A troubled friend

(Robert R Messerschmidt) #1

A friend started the keto WOL about a month ago based on my experience. But recently she has been asking questions I don’t seem to be able to answer. Apparently her glucose will tank several times a day, as low as the mid 40s. Yesterday she mentioned that she has a problem with her pancreas, but didn’t explain. She state that she had had the 6 hour glucose test and it showed that her system after eating shoot up the glucose, then drop a bit and line out, and then tank. She has stated that she has to eat at least 4 times a day to keep the glucose up. She told me she is not diabetic. Is it possible that she is one of the people who are unable to follow this life style? Should she maybe move towards a more paleo type system?

(Karen) #2

I think she might need to see a supportive doctor.

K

(Robert R Messerschmidt) #3

Thanks. I have talked to her about this and she seems receptive.

(Doug) #4

Robert, odd that ketogenic eating is making her glucose “shoot up,” although I guess that’s subjective.

As I cranked through a couple decades of pre-diabetes, I’d get really sleepy after a big meal, often in combination with alcohol. Double whammy there - the effect of the booze, which is often to lower blood sugar, and I’m also assuming a big surge in insulin production, me being insulin resistant and all, eventually I’d have a mini-crash. Seems a bit contradictory - the insulin production would be in response to eating and the resultant higher blood sugar, while all the time the alcohol is supposedly lowering it. Maybe the effect of the booze is not constant…?

I agree that your friend should see a doctor, especially in the absence of diabetes and drugs which might explain the going low on blood sugar. “A problem with her pancreas” - in this case one might think it’s producing too much insulin, making her blood sugar end up too low…?

(Rob) #5

My T2 friend is lowering carbs but still taking all his insulin and when he did a keto (20g) day he crashed his BG and then went Hyper with a Somogyi effect, liver dumping glucose to avoid the hypo. However in the absence of diabetes, I’m not sure how this happens unless the pancreas is over producing insulin?

(Stan Brooks) #6

This. So much this.

For a lot of us, including myself when you subtract the diabetes and it’s complications I am otherwise health. That means there is pretty much only one issue I am dealing with. I would not be anyway near as gun ho if I more problems that were unrelated.