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Feeling terrible

G

guybrush

Member
Hi, on the 25th November my hba1c was 85 Straight to diabetic nurse and retested on 4th dec Put on metformin and glicozade. The result came back as 75 so def type 2. Dropped a lot quickly though.

I'd been unwell and had a lack of appitite. I have tests for lots of things pending but they think it was the diabetes. I also had vision issues I suddenly went keto when I started feeling ill so don't if that played a part with vision. Got diagnosed with 6th nerve Palsey got an mri to follow up cause but diabetic nurse thinks that it's diabetes that caused it. Praying it calms down.

Reason for post is that I'm just feeling terrible. Weak, tired. Not interested on doing anything. I'm very anxious about other tests going on but hoping it's my blood sugar returning to "normal" that making me feel rough? Is that normal? Nurse said I may feel a but poorly as the body is used to having high levels and doesn't like it when the drop and takes time to adjust. Is that right? Been checking my bloods 2 hours after every meal. Average is 8 so far. Been eating really well.
 
HI @guybrush and welcome to the forum - not exactly my area of expertise, but rapid rises and falls in Blood Glucose can absolutely make you feel exhausted and weak - and issues with vision are definitely common, particularly when it is high - sound like you are doing everything right in terms of testing - once before and then again 2hrs after food will give you a good idea of what is going on - there are many people on here with years of experience who will be able to offer advice on how to manage your condition (hope the other checks come back ok too) - feel free to ask any questions you may have, we're all here to help each other
 
Sorry to hear you are feeling so grim @guybrush

A dramatic change like going keto may have caused temporary changes to your eyes. They will have very gradually changed shape as your BGs were rising over an extended period, and then when your BGs fall there's a change in 'osmotic pressure' and the eyeballs change shape, but the brain needs a while to adapt to the new focal length.

A diagnosis with diabetes can have a significant emotional and mental-health impact too, including a form of grieving including depression, which can really drain enthusiasm, and make it feel like you are wading through porridge, and that everything is an uphill struggle.

Be kind to yourself, and allow yourself time to adjust and adapt. Diabetes is a serious condition, but it’s also one that can usually be managed well with a few changes and adaptations - it’s something that you can learn to live well with, and it shouldn’t stop you doing things you enjoy.
 
Sounds like you’ve changed way too much way too quickly. It isn’t recommended to make sudden drastic changes, like going full keto from an a1c of 85, because it can damage your eyesight and make you feel unwell, as you’ve experienced. It’s better to make changes slowly and gradually. Going keto can make non diabetics feel ill too. I’d up your carbs a bit and take things more slowly.
 
When your blood glucose starts to drop fairly rapidly which it might with the combination of the medication and changed diet. With gliclazide it is suggested that people don't go with a too low carb dietary regime certainly not keto as you risk low blood glucose and your body need to get used to lower levels having been used to being high, common effects are eyesight and nerve issues but as low as keto can make people feel unwell often referred to as keto flu.
That could be what you are feeling.
Hopefully your test results will be quick and should sort things out. Your after meal results look pretty good.
Gliclazide encourages the pancreas to produce more insulin so requires people to eat some carbs to work properly.
 
The vision changes calmed on before starting glicozade. It was the hospital visit from the vision change that caused the test. Although I was feeling unwell and had a feeling I was diabetic, deep down I think I've had it a while and had decided to do keto which looking back was silly.

Since starting the meds I've definitely increased the carbs. Although they are still quite low. How many grams a day do you think is sensible? I'm just aware not to go too many as the glicozade doesn't like it and will have me straight on the loo!
 
guybrush said:
The vision changes calmed on before starting glicozade. It was the hospital visit from the vision change that caused the test. Although I was feeling unwell and had a feeling I was diabetic, deep down I think I've had it a while and had decided to do keto which looking back was silly.

