before and after blood tests--HELP!!!

[pcguru2000]

Triglycerides
range <150
current 91
last august 162

Cholesterol total
range 125-200
current 154
last august 175

HDL
range >=40
current 30 :-(
last august 39

LDL
range <130
current 106
last august 104 :-(

CHOL/HDLC RATIO
range <=5.0
Current 5.1
last august 4.48 :-(

Glucose
Range 65-99
Current 41
Last august 92.

Does anyone else have a glucose # as low as mine. This nurse tells me that she knows of people that went into a coma at 41. I told her I'm running off of ketones and that I don't have to worry about it.

Some background.
3 weeks into induction. Lost 8 lbs and a bunch of waist. My weightloss has stalled a little. I lift weights 2X/Week. I'm vegetarian but I eat eggs. I use low carb soy substitue ground beef for my protein. I eat tons and tons of cheese. I also am getting constant headaches now. Should I up my carbs or eat more or what? I also don't eat breakfast, never have.
I was drinking an atkins low carb shake once a day but have stopped since reading on here that it stalls people.

[jimmie 48]

Re: before and after blood tests--HELP!!!

tons of cheese is over the limit. 3 to 4 ounces daily is what you are allowed on induction.
you might want to familarize youself with the book again, especially the induction chapter [11] and check that against your vegetarian diet. vegetables should account for the major portion of the allowed 20 net carbs during the induction phase.

my bg number as of last december was 90

[angie1003]

Re: before and after blood tests--HELP!!!

Is this poll asking for a blood sugar # as in a fasting glucose? if so, nobody should be under 60, that is very dangerous, incompatible with life much lower than 40, so I dont quite understand the question of less than 60? I just took mine at work and it was 100, which is very high for me!! I am usually 75-95, without atikins. I am on day 14 of induction. This blood sugar result confuses me. I thought it would be lower??

[jimmie 48]

Re: before and after blood tests--HELP!!!

angie, my number was a fasting count. i just assumed that is what the op wanted.

i agree the low number is dangerous. here's just a few things i've found.

Hypoglycemia - Low Blood Glucose/Sugar
Hypoglycemia is a condition of abnormally low levels of glucose (sugar) in the blood, commonly occurring as a complication of treatment for diabetes. [Compare Hyperglycemia - abnormally high blood sugar.]
Hypoglycemia is a potentially serious condition, as even brief falls in serum glucose levels below a certain point can produce severe brain dysfunction.
Causes of Hypoglycemia

Fasting hypoglycemia occurs most often in diabetic patients who accidentally overdose on the hormone insulin, although it may also occur in patients with insulin-producing tumors, or as a late complication of food-deprivation (starvation). Symptoms of hypoglycemia include: headache, loss of concentration, confusion - and in severe hypoglycemia - seizures, followed by coma.



Hypoglycemia (Low Blood Glucose)
Hypoglycemia (Low Blood Glucose)
Low blood glucose occurs with the pump for the same reasons it did when you were not on the pump.

• Not Enough Food
• Too Much Insulin
• More Exercise Than Usual

As you know, you can not always avoid a low. It is important that you establish a routine to follow when your blood glucose is low. If you have a routine, you are sure to have something available to treat a low and you are less likely to over-treat and cause your blood glucose to go up too much.
It is best to use something that you can always carry with you. Choose a food that is all carbohydrate because it will be very fast acting. Try not to choose chocolate or other high fat foods. They will not work fast enough and you may also end up over-treating your lows. The suggested amount of carbohydrate to start with is 15 grams. Don't keep eating until you feel better. Eat the required amount and stop. The feelings will pass and you will be grateful that you did not overdo it.
Some people with diabetes know when their blood glucose is low and some do not. If you are a person who is not aware of hypoglycemia, it is important to test your blood glucose more often. Everyone with diabetes should test before driving a car to assure safety on the road. Blood glucose should be above 100 mg/dl (5.6 mmol/l) before driving and at bedtime.
Hypoglycemia Protocol: The Rule of 15

