I think I made myself ill on LCHF

[Catherine-louise]

Hello Everyone,
I recently read Dr Bernsteins diabetes solution. My blood sugars have always spiked post prandially and after about 15 years as a type 1 I was beginning to have some signs of complications showing; background diabetic retinopathy and the near syncope on standing. Not only this but I was experiencing crippling post meal time fatigue. So I tried to take matters into my own hands by going on a low carb high fat diet. My (non diabetic) sister has done it for years and so I thought it wouldn't be that hard.

I begin by just having breakfast no carbs, I would have cloud bread (made with whipped egg whites), bacon, egg and some spinach. I'd inject 1.5 units and my blood sugars would stay stable at 7-8mmol. I was so pleased. Then I began cutting carbs out at lunch and dinner also. My bloods would reach around 12mmol and I concluded I needed some sort of bolus ratio to cover protein.

I had been low carbing for about 3-4 days, then last night I was just so ravenous, I cracked and ate (**cough** binged on) oat biscuits. I'm usually very restricted and controlled with what I eat but the urge really got the better of me. So I tried again this morning to low carb. At lunchtime today I suddenly hit a 'lull'. My energy levels hit an all time low and I felt like I was dragging my body around. I felt so unwell. I was in the supermarket and suddenly felt the urge to gorge on sugar. My blood sugars were around 6mmol so I wasn't hypo. I bought two packs of chocolate and I'm ashamed to say I wolfed the lot down. Afterwards I still felt so fatigued. I was due to meet a friend at the allotment but had to cancel at the last minute because I felt so exhausted and sick. Needless to say, I am no longer low carb.

I don't know if many of you have experience on a low carb diet but is this a normal reaction. I feel so downhearted since I was so hoping that Bernsteins way of eating might hold the key to me feeling better.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated,
Cate

 

[Derek Stubbs]

I am type 2 , so I am not sure what I say below will be good for type 1 but here goes.
I think your body takes time to adjust to changes in diet. Remember , your body has for years , been using carbs for energy.
This is the first thing it looks for.
I am no expert, but maybe you could try keeping some carbs & slowly introduce fats & proteins & slowly reduce carbs, this should have a more gentle
affect on the body.
I think I have been going through what you have been a little, when I feel a little weak (not a hypo), I quickly get some more fat or protein down me with a small warm drink & I then try to add more , BEFORE starting to feel weak the next time.
At the moment , I am eating snacks with high fat & protein , I know when I've had enough , as I soon get full.
The trick is getting the food inside you before you feel bad, & possibly eating more smaller meals, snacks, regularly so your body can stay at a regular level.
I know if I have some carbs, It will give me a short term boost, but then I will drop down shortly after I have used up the energy, & start to get hypo.
I had one on Saturday a couple of hours after a large bowl of porridge & being in the sun for an hour or so. I had to get some coke down me.
Took about an hour to start working, but after that, I went back to the high fat & protein.
I have swapped my porridge for eggs & mushrooms or bacon now, & so far my levels don't rise too much & the body feels more stable.
I think what you eat at the start of the day, sets the tone for the rest of the day, so eating lots of carbs at breakfast is not good for me. I have been told the body gets better later in the day at using carbs, & the effect is not as bad.

 

[Martin Canty]

One of the things that many people report on LCHF is "Keto Flu" kinda flu like symptoms for the first couple of weeks, this tends to go away as one becomes Keto adapted. Fortunately I didn't suffer but my wife did a little in her first week.

Being insulin dependent is another issue & you will need to monitor your BG & insulin shots carefully to make sure you don;t go hypo.

 

[Pumper_Sue]

@Catherine-louise have you tried blousing 15-30 mins before you eat this helps no end with post meal spikes? Perhaps also check your basal by doing a few basal tests to see if this throws up a problem.

Have you also had a check up by your GP to see if you have any underlying problems?

 

[trophywench]

... eg Thyroid issues - commonest symptom of hypothyroidism being - fatigue!

It's inadvisable to instantly cut our most carbs - cos you get 'withdrawal' symptoms - and you've just proved that, haven't you? Ouch.

I've always had the theory that as long as I eat enough carbs every day (and the min for me appears to be around 75/80g) - then I don't seem to need to allow any insulin for the protein or fat I eat. However time has proved that not everyone is like me, and other folk do apparently need some more for them - I don't know how you tell which sort you are before hand.

I do actually remember reading somewhere or another (technical I mean, published somewhere or another, not just someone on a forum with a pet theory LOL) that protein requires 50% of whatever the person needs for the same weight of carbs, and 10% for the fat - but have never needed to do it, so far.