The first few weeks of no carbs

[JuliaB.]

Hi All

It's been really great to read all your posts, I've been reading and learning so much from you all.

I think I've been suffering with this for almost all my life but I've been consciously trying to work it out and get to the bottom of what exactly is wrong with me for the past two decades. Despite having all the symptoms on the list, the doctors have always been mystified because my Ha1bc tests always look normal, because I worked out years ago that I needed to keep my refined sugar consumption low, that I was fructose intolerant and that white rice and white bread weren't good for me. So I got responses ranging from 'it's all in your head' to 'you have candida' to 'whatever you're doing it's working so just carry on as you are' despite the catalogue of symptoms I was reporting. I'd tell them what happened to me, in particular the emotional disturbances that I would get from eating sugar and no one has ever been able to shed any light.

As I didn't have a formal diagnosis I didn't understand that wholegrain carbs and pulses were making me ill as well and I felt pretty bad most of the time so I didn't exercise much. Now, after a summer of slightly increased carb intake, putting on weight and feeling worse and worse, I've finally stumbled upon this forum and am totally convinced that I finally know what is wrong with me. I've drastically reduced my carb intake in the last 10 days as a result but am currently finding that even ground nuts and seeds in a virtually flour-free pancake in the mornings is causing a dramatic insulin release and a small portion of red lentil dahl two nights running also created a massive reaction, though it was fine the first night. Are these massive insulin surges normal at the stage I'm at? I'm slightly freaking out that I won't be able to eat anything at all at this rate! Literally anything is causing a reaction at the moment, even a green smoothie, or tinned tuna..

 

[bulkbiker]

Try a steak or bacon and eggs.. simple no carb food and see how you go with those.

 

[Guzzler]

May I ask how you know you are having a 'dramatic insulin release'?

 

[lindisfel]

May I ask how you know you are having a 'dramatic insulin release'?

I assumed from this being in R.H. section there was high blood glucose followed by low blood glucose. The average being an ok hba1c.
But it could be merely be a mistimed normal insulin response.
However,as you indicate, it is just guess work until we have the post clarified.
D.

 

[Guzzler]

I assumed from this being in R.H. section there was high blood glucose followed by low blood glucose. The average being an ok hba1c.
But it could be merely be a mistimed normal insulin response.
However,as you indicate, it is just guess work until we have the post clarified.
D.

Thank you.

 

[lindisfel]

Hi Julia,
Sorry to hear you've been on a long road to find a solution. G.P.s are often not sure how to join the dots and some patients have been inaccurately and unfairly treated.
There are very experience intelligent amatuers here, who have had similar conditions and found solutions by low carb, even very low carb and keto, to solve their rollercoaster blood glucose issues.
Hold on there you will get help.
best wishes
Derek

 

[JuliaB.]

May I ask how you know you are having a 'dramatic insulin release'?

I guess I don't know for certain what exactly the dramatic symptoms are caused by. How does anyone else experience the feeling of too much insulin response? I get an instantly foggy, densely cloudy head, can't concentrate, muddled thinking, no memory, feel depressed and generally feel bad and it lasts for 3-4 hours sometimes longer. I can't explain why I should suddenly get these symptoms much more severely switching to low carb/no carb. I wondered if this was normal when you go onto this diet whilst the body gets used to me putting in less sugar..?

 

[JuliaB.]

Hi Julia,
Sorry to hear you've been on a long road to find a solution. G.P.s are often not sure how to join the dots and some patients have been inaccurately and unfairly treated.
There are very experience intelligent amatuers here, who have had similar conditions and found solutions by low carb, even very low carb and keto, to solve their rollercoaster blood glucose issues.
Hold on there you will get help.
best wishes
Derek

Thanks for the virtual hug Derek... it's been a long old, lonely ride so far with this stuff!

 

[Guzzler]

I guess I don't know for certain what exactly the dramatic symptoms are caused by. How does anyone else experience the feeling of too much insulin response? I get an instantly foggy, densely cloudy head, can't concentrate, muddled thinking, no memory, feel depressed and generally feel bad and it lasts for 3-4 hours sometimes longer. I can't explain why I should suddenly get these symptoms much more severely switching to low carb/no carb. I wondered if this was normal when you go onto this diet whilst the body gets used to me putting in less sugar..?

