Keto and Low Blood Sugar and Hypothyroidism

[jshan17]

Hi Keto Forum,

I wanted to share my story to provide potential insight for some but more importantly learn how to combat the potential downsides of the diet and hopefully gain some insight into my own conditions as well.

I started Keto in July and have lost 34 lbs. My diet has consisted largely of bacon, eggs, cheese, nuts, avocado, cold cut deli meat (low salt), chicken, veggies, and a daily plant based protein shake. To make this weight loss, I did an extended version of the 7 minute workout for 30 min a day roughly 5-6 days a week for the first 3 months, then transitioned back to 3-5x a week. My weight loss stalled out around 205 lbs.

I have heard that to combat low blood sugar, the best thing to do is eat every few hrs or before you start to feel whoozy but have also heard that eating too often can spike blood sugar. This does not make as much sense to me if you are eating mostly /more fat/carbs. Could anyone provide some insight on if eating low carb v. carb every few hours has any positive or negative health effects with any links provided?

Current Age: 27, at 21 I was diagnosed with a hypothyroid now which I believe is due to Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis and at 24 started developing hypoglycemia as a resulting side effect which still lasts to this day. I would love to hear/learn from anyone who has similar/same conditions having success with Keto! That said, my blood sugar crashes have improved on Keto, however, I still need to eat every few hours to make sure that I do not have the hypoglycemia headache/collapse like symptoms where it’s hard to function.

Thanks!

[Keto6468]

From what I understand even fat will turn up some insulin. Even thought of food will trigger some insulin. The smell of food, the sight of food will trigger some insulin. So nibbling all the time ,even if it’s only fat will keep insulin triggered.

[ai9966]

Congratulations for your successes! Keto works differently for all of us. I have hypothyroidism acquired. Lost half my thyroid to cancer. Over the course of 8 months I have lost 21 pounds only, but I am 52 years old and no matter how hard I try, my weight loss will never compare to someone your age. Unfortunately keto has taught me that most Dr’s are quacks. I actually believe very little they tell me. In 8 months keto has helped to reduce my thyroid meds for the first time in 10 years. When my A1c was 10.7 and with my triglycerides sitting at 120, my physician was not panicked, like I was, she shrugged it off as my “ethnicity” and suggested i might want to lose a “little” weight. Fast forward to today when my A1c is 5.4, and triglycerides at 60 - she wanted me to do a calcium heart check. Where is the logic? The logic is flawed, bcz the science is terribly flawed. We have been allowed en mass to train our bodies to run on carbs. Keto is the deconstruction of that training. I too was repeatedly told to eat every 3 hours, I eat but once a day. I notice a direct relation to activity. Those days I am more active I need to eat less, this goes completely against everything any Dr., dietician and nutritionist has ever said. I have never been told I have hypoglycemia but I was also never told I had diabetes - even though that 10.7 A1c was a clear indicator I was. Dr.s are like mechanics or lawyers, you place your faith in them, just trusting they will guide you in your best interest. They are counting on your lack of knowledge. Unfortunately many do not have the right knowledge themselves and cannot guide you to better health. Better health is not the objective. It’s about health management. Symptom management. And sometimes not even that. Trust the process. Trust your body. Let your body guide you. Sometimes thirst feels like hunger. Not sure if my rant helped.

[Tybo]

I’ve been on synthroid since 18 years old, now 41. I am lucky that my doctor doesn’t think I am crazy for going keto and fasting. I’ve lost 90 lbs in 11 months and very comfortably. He’s reducing my synthroid and my insulin is super low and A1c at 4.5. Yes the cholesterol numbers sit close to high normal but we have to remember the function of cholesterol in our body, it is a building block right? I am trying to learn as I go on this journey. I am also on other meds that are being decreased or eliminated thanks to this weight loss and healing that my body is going through.

Stress or thinking about food will trigger Insulin, that’s why we need to take a whole body healing approach and get lots of sleep and relax when we can! I was so surprised the first time I heard that stress can increase insulin and have a negative effect on diabetes. Doesn’t help that we are being bombarded with food ads and false information!