• Please Remember: Members are only permitted to share their own experiences. Members are not qualified to give medical advice. Additionally, everyone manages their health differently. Please be respectful of other people's opinions about their own diabetes management.
  • We seem to be having technical difficulties with new user accounts. If you are trying to register please check your Spam or Junk folder for your confirmation email. If you still haven't received a confirmation email, please reach out to our support inbox: support.forum@diabetes.org.uk

Low carb, too low BG?

Status
This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
slipper

slipper

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Hi guys, haven't been on for a while but felt it was maybe of interest to others doing a low carb diet.

When I was diagnosed 2 years or so age, (type 2), my main problem was high spikes when eating carbs, especially in the mornings. So I adopted a low carb regime and my spikes leveled out to comfy 4.5 to 5.5s during the day.

About 4 or 5 months ago I started getting some hypos, (think they're called false hypos for type 2??) feeling very shaky and unwell, and feeling suddenly very very hungry. My readings were down to about 3.1 or so, and recovered with a few jelly babies or a couple of rich tea biscuits.

Dr told me I had overdone the low carb part as my readings were consistently below 5 despite trying to balance some weight gain with getting a few more carbs.

Even now, 1/2 stone heavier thanks to carbs, my readings can still drop too low, but generally stay around the 5. I am so reluctant to put the weight on, having tried so hard to get it off originally.

Seems to me the diabetes is a very individual thing, often catching us out with shifts that are not expected, but hopefully I can settle to a level now that is a reasonable compromise.
 
Slipper, if you are D&E then your lows will not be dangerous as your body can adjust befre it reaches that point. Yes, you will feel low just as non-diabetics would, but I think it is a bit of a nonsense to force unwanted carbs on you because the doctor knows of some general research somewhere - you do what suits you as an individual. Having the odd biscuit or jelly baby when you feel low to my mind is preferable to having to change your diet to suit your GPs ideal of what blood sugars should and shouldn't be. I know there are many people following a very low carb/high fat diet and it suits them fine - excellent BG control, no weight gain (often weight loss if needed), good BP, good cholesterol etc. I think this idea of placing carbs at the centre of everything for everybody is becoming more and more discredited as people realise fat is not the demon it was once thought to be. Human beings are so diverse and complex, it's absurd to think there should be one rule for all of us!
 
Thanks Alan, you talk sense as usual. I went along with the advice reluctantly because I did feel unwell, but I was not happy upping the carbs to get readings a bit higher, and also the weight gain.

Docs do their best, but are not specialists in this usually, and my diabetic nurse is new to it also.

I think I will try and treat the hypos as they happen then, and see how I get on. Give doc his due, he did say that the body would react and kick in at some point, but I was worried I may be screwing something up.

Back to the weight loss with some luck too LOL.
 
I'm T2,diagnosed Dec 2011. I've been up and down weight wise all that time, lost nearly 2 stone, then put it on again but my HbAc1s have been normal for the last 3 tests which is good. However, as I need to get this weight off I've looked at lowering my carb level, as suggested by my Diabetic Nurse, to 195g a day (equal to around 1500 cals a day).

I don't test my glucose levels on a regular basis as my area don't give out monitors and strips, but because my sister is also diabetic and her area do, I get the odd pot of strips and use a monitor that was my late mum's. As I'm on metformin I shouldn't need to test (according to GP and Diabetic Nurse) but I do occasionally. This morning, despite a week of lower carb and lower calorie eating my blood sugar was 6.7 on waking. Now I now this isn't high in the scheme of things but I've got another HbAc1 test next month and I was hoping to have seen a lower waking level. Its only one day though and I don't want to become obsessive about testing every day.

Reading lots of threads on my weightloss programme about the benefits of low carbing (they go as low as 20g a day!) I worry about the amount of protein (too much upsets my digestion) and too much fat (cholesterol levels and also upsets my stomach) that I am taking in if I go too low carb.

What sort of carb level have you been on that can give you a false hypo as I've never had one (don't want one!)? I have a friend who took the low carb advice of her DN and ended up with her HbAc1 showing a higher cholesterol level and protein in her urine! I certainly don't want to end up like that!
 
