet although I did visit McDonald’s yesterday. Everything in moderation I think

 

[Ponchu]

I think you’re wise to be concerned.

Eating a high healthy (natural) fat diet that is very low carb for...

30 days will likely mean that no one will have to talk you into anything.

Experiencing it for yourself will do the trick.

Grazing won’t be necessary —you’ll be too full.

Much success!

 

[Listlad]

I saw my GP yesterday and following my blood results where my Bb1AC was 50. I am now on Metformin once a day and diagnosed as Type 2 I have completely changed my diet although I did visit McDonald’s yesterday. Everything in moderation I think

LOL. We as a family visit Macdonalds occasionally and it is on a MacDonalds Egg McMuffin that I had a serious bout of indigestion a few months back.

 

[JoKalsbeek]

LOL. We as a family visit Macdonalds occasionally and it is on a MacDonalds Egg McMuffin that I had a serious bout of indigestion a few months back.

No problem going to McD's... Just tell them to keep the bun if you order a Big Tasty with Bacon. Or two. (It's the difference between 30+ carbs and just 5 of 'em. )

 

[Listlad]

No problem going to McD's... Just tell them to keep the bun if you order a Big Tasty with Bacon. Or two. (It's the difference between 30+ carbs and just 5 of 'em. )

Indeed. And the salt.

I am not sure what gave me the indigestion but I understand there is a lot of fat in the Egg McMuffin.

I will have to cut out visits to McDonalds, I know.

 

[JoKalsbeek]

Indeed. And the salt.

I am not sure what gave me the indigestion but I understand there is a lot of fat in the Egg McMuffin.

I will have to cut out visits to McDonalds, I know.

Fats are actually good when you're low carbing, you know...

 

[Listlad]

Fats are actually good when you're low carbing, you know...

I know. But for high fat one needs a digestive system that can deal with those fats. It looks like I will have to avoid going full blast on the high fat.

 

[JoKalsbeek]

I know. But for high fat one needs a digestive system that can deal with those fats. It looks like I will have to avoid going full blast on the high fat.

Ah, alright. I wonder, are there fats you tolerate better than others? Olive or coconut oil, maybe? Nuts? Fatty fish? If bacon and eggs are out... Just thinking out loud.

 

[Listlad]

Ah, alright. I wonder, are there fats you tolerate better than others? Olive or coconut oil, maybe? Nuts? Fatty fish? If bacon and eggs are out... Just thinking out loud.

I am not certain. After gall bladder removal I was advised by the medical profession to go steady on fattier foods. I must say that I have had few problems and I know some do have problems post op. But taking a lower fat approach has worked for me so far and if I eat certain foods in larger quantities then I have digestion problems. The notable examples for me have been and have been limited to:

Chorizo
Mackerel
Too much meat such as beef
And MacDonalds burgers

I have avoided full blown belly pork so am not certain there.


Other than that it’s been okay.

I do have to consider other factors when approaching what I eat. I am okay on eggs and lean bacon. Reasonably okay on nuts if in smaller quantities.

I think the LCHF approach is fantastic. But there is not a one size fits all application of that diet formula. Or so it seems having read many posts now. One of the mods advised me to err on the side of caution under my personal circumstances and I think that is best for me.

 

[JoKalsbeek]

I am not certain. After gall bladder removal I was advised by the medical profession to go steady on fattier foods. I must say that I have had few problems and I know some do have problems post op. But taking a lower fat approach has worked for me so far and if I eat certain foods in larger quantities then I have digestion problems. The notable examples for me have been and have been limited to:

Chorizo
Mackerel
Too much meat such as beef
And MacDonalds burgers

I have avoided full blown belly pork so am not certain there.


Other than that it’s been okay.

I do have to consider other factors when approaching what I eat. I am okay on eggs and lean bacon. Reasonably okay on nuts if in smaller quantities.

I think the LCHF approach is fantastic. But there is not a one size fits all application of that diet formula. Or so it seems having read many posts now. One of the mods advised me to err on the side of caution under my personal circumstances and I think that is best for me.

Very true. We're all different, so it's trial and error, if it's safe to do that. It's not just how resistant we are, how much insulin we make, how much our livers dump... I have migraine-, ibs- and rheumatism-triggers to think about, besides foods that clash with other medication I need. (Though the rheumatism has gotten loads better on keto.) So yeah, I hear where you're coming from. Good luck in solving your particular puzzle, and I hope you'll lick it faster than I did mine.