This is the hardest part, finding the correct carbohydrate level. First off, don't drink tea unless it's decaffinated or herbal with no caffeine. I may have mentioned this before, but just in case I didn't there you go. If you saw my one post, I just went for a seven mile hike from hell, eating the diet you saw in my post, and felt perfectly fine. That's on only about 120g of carbohydrates at the most. Just to give you an idea of how many you don't need. Yes, I mean don't. The problem you're going to find is you're likely going to feel pretty bad the first few weeks, so you most likely won't be able to do the amount of activity you'd like during that time. If you can, you will be better off cutting back on as much activity as possible, unless you find you are fine. You need to see how you react to the diet at first. Otherwise, i'm going to say you need probably around 200g of carbohydrates, tops. That may even be too much. You need to start low at first so you can retrain the pancreas. In fact, you know what, I would say start at 100g, see how you feel after a few days. If you feel so worn down it isn't even funny and you're certain it's because you're not getting enough, add 50g more and keep going from there. When you reach a point where you feel you don't have symptoms as often or they seem definitely reduced, even if only a little, stay right there and don't budge that level for a looooooong time. Remember though, if you eat less carbohydrates, you need more fat. Olive oil is best because it's so good for the body. I'm currently working on a way to determine how much fat to use to replace carbohydrates and how much to take out when you add carbohydrates back in. If you look at my diet, you can see I myself am eating at least 150g of fat per day.

Hey paul,

its all trial and error and first. As I have found out...

The first thing I found hard was getting my level of carbs right. I thought I shud cut them all out....So I did, except for my breakfast of shredded wheat. It didnt work for me. Faint spells were less, but I was very weak and had hadcore withdrawal. So then I added a fistful of brown rice to my evening meal (plate divided into 3 sections - rice, veg and protein). Again I felt it was still not enough...So I then started having 3 baby potatoes with my lunch and thats just right now. My weight is consistent and im happy with that. But it was frustrating gettign the carb level right. I think mine is now 150g a day. Before that god knows - add in the cakes, biscuits, bread and platefuls of rice and pasta....It was prob 200-250g - only reason I function and maintain weight is that I eat much protein than I used to - so I bascially substituted the carbs for protein which gives u prob more energy than carbs.


Excersie is also trial and error. I can manage a 20min brisk walk now. At first that was ennough to make me feel sick and faint. But after 2 weeks I could do it. And then I started climbing the escalators rather than just standing there when I got on and off the tube (doesnt sound like much but the escalators on the london underground are huge!). I also do yoga now in the evenings - but only for 20mins. So basically its best to start off with minimal exercise until u get your carbs right. I still dont feel ready to go to the gym or go for a run or go to my dance classes yet tho.

Thanks for the replies guys :)

i have another question; as I understand it eating carbs increases the blood sugar level. The blood sugar is either used for energy or stored in the our fat tissues or in the liver and muscles for when it is needed. Insulin is produced to take the excess glucose from the blood and stores it as fat, helping to maintain a healthy blood suagr level. When the body fails to produce enough insulin, the condition known as diabetes occurs and the blood sugar remain permanently high. When the opposite happens and too much insulin is produced then the blood sugar level falls too low causing the condition known as hypoglycemia.

As I see it insulin is only produced when there is excess glucose to store as fat.
My question is; if carbs are eaten and then exercise done very soon after, then surely the blood sugar will be being used as energy for the exercise and no insulin will be produced, therefore the blood sugar level should not drop to a below normal point, will it?

If I eat a banana before I go to my martial arts I tend to feel quite nervous on the way to my class and during the warm up. Sometimes, but not often, I may even get symptoms of 'out of body' during the class...But after the class as finished I always feel amazing. It is the only time in my week when my symptoms completely disapear and I feel comfortable. I always think to myself on the way home "i wish I always felt like this". I sometimes even meditate on the train home I feel that relaxed.

Will it be not be possible to start a low carb diet to regulate my blood sugar during the times I am not exercising, (as too much insulin would be produced at those times if I did eat carbs and cause low blood sugar) but before my martial arts lessons eat some carbs to burn as energy during my lesson? (as no insulin would be produced) or would doing this mess up my diet?

I figured out a diet to eat at about 120g carbs to start (and a 12g ryvita goodness mixed berry bar before my martial arts - its a wholegrain rye, berries and pumpkin seed snack bar with no added sugar, free from artificial colours, flavours and preservatives)

I really don't want to cut down on my classes as they make me feel great and I don't want to get behind on my training as I have grading coming up.

I worked out that at the moment I am eating about 230g carbs a day. Will the 100g less of carbs really work?

I just recently read that excessive drinking is associated with hypoglycemia and I drunk excessively from about 17 to 25. It was during my hangovers that the symptoms started to appear and gradually stayed with me whether I drink or not. I drink hardly anything now, I have 2 beers a week, one on friday night and one on saturday night (22g of carbs each and 3% alcohol). I read that in the case of excessive drinking hypoglycemia is caused by alcohol preventing the liver from releasing glucose into the bloodstream). If this is how I got it then is the low-carb diet still the right treatment?

Thanks very much for your advice..Its much appreciated :)

paul

I'm not sure about the fat storing thing. The insulin, as far as I know, kicks in to keep the level steady, that's it, has nothing to do with storing fat. Your body does this naturally aside from the insulin. You are right about eating the carbohydrates though, technically if you eat more before you work out you will burn them off. However, as you are seeing, you are still feeling a bit bad, meaning you had too much. If you're going for this the trick is to find the level I mentioned. It won't be easy though, if you're feeling all crappy beforehand you are messing up your diet. Just so you know, working out actually balances blood sugar, so surprisingly that may be the only reason you're feeling better after the work out. Again, it's hard to find the carbohydrate level that works for you. I just went for a seven mile insane hike and my foot still hurts from it, weight lift, practice kung fu, etc, and all this on only 120g. It's best to start low at first to see how much you need, then increase, not the other way around. Don't drink anymore, that is likely one of the causes for why you got hypoglycemia. As you see in my diet, it's very, very high in olive oil. This heals the liver and the pancreas, speeding up recovery, plus giving you a ton of fat, but it's all good fat so it will have no adverse effects on your body.