Nighttime hypo?

(Rob Grantham) #1

So woke up last night feeling awful. Completely disoriented and like I would pass out. My heart was beating really fast. Iwas completely anxious andinstinctively thought it’s a blood sugar low. Went to the kitchen and are a carrot some eggs and meat thinking not to spike blood sugar too quick. Id been fasting since 2pm. Thinking maybe it was too much to soon with the fasting. Today extremely tired washed out. Can anyone relate?

(bulkbiker) #2

Did you test?

(Rob Grantham) #3

I did but it read 82 but by that point my cortsol had already kicked in my legs were almost shaking. I’ve had it before even worse where my legs were fully shaking from the stress hormones.

(Allie) #4

Are you managing your electrolytes?

(bulkbiker) #5

Do you have diabetes? Any medication?
Your 82 corresponds to 4.5 mmol/l in the UK which isn’t a hypo unless you are used to running much higher numbers. I’m currently fasting and have had reading in the mid to high 3’s thats the mid 60’s without any probs.

(Mike W.) #6

Do you have any history of anxiety/panic attacks? Oddly, it sounds like we had the same night…

#7

Something similar first happened to me 6 nights ago, and then a few more times over the last few days, including last night. The first night it happened I called the paramedics. When they arrived they checked my blood pressure and it was very high. They checked my sugar and it was only 78. My bp lowered while they were here, so I declined to go to hospital.

The next day I was better, and the day after it occurred once again, so I went in to see an urgent care doctor. They took lots of blood and said everything looked very good and normal, suggested it was anxiety as my blood pressure was high when I went in, but down to normal when they rechecked a while later. The doctor suggested I increase my caloric intake as it has been around 1100 to 1200 most days. I have increased it, while still eating a deficit.

Yesterday, on another keto forum, I posted the amount of electrolytes I’ve been getting for several days (I track them) and it was suggested my sodium was too low. After drinking a cup of bullion I immediately felt much better for the rest of the day.

Unfortunately, there must be more to it as the same issue (racing heart, feeling jittery) came back late last night. It wasn’t as bad as the initial occurrence, but still concerning.

I’ve been strictly following keto for 3 1/2 months and this has been my first experience with anything not feeling good. It has me second guessing everything I’m doing.

Wish I had answers.

(Allie) #8

Why the deficit? Eat to your appetite.

(bulkbiker) #9

Isn’t potassium something of a heart rate regulator? Are you having your ketoaid?

(the cheater) #10

Gotta agree with the general consensus so far; probably not hypoglycemia. 82 is normal. Maybe some form of seizure or panic attack, I’d say.

Also - and I’m not making fun of you in any way - I always chuckle when people say that they woke up feeling like they were about to pass out :slight_smile: For some reason I can’t wrap my brain around that concept. In my mind, that seems ideal; I’d be like, “Welp, I’m already in a bed, lying down, so…” I’m a nurse so I hear this occasionally from my patients.

(Rob Grantham) #11

Yeah well I always get my sodium 3tsp a day minimum Himalayan pink salt so I’m not sure it was that. My carb intake for the day was like 10g and I fasted from 2pm. I think it was too much too soon with the fasting… I mentioned on a previous post that I was eating 4 or 5 times a day and I recently reduced that to three times with an 8 hour window. Well yesterday I was being clever and decided to try a 6 hour window… needless to say I think going from eating multiple times daily to fasting for 18 hours and eating twice a day was a bit much for my body in the space of a few days

(Rob Grantham) #12

I don’t have a history of diabetes but before going long carb I began getting dizzy spells after eating I had a suspicion it was reactive hypoglycaemia as it was always around eating. It was really quite scary last night I thought a trip to er was going to be necessary

(Mike W.) #13

Have you ever gotten the “spins” from overimbibing? I’ve found it feels similar to that. Yes you are lying down, but you’ also feel unsteady and feel out of control. Not a good feeling at all, especially when just waking up.

(the cheater) #14

OMG I hate the “spinnies!” That’s honestly a big enough deterrent for me that I haven’t gotten drunk in literally years. Yeah, so if that’s what it’s like, then screw that feeling lol!

#15

Woops! I’m new here. Think I posted this in the wrong place.

What I mean is that I’m loosing weight. I’ve lost 56 lbs eating this way. So by deficit I mean I’m eating fewer calories than I did when I was eating high carb, no diet.

I’m not hungry. I often eat OMAD just because I forget to eat and am busy with other things. I’m concerned about the way I’ve been feeling lately and with feeling jittery, heart racing, and elevated bp.

I track everything I eat. I used to graze all day on carbs, so keeping track of food, at the beginning helped me keep myself accountable. Now I do it to make sure I’m getting the electrolytes I need from food and to make sure I don’t overeat just because I enjoy the taste of foods. That’s an old habit I’m breaking myself of.

But why this new thing with the jitters, heart rate spiking at times and the high bp? I have no idea what it is related to and find it frustrating. It’s hard to sleep when I feel like this. The doctor says it’s anxiety, but that has never been a problem before. This is new, so it probably has to do with this diet. I keep wondering what I’m missing.

I’ve been low on B vitamins some days, so I wonder if it might be that.

#16

Yesterday I got 1985 mg of potassium, 357 mg of magnesium, and 5675 mg of sodium.
Yesterday I got in 2979 mg of potassium, 350 mg of magnesium, and 5051 mg of sodium.
Day before that 2410 mg of potassium, 285 mg of magnesium, and 1468 mg sodium.
Before that I was getting in less of each of those and was taking magnesium Oxide (worthless) in error.

Perhaps I’ve just transformed into an anxious person.

(Allie) #17

It could just be part of the adaptation process as it’s a massive change for your body to go through.

#18

Thanks for responding!

I have wondered about that. But I’ve been eating strict keto for 3 1/2 months. I didn’t have keto flu and have felt pretty great this whole time until the Friday 11.3.18.

It seems strange that I’d have a bad response to this way of eating now. I’m especially concerned about my blood pressure going up and down so much. I’ve been wondering if I should stop keto, but I don’t want to. I just keep going over and over what I’m doing and trying to find out if I’m doing something wrong.

My recent blood tests all came back normal. But my heart is all crazy! It’s hard to sleep. The doctor said it’s anxiety, but I’m not an anxious person.

(Allie) #19

There had to be a fix for it, I’m sure. What about eating late at night? Or maybe an intolerance? If I eat too close to bed then it does disturb my sleep and raise my heart rate overnight, even moreso if what I’ve eaten doesn’t sit right for any reason.

(Mike W.) #20

I know this isnt going to help you feel any better, But I was never an anxious person until I had my first panic attack at 28, 10 years ago. Did your doctor put you on anything for the anxiety? If so, and it helps, then you’ll have your answer. And if it doesn’t, well at least know it’s not just anxiety.