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Why does low-carb make me feel so ill?

A

Al44

Active Member
Now aged 71, diagnosed type 2 ten years ago, diet controlled for first 3 years, then Metformin 500, 3 daily, now Metformin 1000 slow release, one nightly, also Lisinopril for high blood pressure.

This site makes it clear that good diabetic control means keeping blood glucose readings below 8.5 two hours after eating.
My GP and diabetes nurse both tell me I have good control, currently HbA1c typically 42.
I self test, rather to their disgust, and worry because my readings 2 hours after a meal are quite often between 9 & 11.
I tell my GP & nurse this, they tell me not to worry, "because your HbA1c is 'fine'".
But I continue to worry.

A couple of years ago I persevered with a low-carb diet; I lost weight: my blood glucose improved to a non-diabetic range, my blood pressure improved to 'normal' such that I was able to stop both medications (Metformin & Lisinopril).
BUT I felt ghastly; friends commented I looked unwell.
After 3 months feeling "ill" I gave up the low-carb, felt much better, but blood glucose & blood pressure worsened, so back on medications.

So, should I believe my GP & diabetes nurse: HbA1c is 'fine', ignore the spikes?
And should I listen to my body and eat more carbs resulting in spikes?
My brain tells me low-carb is the way to go;
My body tells me it's not.
 
Al44 said:
Now aged 71, diagnosed type 2 ten years ago, diet controlled for first 3 years, then Metformin 500, 3 daily, now Metformin 1000 slow release, one nightly, also Lisinopril for high blood pressure.

This site makes it clear that good diabetic control means keeping blood glucose readings below 8.5 two hours after eating.
My GP and diabetes nurse both tell me I have good control, currently HbA1c typically 42.
I self test, rather to their disgust, and worry because my readings 2 hours after a meal are quite often between 9 & 11.
I tell my GP & nurse this, they tell me not to worry, "because your HbA1c is 'fine'".
But I continue to worry.

A couple of years ago I persevered with a low-carb diet; I lost weight: my blood glucose improved to a non-diabetic range, my blood pressure improved to 'normal' such that I was able to stop both medications (Metformin & Lisinopril).
BUT I felt ghastly; friends commented I looked unwell.
After 3 months feeling "ill" I gave up the low-carb, felt much better, but blood glucose & blood pressure worsened, so back on medications.

So, should I believe my GP & diabetes nurse: HbA1c is 'fine', ignore the spikes?
And should I listen to my body and eat more carbs resulting in spikes?
My brain tells me low-carb is the way to go;
My body tells me it's not.
Click to expand...
I think the HbA1c test is useful for a lot of things, and it needs to be interpreted correctly by HCPs. I'm not sure that many GPs and nurses understand the nuances of this. Personally I would not be happy about regularly going over a BG of 7.8 because I have read about studies saying that is associated with complications if it goes on for long enough.

When you had a low-carb diet, was it also low-fat?

There could have been other medical reasons for feeling and looking unwell, such as vitamin or mineral deficiencies.
 
Al44 said:
Now aged 71, diagnosed type 2 ten years ago, diet controlled for first 3 years, then Metformin 500, 3 daily, now Metformin 1000 slow release, one nightly, also Lisinopril for high blood pressure.

This site makes it clear that good diabetic control means keeping blood glucose readings below 8.5 two hours after eating.
My GP and diabetes nurse both tell me I have good control, currently HbA1c typically 42.
I self test, rather to their disgust, and worry because my readings 2 hours after a meal are quite often between 9 & 11.
I tell my GP & nurse this, they tell me not to worry, "because your HbA1c is 'fine'".
But I continue to worry.

A couple of years ago I persevered with a low-carb diet; I lost weight: my blood glucose improved to a non-diabetic range, my blood pressure improved to 'normal' such that I was able to stop both medications (Metformin & Lisinopril).
BUT I felt ghastly; friends commented I looked unwell.
After 3 months feeling "ill" I gave up the low-carb, felt much better, but blood glucose & blood pressure worsened, so back on medications.

So, should I believe my GP & diabetes nurse: HbA1c is 'fine', ignore the spikes?
And should I listen to my body and eat more carbs resulting in spikes?
My brain tells me low-carb is the way to go;
My body tells me it's not.
Click to expand...

Couldn't you go somewhere in between, not in ketosis but just above, reducing your carbs till you feel good and also in control.
It could also be that your bloods didn't normalize and you nee died to go lower to feel better.
Ideally it's where you want to be!
 
