Is this normal on extended fast?

(Connor Lidell) #1

For context: I’m a type 2 diabetic who was in the hospital 6 weeks ago for DKA. I’m changing my life through Ketovore and extended fasting.

I’m 2.5 days into a 5 day fast. My glucose levels have basically flatlined. Went up to 91 mg/dl during Dawn Effect time. Right around 70, they’re just sitting there going a couple under and a couple over. This has been happening for two days now.

Normally when I fast, I get a powerful dawn effect of up to 140 mg/dl. Not so on this fast… here’s what I’m doing differently: I’m on a higher dose of Mounjaro (5 instead of 2.5) and I am not taking metformin on this particular extended fast.

I am not sleeping. Basically getting 2-3 hrs a night. But I feel energized. I can tell the sleeplessness will get to me soon. And I feel like THAT will keep me from five days before any feelings of hypo. No hypo symptoms even when I dipped to 60 mg/dl last night.

My salt intake is good. Only water and sodium. Oh and mag supplement. I am switching to glycinate to see if it will help with sleeping. I’m told mega doses can help. So I was taking 500mg elemental mag, I’m gonna try 1000mg then 1500mg.

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(Bob M) #2

Some of that is normal. I’ve experienced the lessened hours of sleep, but being alert. I think some hormones are going crazy. Not sure which.

I don’t know enough about what Mounjaro does to comment. 72 is not bad if you’re not experiencing symptoms, like being super tired, not concentrating, feeling shaky, etc. I got to 62 (official blood draw at a place) after 3.5 days, and I’ve heard of others getting into the 30s with no issues. That 62 is the lowest blood sugar I’ve ever gotten on any test, so I’m only an N of one.

But if you begin to feel bad, you should rethink the amount you’re taking or bail.

#3

More or less normal minus the 2-3hrs sleep, that’s terrible for you regardless of how you feel and still causes hormonal hell.

You’re already on a GLP-1, and with Tirz also have GIP going, if you can get away with it I’d back the dose down if you can, we adapt to them pretty bad. Using any GLP-1 means you’re chemically insulin sensitive.

Despite us being in a fasting forum, keep in mind regardless of the likes of “experts” like Jason Fung, longer fasts means you’ll most likely lose muscle mass, which means lowered metabolic rate, lowered thyroid function, short ones for a clean up are fine and beneficial, but don’t overdo it. You’re taking care of the insulin sensitivity and eating in a way to not provoke it.

#4

How often do you think 3 day fasts should be done? Would once a month be okay?

(Doug) #5

I have the ‘less sleep’ thing once in a while, but not every night when fasting.

Googled ‘Does Mounjaro cause loss of sleep,’ and the artificial intelligence response was “Mounjaro (tirzepatide) isn’t typically linked to insomnia, but some people taking it have reported sleep issues.”

Mounjaro is for long-term blood sugar control, right? From one day to the next, and with something like the dawn effect, I don’t know how much effect there will be. But in my opinion, being in the 70s or 60s for blood sugar isn’t something to worry about if you’re feeling okay. Lots of people routinely go that low or lower with no problems.

You’re running mostly on fat/ketones when fasting, and don’t need all that much in the way of blood sugar. It’s something like only 25% of the body’s tissues need glucose, while the rest of it runs fine on ketones. Most of the brain itself runs better on ketones, and I’ve wondered if this is at least partly responsible for the ‘energized’ effect.

In that state, there is vastly less burden on the body from digesting food. Your stored fat is a potent source of energy, and it’s in the perfect form for the body to use.

Well, this is it. :slightly_smiling_face:

Most of us - on this forum, talking about this stuff - are coming from decades of eating too much of stuff that has burdened us, harmed us, etc. Taking away all the bad effects, there, is a huge change.

(Jane) #6

Once a month is what I shoot for when I do 3-day fasts, but some months it is not practical and it is no big deal to skip. More often than that can be hard on the body and I want to be kind to this old meat bag!

#7

I think that’ll be my plan going forward. Managed 24 hours yesterday so pleased with that.