For weight loss and low-ish carbs, I went for Slimming World (Original Red plan). It works for me, while being both healthy and sustainable. There are no 'special' foods, and home cooking with real ingredients is key to making it work. After losing 6 stone in 60 weeks and maintaining that over the summer, I'm about to start another push at losing a bit more. My last HbA1C was bang in the middle of normal-people range. I might be worth a go if you can find the fiver a week. 🙂
 
ceejayblue said:
I'm T2,diagnosed Dec 2011. I've been up and down weight wise all that time, lost nearly 2 stone, then put it on again but my HbAc1s have been normal for the last 3 tests which is good. However, as I need to get this weight off I've looked at lowering my carb level, as suggested by my Diabetic Nurse, to 195g a day (equal to around 1500 cals a day).

I don't test my glucose levels on a regular basis as my area don't give out monitors and strips, but because my sister is also diabetic and her area do, I get the odd pot of strips and use a monitor that was my late mum's. As I'm on metformin I shouldn't need to test (according to GP and Diabetic Nurse) but I do occasionally. This morning, despite a week of lower carb and lower calorie eating my blood sugar was 6.7 on waking. Now I now this isn't high in the scheme of things but I've got another HbAc1 test next month and I was hoping to have seen a lower waking level. Its only one day though and I don't want to become obsessive about testing every day.

Reading lots of threads on my weightloss programme about the benefits of low carbing (they go as low as 20g a day!) I worry about the amount of protein (too much upsets my digestion) and too much fat (cholesterol levels and also upsets my stomach) that I am taking in if I go too low carb.

What sort of carb level have you been on that can give you a false hypo as I've never had one (don't want one!)? I have a friend who took the low carb advice of her DN and ended up with her HbAc1 showing a higher cholesterol level and protein in her urine! I certainly don't want to end up like that!
Click to expand...

Hi ceejayblue, I initially lost 4 stone over a year and I simply cut out all biscuits, bread, (apart from 1 slice of Burgen for breakfast, with a slice of ham,) cakes , potatoes and basically any so called treats that were carbs. So yes, it was very low. However, I am not on any drugs for my type 2 yet.
#
Once my weight settled a bit, I never really felt the need to introduce more carbs, but did like a biscuit or two now and again. For snacks I would have some ham and cheese, maybe a scone (no cream though LOL), and for supper say , some low fat low carb crackers with salmon, or cheese, ham etc.

I never counted the carbs, but on average my calorie intake was about 1000 -1200. I'm not very active mind due to other problems, but that works both ways. Dont need extra calories but cant burn them off either.

The false hypo is simply feeling rather giddy, hot, and suddenly very hungry and I could demolish a few sandwiches without any problem (But not a good idea) I learnt about Jelly Babies from here and now I have a couple if I feel a hypo coming on.

I do think, especially in the early stages, that testing is a very valuable tool, to see what foods have an effect on you. For example I can tolerate some mixed fruit provided I have some protein in a meal. Others cant have fruit, but can eat some carbs, so its a very individual situation for each of us.

Good luck with your regime, if I can help just ask.
 
Last edited:
A little update. I reduced my carbs again back to my usual level and BG readings began to fall as did my weight happily.

I had one reading of 2.6, after a little walk, but no symptoms of hypo, but had some jelly babies and it shot up to 7.8 OOPS.🙂

Hopefully I will find a happy compromise.
 
slipper said:
A little update. I reduced my carbs again back to my usual level and BG readings began to fall as did my weight happily.

I had one reading of 2.6, after a little walk, but no symptoms of hypo, but had some jelly babies and it shot up to 7.8 OOPS.🙂

Hopefully I will find a happy compromise.
Click to expand...

Great news slipper 🙂 7.8 isn't bad, I think you showed admirable restraint in treating your hypo 🙂
 
Testing a few days in a row to find out if you are always around 6.7, is hardly what I'd call 'obsessive'. If any HCP thinks it is, then they are completely bonkers.
 
Status
This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
Back
Top