CatLadyNZ said:
I think the HbA1c test is useful for a lot of things, and it needs to be interpreted correctly by HCPs. I'm not sure that many GPs and nurses understand the nuances of this. Personally I would not be happy about regularly going over a BG of 7.8 because I have read about studies saying that is associated with complications if it goes on for long enough.

When you had a low-carb diet, was it also low-fat?

There could have been other medical reasons for feeling and looking unwell, such as vitamin or mineral deficiencies.
Click to expand...
Not low fat; went out of my way to eat 'healthily', IE eggs, meat, veggies & fruit, almost all organic.
 
Hi,

Firstly, i think it is worth saying that low carb doesnt suit e eryone. Nothing does.

But having said that, there are a few really easy things that people do on low carb that effectively sabotages it. This is because lc is not a diet, or a fad, or a slightly different way of eating. It is a fundamental change in fuelling your body, with a different set of founding principles.

The shortcuts to failure include:
- not drinking enough (fluid intake needs to increase significantly)
- eating too much protein to compensate for the carbs (I've done this, and felt sluggish and miserable)
- not enough veg fibre (to compensate for carb/wholegrain fibre. Constipation is a terrible thing)
- not enough fat/fat phobia (take away carbs, and keep protein moderate, and you need to find the fuel from somewhere)
- not enough salt, potassium and/or magnesium (the body flushes these on lc, because without carbs the kidneys work differently. The result can be floppy, listlessness, lack of get-up-and-go, cramps and feeling drained. The answer is to add approx 2 g salt to food, or drink broth, or bovril, or similar. I also supplement potassium and magnesium, and definitely feel better for it)
- not enough variety (anyone who thinks they can eat bacon and eggs, salad and stirfry every day is going to fail. Sad but true)
- hunger (this is a diet-killer, and unnecessary on lc, and usually stems from fat phobia, because adding butter or cheese or cream, or olive or coconut oil fills and satisfies like nothing else)

Hope that helps. :)
 
Al44 said:
Not low fat; went out of my way to eat 'healthily', IE eggs, meat, veggies & fruit, almost all organic.
Click to expand...
That's good, but you may have needed to increase your fats a little to replace the energy lost from carbs and to help you feel full. Can you give us an outline of the foods you ate in a typical day while low-carbing?
 
Brunneria said:
Hi,

Firstly, i think it is worth saying that low carb doesnt suit e eryone. Nothing does.

But having said that, there are a few really easy things that people do on low carb that effectively sabotages it. This is because lc is not a diet, or a fad, or a slightly different way of eating. It is a fundamental change in fuelling your body, with a different set of founding principles.

The shortcuts to failure include:
- not drinking enough (fluid intake needs to increase significantly)
- eating too much protein to compensate for the carbs (I've done this, and felt sluggish and miserable)
- not enough veg fibre (to compensate for carb/wholegrain fibre. Constipation is a terrible thing)
- not enough fat/fat phobia (take away carbs, and keep protein moderate, and you need to find the fuel from somewhere)
- not enough salt, potassium and/or magnesium (the body flushes these on lc, because without carbs the kidneys work differently. The result can be floppy, listlessness, lack of get-up-and-go, cramps and feeling drained. The answer is to add approx 2 g salt to food, or drink broth, or bovril, or similar. I also supplement potassium and magnesium, and definitely feel better for it)
- not enough variety (anyone who thinks they can eat bacon and eggs, salad and stirfry every day is going to fail. Sad but true)
- hunger (this is a diet-killer, and unnecessary on lc, and usually stems from fat phobia, because adding butter or cheese or cream, or olive or coconut oil fills and satisfies like nothing else)

Hope that helps. :)
Click to expand...
Thanks for listing these things, as I really need to focus on some of them. :)
 
CatLadyNZ said:
That's good, but you may have needed to increase your fats a little to replace the energy lost from carbs and to help you feel full. Can you give us an outline of the foods you ate in a typical day while low-carbing?
Click to expand...
Typical day started with breakfast of 2 eggs fried in coconut oil + coffee with full-fat milk, lunch of 1 or 2 slices of ham + avocado, dinner of small steak or lamb chops with mushrooms & veggies, typically spinach or kale or salad with tomato. Water drunk throughout day though probably less than 8 glasses, one glass red wine with dinner, sometimes one or two small bottles beer.
 
CatLadyNZ said:
Thanks for listing these things, as I really need to focus on some of them. :)
Click to expand...

Just wondering... You mentioned in another thread that you had been feeling dizzy and ill for a few weeks. Does that coincide with your return to LC? And could it be salt/electrolyte imbalance?
 
