Postural orthostatic hypotension might be an indicator you needed way more electrolytes—the amounts needed on very low carb diets are absurd, especially if you’re at all prone to dysautonomia from the start. When I restrict carbs, I need to drink a couple of mugs of highly salted broth a day and sea-salt everything with abandon—it’s part of why I don’t go to extremes like keto.
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Yeah, I actually take an enormous amount of electrolytes, and up that even higher when eating low-carb. I was eating very low carb for about three years (so it wasn’t the keto flu or other early-stage adaptation issues), to great effect except migraines and POH. After consulting with the doctors, I’ve upped my carbs a bit (to just low-moderate levels), and so far it’s working really well. I still consume a ton of electrolytes, but I think my body is able to hold on to them a bit easier.
I suspect part of the problem is being able to hold onto electrolytes when working out a lot, eating low carb, and being low-body fat. Combine those factors with already have very low blood pressure, and it just doesn’t work (for me). At this point, I think of eating low carb as a tool. I know I can go to that way of eating if I need to lower my BG beyond what other tools can do, and I know I can eat that way if I need to lose weight quickly for some reason.
That is the other serious drawback of eating low carb for me: I can’t seem to eat enough calories to maintain weight if I’m also eating low carb. Part of that may be that I don’t seem to process fats well, and I have a hard time eating 3,000+ calories of protein a day (and my kidneys would seriously object). But I literally went through a phase where I was eating 4,000+ calories a day (on paper) and still losing weight, for about six months. Drove my doctors and wife crazy, although I thought I looked pretty good for a middle aged professor 
Sounds like you need carbs then! I doubt super low carb is likely to work well for folks with low body fat and who are highly physically active.
Wow Paytone, I have never heard of someone taking a statin when their LDL is as low as yours is. I have read that any person with diabetes who is over 40 should be taking a statin, but the articles talk about an LDL of 70 as being good. I don’t know what to say.
Statins come with their own problems, so I wouldn’t be thrilled about taking one with such a low LDL number. I would want to know which studies the doctors are looking at.
I get nasty side effects from statins including neuropathy in my feet which goes away when I stop the statin. My husband has an elevated A1c caused by statins.
I am taking a very low dose of a statin now, but made sure that it is one that doesn’t past the brain barrier.
I certainly don’t know much about statins, but have always tried to stay away from them. Maybe if I had taken one when I was 40 I wouldn’t have needed stents at 59. I don’t know. I know that Dr. Bernstein doesn’t recommend them or at least he didn’t when I was low carbing.
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Paytone, you mentioned that you have a cardiologist. Do you have heart disease?
Thanks for the heads up on potential side effects. I’ve been on a low dose (5mg/day) for a couple years without any issues, but they are bumping it to 10mg/day. I’ll keep my eye out for any issues. From what the docs tell me, increasing the dose is based on new information, but I didn’t get specific citations. I’ll give it a go until my next endo appointment (6 months) and give it a reality check.
Fortunately no. I went to see him on my endo’s recommendation when a very strange rod snapped object in the heart muscle appeared on a calcium scan. They were both completely baffled as to it’s identity. Ultimately it did turn out to be calcium but they’re not sure of it’s origin. So I follow up with the cardiologist annually to make sure nothing’s changed.
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I am glad that you too are on such a low dose. I would love to have your LDL number. I would also love to know more about the latest research they are talking about. So much of what I read about all diabetics needing to be on a stain was dated.
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@Marilyn Statins block proper uptake of CoQ10, one of the most important nutrients for the heart. It’s used by the muscles in the body and the heart is one big muscle. So if you stay on statins for any length of time you should consider taking CoQ10. A lot of research to show it’s benefit for the heart! It can help with some of the side effects of statins.
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Thanks Marie. I always make sure to take 200 mgs of Q10 everyday.
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I think you are right - I tell my endo all the time that it doesn’t matter if I eat or don’t eat later at night - my numbers are high in the a.m. - it’s the “dawn phenomenon” Ive tried taking my long acting insulin later - but doesn’t help - I’ve just decided not to be too concerned with it unless it gets to be too high… I’m typically at like 201/210 - like I said no matter what/if I eat later at night… I focus more on my numbers during the day -
@1PensFan Do you take your long acting (basal) insulin twice a day? If so, how much do you take with each injection? Which brand do you take? In the morning, how long do your numbers stay in the 200s?
My husband (type 2) was having similar problems and we changed the timing and dose. I think it might be prudent for you to do some basal testing, to see what time in the AM it begins to rise and for how long. Then, you can make some adjustments based on those findings and hopefully those changes will make a difference. They did for my husband. This website might help:
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Maybe do some thyroid tests. There are studies linking the thyroid to elevated blood sugars overnight. Specifically talking about Hashimoto’s Disease. That can cause what you’re saying.
Re-visiting this thread because I am trying to lose weight on an Atkins style diet - its the only way, I’ve ever lost weight in the past… no real carb to speak of and my sugars are flying at nite… so is it Diet type? Food type? or Something else… gotta tell ya… i’m pretty confused right now as to which course I should take just from an everyday “what should I eat”
How much time elapses between your last bite of food in the evening and when your head hits the pillow? What time do you normally eat your last meal of the day? Are you adding “equivalent carbs” to account for protein and fat grams when you take your dinner insulin dose? If you skip your evening meal, do your glucose levels still rise out of range? Do you always allow some prebolus time? If so, how much?
Until you get your numbers stabilized under control, you may want to try 1 meal per day or breakfast + lunch but skip dinner and then get a control food you like that is low carb/high fat. It is often what you eat at dinner and then sits in your body all night that drive night time sugar nuts.
My favorites are from www.ditchthecarbs.com like:
These only have about 15 carbs per serving. To keep the digestive system going even smoother on these, I add 1 tablespoon of Chia seeds per serving or 1 tablespoon of nuts (either chopped walnuts or almonds on top)
On Low carb/High Fat (LCHF) you should be able to lose at least 2+ lbs. per week while not being hungry and it will bring your Blood Glucose (BG) into line at the same time. The main area of concentration is on Low Carbs. The higher fat foods will keep your hunger down. This is somewhat steering you toward a Keto or Keto modified style diet that works for you.
Once you have your numbers where you want them, you can stay on the same diet, or modify diet and you will have learned what helps keep your weight and BG numbers down to modify the best plan for yourself.
Are you bolusing for your protein? Because when you do low carb, most people have to. And your needs for more insulin for any protein you eat goes up. I have heard some even bolus for fat even hours after a meal when low carbing.
Thought you only had to go that with eggs.
@Steve_Mann
Is the egg in reply to bolusing for protein?
I think you’re asking if I bolus because I’m eating eggs… yes, about 35 minutes after I eat I bolus… and it works… will try with other protein throughout the day. I don’t know why I didnt think about the protein bolusing… I must be getting mentally resistant
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Yes, I guess I was. I just wasn’t sure what your question was.
And from what I understand it might require more than you think, the requirement to bolus for protein goes up when you low carb.
There are some low carbers that should be able to help you more if you need it, because I’m not sure how they judge when and how much. I do not low carb.
@Jimi63 @Terry4 @CJ114