Blood sugars

#1

Hello, I’m new to Keto, approx 3 weeks into ketosis. Doing fabulous after getting over the Keto Flu. I even started adding light exercise. Today my fasting glucose was 64. Yesterday my 2 hour post meal glucose was 76. The highest I’ve seen since starting is 86. I feel great, great energy, mental clarity etc… I am not diabetic. I eat when hungry and stop eating when sastified. I aim for 20 net carbs/ day. I feel like a blood sugar of 64 is just too low. I’m a nurse and at this point we would be giving the patient juice! What are other people seeing throughout their keto journey?

(Eric - The patient needs to be patient!) #2

I’m not an expert but from what I understand is if you feel good and are burning ketones than that BG level does not matter. Maybe others can comment as well.

#3

I was just wondering about this the other day – if someone is using ketone bodies as fuel, does the low range of “normal” blood glucose levels even apply? They are no longer the primary fuel the body is using. Some glucose is still necessary, and can be manufactured by the body via gluconeogenesis, but how much is really needed? And what concentration in the blood is necessary under ketosis?

Hmm. If the body can produce both ketone bodies and glucose, does that mean ketone bodies are the preferred energy source for the body? Or are they just easier for the body to manufacture?

(Doug) #4

The levels can go lower, for sure - some people fasting for long periods go down around 30 mg/dl or 1.6 mmol/l. Most of the body is running on ketones; don’t need as much sugar. I’ve heard differing accounts of how people feel - for some that’s too low and they didn’t feel good. Others felt fine.

I’ve read that parts of the brain actually operate better on ketones than glucose - so seems like there could be some ‘preference’ there.

(Bacon for the Win) #5

As a nurse you know to treat the symptoms and not the numbers. If you feel ok at 64 I wouldn’t worry much. I didn’t start to feel wonky until I hit 44.

#6

But what I’m asking is if “the numbers” need to be taken in context. That is, do we need to know both ketone bodies and blood glucose?

  • High blood glucose and high ketone bodies = ketoacidosis?
  • Low blood glucose and low blood sugar = starvation?

Is anything else OK? Or is it a sliding scale with moving targets?

#7

Yes! Exactly this! I am curious where is the happy medium? Should we be testing both glucose and ketones? It is all so different than what I’ve been taught. I feel great and loving the results. My big push to do this is to help reverse my husbands diabetes and I want to have all my ducks in a row for him.

(Bacon for the Win) #8

You won’t have ketoacidosis in the presence of insulin. So unless you’re a T1 diabetic this should not be a concern.

#9

Treating symptoms not the numbers is something we practice yes, but at the same time we take “normal” values into consideration as well until a baseline is established per individual. Since this is uncharted nutritional territory for me, I want to make sure I’m doing things right and causing no harm.

#10

ER nurse here. We treat ketoacidosis in type 2 frequently. Even treated a non diabetic nursing mother new to keto diet for metabolic acidosis (her blood sugar was within normal range!) I’m more worried about my body thinking that is is in starvation mode. Sugars are low and urine ketones are the darkest purple on the chart. I’ve ordered my blood ketone meter to get more exact numbers.

(Empress of the Unexpected) #11
(Empress of the Unexpected) #12

https://www.perfectketo.com/what-is-glucose-ketone-index/

#13

That would be catabolysis, correct? Mainly from lack of proteins?

#14

Agree. Each person produces varying amounts of insulin.
BS is a ballpark reading but it is also good to question.
That is why, for me, the physical symptoms are primary.
Good question.