Have you taken blood glucose readings whilst feeling like this? (As well as when you are feeling OK)

 

[lindisfel]

As Guzzler says, Julia, you need to use a blood glucose meter (they are very cheap nowadays if you need one) and check bloods before meals and periodically after first bite...1 hour. 2hours 3hours etc.
If the meal has a reasonable amount of carb in it, say potatoes or bread, you will get to see if your insulin controls and keeps stable you blood glucose.
It is the changes in blood glucose that gives us unpleasant effects when we feel unwell.
regards
Derek

 

[Lamont D]

Hi All

It's been really great to read all your posts, I've been reading and learning so much from you all.

I think I've been suffering with this for almost all my life but I've been consciously trying to work it out and get to the bottom of what exactly is wrong with me for the past two decades. Despite having all the symptoms on the list, the doctors have always been mystified because my Ha1bc tests always look normal, because I worked out years ago that I needed to keep my refined sugar consumption low, that I was fructose intolerant and that white rice and white bread weren't good for me. So I got responses ranging from 'it's all in your head' to 'you have candida' to 'whatever you're doing it's working so just carry on as you are' despite the catalogue of symptoms I was reporting. I'd tell them what happened to me, in particular the emotional disturbances that I would get from eating sugar and no one has ever been able to shed any light.

As I didn't have a formal diagnosis I didn't understand that wholegrain carbs and pulses were making me ill as well and I felt pretty bad most of the time so I didn't exercise much. Now, after a summer of slightly increased carb intake, putting on weight and feeling worse and worse, I've finally stumbled upon this forum and am totally convinced that I finally know what is wrong with me. I've drastically reduced my carb intake in the last 10 days as a result but am currently finding that even ground nuts and seeds in a virtually flour-free pancake in the mornings is causing a dramatic insulin release and a small portion of red lentil dahl two nights running also created a massive reaction, though it was fine the first night. Are these massive insulin surges normal at the stage I'm at? I'm slightly freaking out that I won't be able to eat anything at all at this rate! Literally anything is causing a reaction at the moment, even a green smoothie, or tinned tuna..

Hi Julie, and welcome to our forum.
I do sympathise with how you are feeling and how frustrating the whole RH thing is and what you can do about it.
A few weeks is nowhere near enough to get complete control over your blood glucose levels, you have to be patient and unless you can see what is happening to your blood glucose levels, you will always be unaware of which foods you can tolerate.
How you approach going low carb must be accompanied with a glucometer and a food diary. Testing, recording and how much of each carb you can get away with, if at all, and of course what to avoid.
The reason for very low carb is because of your insulin responses to what you eat. If you avoid these foods, your insulin response should not trigger a spike, no spike, no hypo. I have a very good awareness of going out of normal blood levels range, but this has developed over years.
If it has been a couple of weeks, you will probably still have residual high insulin levels, your blood glucose hba1c levels could be higher if it's not been a fasting test, your blood glucose levels will probably be fluctuating, you probably won't have control as you wish.
I did think that I would be very restrictive in my diet, but it's not, there is so many ways to find out and what you can actually have.
For example, bacon and eggs, for a really healthy breakfast.
It's only because of the food that you have always had, that is making you ill, you, like me, cannot tolerate carbs, you are probably by your experience and explanation, carb intolerant. It is similar to an allergy, why eat something that makes you ill?
But, you have to find out which foods!
We are weird, and so called healthy foods, are making you ill, if you can get your head around that, and realise, that eating food that actually can make you healthy, you would do it.
RH is a fairly rare condition and most doctors, nurses, even some specialists, don't understand the science, never mind the why!

Hope you can find your way through to feeling better and getting your balance. A balanced diet of good protein, good vegetables and good fats.

Also make sure you have enough salt and hydrate regularly as this should help.

Best wishes.