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Hey Everyone, ok some background: Type 1 diabetic, paleo for 3 yrs, pretty strict, sleep is good, stress is low.

Ok so I've been having a hard time getting my glucose levels down. I've had this problem for the last few months but it seems to have gotten worse since last Sunday. I started a new job about a month ago, so with the new job has come a change in lifestyle (for the better I feel.) I've had to readjust my Levemir dosages as well as my Novolog. My problem is that I seem to get dizzy as I attempt to get my glucose down. From there my dizzyness usually leads to a headache. Symptoms start at times very early. In other words at time I get dizzy when my glucose levels are in the 120 to 140 range. I get a strong feeling that I'm going to pass out or die. I also experience a general weakness of extremeties at this point. Other symptoms include painful stomach aches just before meal times and discomfort after eating. It was worse last Monday and Tuesday. I could barely function at work those days and was absolutely miserable. The G I symptoms seem to be getting better but my dizzyness and light headedness continues. I also feel very low energy. The strange thing is that most the symptoms go away if I raise my BG to 170. I don't think this any kind of paleo flu because I've been eating the same as always. I plan to see an Endo or Doc and get some testing done soon as I feel that I'm on the verge of dropping dead if this continues. Does anyone have any suggestions as to where I should start digging?

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Go see a physician ASAP. – Patrik Apr 19 2012 at 18:18

closed as off topic by Patrik♦♦ Apr 19 2012 at 18:17

3 Answers

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Hey there! So, as a type 1 diabetic myself, I think I know what may be going on with your wonky symptoms. For years my blood sugars ran above 200, my body got used to that, so when I decided to finally go Paleo and get in better control, I started off feeling worse than better. It takes a while for our T1 bodies to adjust to change, even if its for the better. I was feeling really bad symptoms of hypoglycemia at a blood sugar under 200!! This meant I had to test my sugar A LOT more than usual for a few months until my body adjusted itself to normal. It definitely sucked to feel worse than better for a couple of months, but once my body got used to healthy blood sugars, I was beyond happy that I stuck through those crappy months because now I feel better than ever! I do wish doctors would warn T1 diabetics about this. I have heard of some endos telling their patients who plan on getting in better control to drop their numbers slowly, so the body doesn't rebel so harshly. Anyway, hope this helped a bit. Good luck!!

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Helps a ton. I know it's not in my head and I'm not going crazy. It almost sends me into a complete anxiety attack. I wonder what this says about our understanding of Glucose Tolerance and Insulin Resistance. Susan your my new best friend on Wednesdays. – Caveman formally known as Dan Apr 18 2012 at 3:50
That would be "false hypoglycemia", but I doubt that unless you've been diagnosed recently and your BG has been elevated indefinitely; you say you've been eating Paleo for 3 years, whatever that means -- low carb/high carb? And if so, at such a high level, I would think you'd show some signs of neuropathy. – Namby Pamby Apr 18 2012 at 14:11
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Yeah, I completely get the anxiety you got going on! My biggest hurdle with my control right now is fighting off the temptation to eat everything in the fridge when my blood sugar is truly too low. I mean, eating a couple of glucose tabs then trying to wait out that, god awful, feeling is torture. When I first started to get in better control, I felt like I had that feeling 24/7 for a couple of weeks. Non T1's will never get it. We have the 24/7 job of keeping ourselves alive, let alone trying to keep a blood sugar level of 80-130, and we don't even get paid for it! Ha. Paleo has definitely made things easier, but nothing but a cure will make this disease easy, that's for sure.

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If you are commenting on your previous answer, you can do so with "add comment". This keeps it all together in one place instead of strewn about. Welcome to PH - and great answer above! – Dave S. Apr 18 2012 at 19:19
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Maybe your new job requires more energy from you. Try adding more carbs/root veggies and fats to your current diet.

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Not really good advice for a diabetic. – Dave S. Apr 18 2012 at 19:17

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