Since starting the meds I've definitely increased the carbs. Although they are still quite low. How many grams a day do you think is sensible? I'm just aware not to go too many as the glicozade doesn't like it and will have me straight on the loo!
Click to expand...
With those medications then around the suggested no more than 130g per day is a good starting point. You may be able to go lower but you would be wise to do a fair bit of testing if you go much lower.
Eyes can change in response to high blood glucose but as it often happens slowly the brain adjusts but reducing it quickly the eyes change again quickly and then it can be noticable.
 
I've probably had around 50g today. I'm really struggling to get calories in now I'm watching what I'm eating! Today I've had

Greek yogurt with blueberries and raspberries

3 egg cheese omelette with a pack of crisps and an apple

Spaghetti Bolognese with 50g pasta and salad.

Probably around 1500 cals max. Not a lot when I. 6ft and 220lbs. Obviously too heavy so many it is a good thing!
 
guybrush said:
I've probably had around 50g today. I'm really struggling to get calories in now I'm watching what I'm eating! Today I've had

Greek yogurt with blueberries and raspberries

3 egg cheese omelette with a pack of crisps and an apple

Spaghetti Bolognese with 50g pasta and salad.

Probably around 1500 cals max. Not a lot when I. 6ft and 220lbs. Obviously too heavy so many it is a good thing!
Click to expand...
Don't worry too much about the calories, it is the carbs that are the important thing. Making sure you have enough protein and healthy fats.
This link has menu plans based on the suggested 130g carbs per day perhaps it will give you some ideas of meals you can have.
lowcarbfreshwell.com

Freshwell Low Carb Project - Home

lowcarbfreshwell.com lowcarbfreshwell.com
 
I felt the same before I was diagnosed - tired, given up on everything, blurred eyesight.
I cut carbs to < 50g a day and eyesight returned to normal in two weeks - high blood sugar causes the lens to change shape (And it also affects the cornea as well). I also felt full of energy and pretty much picked up on everything I'd stopped doing as I felt so bad.

(Original hba1c was 83, so similar to yours, and the main symptoms were a leg pain and blurred eyesight - the leg pain also went away as soon as I cut the carbs.)

I also lost a lot of weight in the first months, which may have helped a lot.
 
guybrush said:
I've probably had around 50g today. I'm really struggling to get calories in now I'm watching what I'm eating! Today I've had

Greek yogurt with blueberries and raspberries

3 egg cheese omelette with a pack of crisps and an apple

Spaghetti Bolognese with 50g pasta and salad.

Probably around 1500 cals max. Not a lot when I. 6ft and 220lbs. Obviously too heavy so many it is a good thing!
Click to expand...

I add nuts/peanut butter to yoghurt and berries, and sometimes a small portion of oats, as they do not cause my BG to go up. I tend to also add overnight soaked chia seeds.
 
harbottle said:
I felt the same before I was diagnosed - tired, given up on everything, blurred eyesight.
I cut carbs to < 50g a day and eyesight returned to normal in two weeks - high blood sugar causes the lens to change shape (And it also affects the cornea as well). I also felt full of energy and pretty much picked up on everything I'd stopped doing as I felt so bad.

(Original hba1c was 83, so similar to yours, and the main symptoms were a leg pain and blurred eyesight - the leg pain also went away as soon as I cut the carbs.)

I also lost a lot of weight in the first months, which may have helped a lot.
Click to expand...

Hi, my double vision seems to have come from cutting carbs to much too soon. It's been diagnosed as 6th nerve palsey. An issue with the nerve not controlling a muscle correctly
 
I was also put on metformin and gliclazide shortly after diagnosis. I cut out all sweet stuff and pastry initially then started low carb after reading up on the forum. It coincided with an increase in gliclazide and more vigorous exercise. Left me feeling unwell and lacking energy after a couple of days. Increased the carbs to 150g a day and felt much better. Now slowly reducing carbs again as blood sugars much reduced now and my body is coping much better.
Hope you feel better soon as your body adjusts to the changes.
 
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