If blood glucose is 70 mg/dl (3.9 mmol/l) or below:

• Treat with 15 grams of carbohydrate
• Check blood glucose again in 15 minutes; if not above 70 mg/dl (3.9 mmol/l), repeat treatment

The following have 15 grams of carbohydrate:

• Glucose tablets — (3) five-gram tablets or (4) four-gram tablets
• 4 oz. (110 g) of juice or soda (not diet)
• 6 lifesavers
• 1 tablespoon of table sugar or honey

i'm not saying go eat a bunch of lifesavers, sugar or honey. what i have provided at those two sites is just to show you that there is quite a danger of having a BG number so low, just as angie has said.
this is something that i would strongly suggest you talk to your doctor about.

[angie1003]

Re: before and after blood tests--HELP!!!

Hi, I replied to your post with such urgency because I am a Registered Nurse on a cardiac unit and a blood glucose of 40 is an emergency, we treat immediately at that number not with food (although if that is all you had food/juice is great) we would treat with iv glucose!! If you use food for that number of 40 something like 4-6oz juice for immediate treatment and increase of the number but also peanut butter and crackers for a more long term fix.
It is very dangerous. I too have seen people completely unresponsive at 40. Just something to think about.
*Angie

[pcguru2000]

Re: before and after blood tests--HELP!!!

This was a fasting glucose which I did not have any food for 16 hours and I'm doing induction. I feel great, energized, my keto stix tell me I'm at the 160+ level (darkest purple) and I'm in induction which means I can't raise my carb count. I also eat till I'm more than satisfied. So is this proof that my body is running off of 98% ketones? Remember that ketones are not converted to glucose but are used as they are. So the glucose in my body is less important than someone running off of glucose solely. As a vegetarian, I don't eat meat so I need to get my fat from cheese. (my only source) Veggies don't have fat and if you read the book, a large portion of your diet must come from fat. The rest of the protein I get from eating low carb soy meat.

[Sherri]

Re: before and after blood tests--HELP!!!

Hello,
If I were you I would move onto Rung 1 more veggies. That will help you get your glucose levels up. One of the reasons why you're getting head aches. You should only be eating 3-4 ounces of cheese a day on Induction until you reach Rung 2 Dairy. Then you can add 5 more grams of dairy to your woe (way of eating) A better reason to start moving up the rungs. What is your daily menu look like? Please share with us so we can better help you. How tall are you? You're allowed 2 cups of salad veggies and 1 cup of veggies off of the other veggie list. Are you eating your veggies?
Have you read DANDR 2002? That's the book we go by here.
Here's some info from the Induction Thread with great info.
Your lab results look good although i'm concerned about your glucose levels. You look Hypo-glycemic to me. Better reason to start moving up the rungs to get those glucose levels up.
Sincerely, Sherri
Edited to say: You also may consider eating foods higher on the Glycemic Index from your acceptable food list on page 125 & 125 DANDR. You can also go to www.glycemicindex.com to learn more about the Glycemic Index That will also help with your glucose levels. Also adding pumpkin to your plan will help too. I would certainly start eating breakfast if I were you. So very important to eat breakfast!!!!! That will help with the head aches aswell and help with bringing up your glucose level. Also there are other ways to get your fat in as in MUFAS (monounsaturated fats) avacado, nuts, olives, olive oil, just to name a few.
Wishing you the best of health and lite.
Before you begin:

1. Read Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution, 2002 edition.
At the very least, read chapters 10 through 14. These chapters tell you how to do the diet, what to expect, and why the first 14 days are so important.

ADBB uses DANDR 2002 as its reference. Granted there are other publications by Atkins Nutritionals, Inc. but we like to do the diet as it was written by Dr. Robert C. Atkins because in our collective experience Dr. Atkins' diet is more effective than Atkins Nutritionals, Inc's version.

2. See your physician.
Dr. Atkins recommended this himself. See your physician for a complete physical exam, including blood tests before beginning this or any other diet and exercise program.

Also take the Blood Sugar Symptom Test found in the book.

