Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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39, f, PCOS, started tracking BS this morning to see what happens after meals. My fasting blood sugar was 51! I took it again and it didn't register, giving me the "too low" warning. I feel fine. I've been VLC for several months (with a few cheats, of course). I have about 30 pounds to lose.

My fasting BS was 68 about a year ago when I got it tested at the lab. But then I went off low carb and it went up into the low 90s. Usually fasting on lab results is in the 80s.

My a1c's are usually in the mid 5's. I ate a banana about 30 minutes ago and will test my levels at 1,2,3 hours.

Oh, and my fasting insulin used to be about 17, years ago before I started low carb, but now it's under 3, so I don't think I'm on insulin overload.

Any ideas? That seems pretty damn low to me. But perhaps it's always this low and I just didn't know?

flag	asked May 2 2012 at 14:51 Jeda 599●2●8

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Have you checked your glucometer's accuracy with a control solution? – Dangph May 3 2012 at 8:34

Eric · Answer 1 · 2012-05-02 20:28:54Z UTC

I would be inclined to think that's pretty low.

I know it's conventional wisdom, but ABC News reports the following about too low levels:

If the blood sugar drops below about 60 or 65 milligrams per deciliter, people will generally get symptoms, which are some shakiness, feeling of hunger, maybe a little racing of the heart and they will usually be trenchant or if they eat something, it goes away right away. But if blood sugar drops below 50 and can get down as low as 40 or 30 or even 20, then there is a progressive loss of mental function and eventually unconsciousness and seizures. And of course that is very dangerous and a medical emergency. [emphasis mine]

On the rare occasions when I check my sugar while fasting, I tend to get a little anxious if it's below 70.

wendy · Answer 2 · 2012-05-03 08:28:40Z UTC

the body does get used to low bloodsugar, giving those classical warning (sweating, trembling) signs later and later. This is a known issue with diabetics who have trouble controlling their bloodsugar.

Maybe you should ask your doctor for a bloodtest, those are much more accurate then the finger test

very low fasting blood sugar but I feel fine

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