No Energy

[AngelSprings]

Hi

I was diagnosed prediabetic approximately 18 months ago, which surprised me because right from my early twenties I've eaten healthily. But body parts do wear out! So I looked to my diet again and drastically reduced carbs by following the keto diet, and managed to reduce my blood glucose levels from 45 to 42. But I have no energy whatsoever.

So a couple of days ago I decided to experiment and included a couple of slices of Hovis Nimble bread and small amounts of potato in my diet, and my blood glucose levels shot up from being between 5 and 6.5 to 11.6! However, my energy and zest for life returned and it felt wonderful to feel 'normal' again. I feel that I'm caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. I know my blood glucose levels must be reduced, but I need energy to enjoy life.

I've never been in ketosis despite sticking religiously to low carb and never lost weight. I've even fasted going from having an evening meal through to lunch next day, with no improvement.

Any thoughts or advice?

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Sounds frustrating for you to have put so much effort in, but it got the results you were looking for.

Have you ever asked about having your cPeptide assessed to see how much insulin you are able to produce? I just wonder whether your prediabetes might be related to reducing number of beta cells because of an autoimmune attack (LADA) but your low carb way of eating has masked the effect?

 

[AngelSprings]

Hi
Thank you for your reply. I've never heard of a cPeptide assessment. I must do some research into this. Would it be in order for me to ask for it to be done at my local surgery?

 

[Docb]

Hi AngelSprings. I too reduced carbohydrate intake and quickly got my blood glucose levels under control but this has come with a big reduction in stamina. My morning walk is far less brisk and is followed by an hour in the recliner rather than a potter around the garden. Half an hour doing anything physical and I am back in the recliner. I'm with ed&d and suspect that for some reason or other my pancreas is underperforming and the rate at which my system can process blood glucose is impaired and it cannot use up the glucose in my blood (its there because levels are not low) at a rate sufficient to provide the energy needed to keep going.

I asked some time ago for a c-peptide test to find out how well my pancreas was performing but was told I did not qualify. Having looked into it, I have come to the conclusion that the refusal was in effect just cost cutting. Getting a result is a fairly long winded process, not available in all blood testing laboratories, and it is not offered as a routine. You may have to work hard to get it done. I think I will be trying again before long.

 

[Drummer]

Are you eating low fat options? That can mean not getting into ketosis and having no energy.

 

[Docb]

No Drummer, don't and never really have looked for low fat options on anything.

 

[AngelSprings]

Hi Docb

Thank you for your interesting comments. Not having enough energy to do the things one wants to do is frustrating. Like you I enjoy walking, and usually after covering three miles or thereabouts I don't have much energy to do much else. I shall continue following a low carb diet to keep me healthy and hopefully a miracle may happen and my energy levels are restored.

Hi Drummer

Thanks for your message. I do include a lot of fat in my diet: lamb chops, belly pork, pork chops, oily fish, cream, cheese, avocadoes. To be honest, I think to be able to eat fat makes the diet acceptable as we really have to give up so many other foods to keep our blood glucose levels within acceptable limits.

 

[rebrascora]

I too struggle with lack of energy/fatigue and understand the frustration of being unable to do what you enjoy, or even just what needs to be done. Thankfully mine comes and goes and yesterday I was great but today I just feel like my arms and legs are made of lead and I am wading through treacle. My BG levels are actually better at the moment so it is not that and I have had a whole raft of tests done including for other autoimmune disorders (I'm Type 1 and these things can occur together) but so far nothing came back positive. I started on HRT to see if that would help and the first few weeks I did seem a bit better but not recently. There is a niggle in the back of my mind that it may be ME but it doesn't fully fit with that although we are all different, so I haven't totally ruled it out. I too eat a LCHF diet and with having good days as well as fatigue days I don't think it is related to that or notice a correlation between what I eat and how I feel.
Sorry that is not much help other than letting you know you are not alone in this.

 

[AngelSprings]

I too struggle with lack of energy/fatigue and understand the frustration of being unable to do what you enjoy, or even just what needs to be done. Thankfully mine comes and goes and yesterday I was great but today I just feel like my arms and legs are made of lead and I am wading through treacle. My BG levels are actually better at the moment so it is not that and I have had a whole raft of tests done including for other autoimmune disorders (I'm Type 1 and these things can occur together) but so far nothing came back positive. I started on HRT to see if that would help and the first few weeks I did seem a bit better but not recently. There is a niggle in the back of my mind that it may be ME but it doesn't fully fit with that although we are all different, so I haven't totally ruled it out. I too eat a LCHF diet and with having good days as well as fatigue days I don't think it is related to that or notice a correlation between what I eat and how I feel.
Sorry that is not much help other than letting you know you are not alone in this.

Hi Barbara
Thank you for sharing your experiences with me. I can understand your search for answers as to why you're experiencing good and bad days. All we want is to feel well and to be able to cope with what life throws at us.

Kind thoughts.