• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Went too low

cardmaker

Member
Messages
7
Just for information, to get my reactive hypoglycemia back under control, started back on a low carb diet, trying to keep to 50g or under a day. What a mistake, I became dizzy, lightheaded, extreme fatigue, spaced out, miserable and generally unwell. This went on for some days so then I upped the carbs to between 79-90g per day and what a difference. I am feeling so much better, still have that awful afternoon slump but its manageable. Its amazing how just a few carbs can make all the difference. I am learning as I go what works and what doesn't. One slice of granary bread is fine but if I have one slice of wholemeal then I pay for it, I wonder why. Also one slice of low GI Ryvita (not all Ryvitas are low GI) is fine but if I have two slices, again start having symptoms. A small tablespoon of basmati rice is also OK but any other rice causes problems. The only real problem I have had is giving up potatoes, too scared to try them again, but a friend suggested just having a half jacket with lots of protein and salad, hence that would be the only carb on my plate. Will wait a few days and perhaps give it a try. Just want to avoid feeling so poorly again.

Cardmaker
X
 
cardmaker said:
A small tablespoon of basmati rice is also OK but any other rice causes problems.
I was told by a dietitian that we (humans) find it very hard to break down basmati rice it has an extremely complicated molecular structure (complex carbohydrate) unlike any other, and we just can't break it down to the single glucose molecule as we do with other carbs, which is why many find that a small amount of basmati rice is not a problem bg wise.

cardmaker said:
a friend suggested just having a half jacket with lots of protein and salad,
You could also try covering your jacket pots with cheese, the cheese being a fat will then slow down the digestion of the potato thus releasing the carbs over a longer period which many find does not cause a large spike.

Its all about learning to "cheat" with your food :wink: eat some fat with carbs, put vinegar on chips or have a glass of red wine with your evening meal, it all helps to keep the bg levels down :D
 
Thanks for the explanation, I always think it makes such a difference when we understand how things work. Also about the red wine, is a glass of white wine just as good? I used to really enjoy a glass or two of wine a couple of times a week but have cut that out completely, thought alcohol was a definite no-no. Would this cause any problems on the odd occasion? Like the suggestion of cheese on the jacket so will give it a try. I suppose it is all about finding out what works - just need to get the afternoon sleepiness sorted out and I will be happy lol.

Thanks again.
 
Hiya cardmaker! I don't know anything about your condition, but take care with wine because certainly for me (diabetic but not Type 1 or 2), wine lowers my BG several hours after I have drunk it and I have to adjust my basal insulin accordingly to account for it. Both red and dry white do this to me, although some other people on the forum find white increased their's. It only takes one (largish!) glass to take my BG down by 1 to 2 full points. e.g.. from 7.5 to 5.8. I must stress, it is a delayed reaction, so if I drink at 8.00pm it could be around midnight or later before this happens. I have no idea why this happens, but as your condition sounds like you might suffer from hypos? I thought I'd better warn you!

Smidge
 
Back
Top