Brunneria said:
Just wondering... You mentioned in another thread that you had been feeling dizzy and ill for a few weeks. Does that coincide with your return to LC? And could it be salt/electrolyte imbalance?
Click to expand...
Could well be, I will give it some thought, thanks. I'm seeing my GP tomorrow about it so I will ask if another blood test will help.
 
Brunneria said:
Hi,

Firstly, i think it is worth saying that low carb doesnt suit e eryone. Nothing does.

But having said that, there are a few really easy things that people do on low carb that effectively sabotages it. This is because lc is not a diet, or a fad, or a slightly different way of eating. It is a fundamental change in fuelling your body, with a different set of founding principles.

The shortcuts to failure include:
- not drinking enough (fluid intake needs to increase significantly)
- eating too much protein to compensate for the carbs (I've done this, and felt sluggish and miserable)
- not enough veg fibre (to compensate for carb/wholegrain fibre. Constipation is a terrible thing)
- not enough fat/fat phobia (take away carbs, and keep protein moderate, and you need to find the fuel from somewhere)
- not enough salt, potassium and/or magnesium (the body flushes these on lc, because without carbs the kidneys work differently. The result can be floppy, listlessness, lack of get-up-and-go, cramps and feeling drained. The answer is to add approx 2 g salt to food, or drink broth, or bovril, or similar. I also supplement potassium and magnesium, and definitely feel better for it)
- not enough variety (anyone who thinks they can eat bacon and eggs, salad and stirfry every day is going to fail. Sad but true)
- hunger (this is a diet-killer, and unnecessary on lc, and usually stems from fat phobia, because adding butter or cheese or cream, or olive or coconut oil fills and satisfies like nothing else)

Hope that helps. :)
Click to expand...
Your 'shortcuts to failure' are very interesting, I suspect I don't drink enough water, but I wasn't too bad otherwise:
I'm careful about protein as too much raises my blood glucose
Regrettably I don't 'relish' veggies as I used to before diabetes and occasionally was constipated, as you say, terrible!
I go full fat everything, full fat milk, butter, olive oil on salads & veggies generally
Himalayan salt, magnesium supplement, krill supplement, ubiquinol
You are so right about variety
But though I consumed a lot of butter, cheese, cream & olive oil (less keen on coconut oil, don't really like the taste of coconut but use it for frying) I missed bread dreadfully, missed it much more than pasta, potato or rice.
 
Al44 said:
Your 'shortcuts to failure' are very interesting, I suspect I don't drink enough water, but I wasn't too bad otherwise:
I'm careful about protein as too much raises my blood glucose
Regrettably I don't 'relish' veggies as I used to before diabetes and occasionally was constipated, as you say, terrible!
I go full fat everything, full fat milk, butter, olive oil on salads & veggies generally
Himalayan salt, magnesium supplement, krill supplement, ubiquinol
You are so right about variety
But though I consumed a lot of butter, cheese, cream & olive oil (less keen on coconut oil, don't really like the taste of coconut but use it for frying) I missed bread dreadfully, missed it much more than pasta, potato or rice.
Click to expand...

Are you anywhere near a Lidl? Sorry, don't even know which country you are in.

Most Lidl's bake high protein rolls - 27 g protein and about 8 g carbs. they are seedy and chewy, but they are definitely bread!
If you go looking, they are a brown, triangular roll, covered in sesame seeds.
They have completely filled the bread-gap for my husband, which makes him very happy. :)
 
Brunneria said:
Are you anywhere near a Lidl? Sorry, don't even know which country you are in.

Most Lidl's bake high protein rolls - 27 g protein and about 8 g carbs. they are seedy and chewy, but they are definitely bread!
If you go looking, they are a brown, triangular roll, covered in sesame seeds.
They have completely filled the bread-gap for my husband, which makes him very happy. :)
Click to expand...
Many thanks, will check them out. I'm in England.
 
If you can't get the rolls then try Burgen Linseed and Soya bread most supermarkets and Iceland do it. A lot of us here have that and find we can tolerate a slice or two it is nice toasted
 
Brunneria said:
Are you anywhere near a Lidl? Sorry, don't even know which country you are in.

Most Lidl's bake high protein rolls - 27 g protein and about 8 g carbs. they are seedy and chewy, but they are definitely bread!
If you go looking, they are a brown, triangular roll, covered in sesame seeds.
They have completely filled the bread-gap for my husband, which makes him very happy. :)
Click to expand...
Thank you Brunneria for introducing me to Lidl's high protein rolls, eating one with butter raises my BG less than 1 and eating two raises BG 1.5 (both readings after 2 hours); they are much more satisfying than bread or other bread rolls and raise my BG much less.
 
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