Hello Im new and Im confused!

[ianf0ster]

Note to moderators: Perhaps the posts relating to the discussion of a Type 2 (on no diabetes medications) diet induced rapid drop in HbA1C (to normal levels) be placed in it's own thread.

 

[rebrascora]

Here is some information I found. Note that I have not read the underlying studies.
Note that it only mentions this as a potential problem for uncontrolled Type 1's and for uncontrolled Type 2's on Insulin.
It also appears to be only in the context of existing retinopathy suddenly and briefly progressing faster.

Domain parking page

www.diabeticretinopathy.org.uk

and

Domain parking page

www.diabeticretinopathy.org.uk

Considering that the NHS seems to mostly have no real understanding of the power of low carb/keto in radically reducing BG levels, it is not surprising that there is little info on any problems it may cause.... other than their concern about increased fat causing CV of course 🙄.

I do think you are right that @Kaylz was unlucky but we are talking risk here not actualities, so it is always going to be a question of who is unlucky and who is lucky and gets away with it and if you can mitigate the risk my dropping levels more slowly, without increasing a risk of something else, then it is worth being sensible and doing it slowly and steadily. Most people experience changes in their sight at or after diagnosis, so the eyes are clearly struggling to make adjustments. Why put those fine blood vessels under more significant strain.

 

[Inka]

I wonder how common this eye damage is because I know 2 people who dropped their BGs very fast from pretty high (HbA1C over 100) to normal range BG inside of 2 weeks and they were saying vision distortion was only temporary until body had adjusted to normal range BGs.

You’re not talking about the same thing @ianf0ster We all understand the temporary blurring/focus issues. The point mentioned above is that rapid improvement of blood glucose can cause retinopathy/eye damage. Retinopathy is a lot more than blurry vision and just waiting for your eyes to adjust.

Obviously not everyone will get this eye damage, but even if the risk is very low, it’s still important to point it out. Why risk it?

 

[ianf0ster]

I wonder how common this eye damage is because I know 2 people who dropped their BGs very fast from pretty high (HbA1C over 100) to normal range BG inside of 2 weeks and they were saying vision distortion was only temporary until body had adjusted to normal range BGs.

You’re not talking about the same thing @ianf0ster We all understand the temporary blurring/focus issues. The point mentioned above is that rapid improvement of blood glucose can cause retinopathy/eye damage. Retinopathy is a lot more than blurry vision and just waiting for your eyes to adjust.

Obviously not everyone will get this eye damage, but even if the risk is very low, it’s still important to point it out. Why risk it?

Yes, @Inka I am aware that the permanent change reported by @Kaylz is completely different to the temporary vision disturbances which are common with large Blood Glucose level changes. I did actually read both those 2 items from diabeticretinopathy.org.uk before I posted them.

I'm not questioning whether either of those problems exist. I just don't wish to see Type 2's on no medication, and we are only talking about Type 2's on no medication either get false re-assurance in the 'red' forum, or be frightened by advice in this forum.

I have started a thread in the 'red forum' about this potential permanent damage (as I said I would do).

Can you point me to a study of this unwanted 'side effect' in Type 2's with no pre-existing retinopathy?

 

[Inka]

Fair enough @ianf0ster but earlier you said you hadn’t read the studies. The studies show it’s a potential risk for both Type 1s and Type 2s. The risk is dropping your HbA1C/glucose levels too fast - just that.