3. Make a commitment.
Commit yourself to giving the 14 day Induction a fair shot. If you can't commit yourself to 14 days of following rules and eating the foods listed in the acceptable foods list, this diet might not be for you.

4. Prepare your kitchen
If it's not on the list, remove it from your home. If you live with people who aren't on a low carb diet, then put your food(s) in areas separate from theirs. Also make sure you have low carb snacks available to you at all times, in case you get hungry.

5. Recruit your family and friends.
You are about to embark on a completely new lifestyle. Getting the support of your family and friends will help you through this. Be frank with them and tell them your intentions and that this is very important to you. If they have any doubts about this diet, ask them to read the book because knowledge is power.

6. Keep the Induction Rules and Foods List handy.
Make two copies of these documents: keep one on your refrigerator at home and keep the other one on your person at all times. This will save you a lot of guesswork and worry when eating out or grocery shopping.

The Rules of Induction can be found here:
What are the Rules of Induction?

The Induction Acceptable Foods List can be found here:
What foods can be eaten on Induction?

7. Read the entire label, including the ingredients.
Some foods have little carbs, but contain things like hydrogenated oils (trans fats) and sugar, which makes them unacceptable for Induction.

8. Keep a food diary
It is of utmost importance to keep track of your daily carbohydrate intake to make sure you are not exceeding 20 net carbohydrates daily.

Some people keep a notebook journal. Others like to track their progress online.

Here are some resources:
An Atkins spreadsheet:
http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...ead.php?t=4570

http://www.fitday.com ---This is a free online service (registration required) that allows you to input your foods, track your exercise, etc.

Carbohydrate Counters:
http://www.atkins.com ---The Atkins site has a downloadable Carb Counter.
http://www.calorieking.com ---This site has nutritional information for most foods and beverages.
http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/search/ ---This is the United States Department of Agriculture Nutrition Database.

9. Exercise
According to Dr. Atkins "exercise is non-negotiable"! So get moving. Begin according to your level of fitness. Visit the Exercise Forum.

10. Vitamin Supplements
These are also recommended by Dr. Atkins because many of us have poor nutrition and we need extra nutrients. Visit the Vita-Nutrient Forum.

11. Weigh AND Measure Yourself on Day 1

Make sure you weigh and measure yourself before you begin this diet. Contrary to what we are lead to believe, the scale isn't the best tool for measuring weight loss (fat loss). It doesn't tell you how much muscle you gained. It doesn't tell you how much water weight you gained or lost. It doesn't tell you that you will fit into that pair of jeans.

Tips for weighing:
a. Weigh yourself at the same time of day under the same conditions. You can weigh "more" after a meal or after you drink water or you can weigh "less" after you exercise or have a bowel movement. So pick a time and stick to it. Likewise, clothing can also add on "pounds". So if you choose to weigh yourself wearing clothes, make sure you are wearing the same clothing or nearly the same clothing.

b. Use the same scale. Scales differ slightly. So the scale in your doctor's office or at the gym might have you weighing more or less than the scale in your bathroom.

Tips for measuring:
a. You can measure whatever body areas you want: chest, waist, hips, thighs, upper arm, wrists and ankles. To make the measuring easier, you body landmarks like your belly button or a mole or scar, to guide your tape measure placement. For chest measurement, women can either measure under their armpits and/or under their breasts.

b. Don't "pull" on the measuring tape because that will give you a false reading (and stretch the tape). The tape should be snug, but not tight.

c. Don't suck in to make yourself smaller. Again, that will give you a false measurement.

Measuring tapes can be purchased at craft stores (the sewing section) for under $5.00. If you can't find one, you can use a piece of string. Just mark that string with a marker pen to indicate your "start" points". Or if you have an old belt, you can use that too.

Another good "measuring tool" is your clothing. Non-stretchy clothing like a dress shirt, jeans, or dress is the best thing to use. Stretchy fabric (like t-shirts or anything with spandex) will conform to your body as you shrink so you might not see the results. Try on this article of clothing periodically to see how you are losing inches.

Good luck to you on your 14 day Induction journey