[KW6536]

New lab work done 10/28/2011. A1C is now 6.4- getting lower each draw.
However my concern is my UCREATININE is 190 the norm is 30-125 for this lab. My serum Creatinine is normal at 0.90
Currently taking Metformin 1500mg ER 1x/day, Levemir 40units twice daily, and Novolog 6 units with meals until 10/28/11.
Cholesterol has gone from 132 to 212 in 3 months

What would change things that drastically. I average 30 carbs per day.
As of 10/28/11 have decreased to less than 10 carbs and under 500 calories per day and have not even had to use my insulin- testing 10-12 times per day and staying between 110-123.
Would the Metformin be messing with my kidneys?
See my MD on Wednesday but worried about labs.

 

[smorgan]

You're starving! Who knows what kind of harm that can do? Unless your 3'6" and way 60 pounds, 500 calories is not enough to maintain good health.

You should eat the recommended number of calories or something close to it. You can keep the carbs as low as you want/need to, just exchange them for a like number of calories from fat (9g of carbs = 4g of fat, calorically speaking). Include enough saturated fats, NO trans-fats or other human-damaged oils and avoid excessive PUFAs (they are a source of inflammation). A few of the carbs could be exchanged for proteins, but too much of that is a bad idea.

This will:

- allow you to control your blood sugar without adverse effects
- raise your HDL
- lower your triglycerides
- shift your LDL toward Type A particles (large fluffy and harmless)
- reduce or have no effect on "total" LDL (which is hardly important in light of the previous item.

Make sure you know how to adjust your insulin dose as you make any changes.

If I'm not mistaken, yes I believe Metformin has been implicated in harm to kidneys in a small number of cases. Perhaps others have better information on that.

New lab work done 10/28/2011. A1C is now 6.4- getting lower each draw.
However my concern is my UCREATININE is 190 the norm is 30-125 for this lab. My serum Creatinine is normal at 0.90
Currently taking Metformin 1500mg ER 1x/day, Levemir 40units twice daily, and Novolog 6 units with meals until 10/28/11.
Cholesterol has gone from 132 to 212 in 3 months

What would change things that drastically. I average 30 carbs per day.
As of 10/28/11 have decreased to less than 10 carbs and under 500 calories per day and have not even had to use my insulin- testing 10-12 times per day and staying between 110-123.
Would the Metformin be messing with my kidneys?
See my MD on Wednesday but worried about labs.

 

[KW6536]

I did a normal low carb high fat non calorie restricted diet until 10/28/11. I use only coconut oil for cooking. I am so confused on my choesterol.
HDL is 48 (up from 39 )
Triglycerides are 189 (up from 138)
C-LDL 126 up from 108

I spike 30-40 points just from eating an egg. Doesn't make sense. I have terrible spikes when I eat anything. Desperately trying to normalize my sugars. Have to lose about 50 lbs yet and hoping weight loss will help

 

[Shanny]

You really are starving yourself, Karen, and that causes a lot of not-very-good changes in your body as it reacts to the absence of nourishment. What foods are you eating?

You could maintain your 30g carbs level, and increase fats & some protein without compromising your BG . . . eggs, cheese, full fat foods . . . you could triple your calories without disrupting your diabetes management. I doubt if you'd even disrupt your weight loss. Many of us have lost considerable weight on low-carb/high-fat food plans, and we're eating many many calories, but essentially no carbs.

 

[Patdart]

You've been given fantastic advice above, but your body is in starvation mode and you'll really hurt your body. I eat under 30 carbs most days and have lost 50 lbs in the last year and am at perfect body weight, so give some thought to the wisdom above and good luck.

 

[jwags]

I aim for 30-40 carbs a day and 2000 calories. If you go much under 1200 calories a day your body goes into starvation mode and strips nutrients and protein from your muscles like your heart, it is very dangerous. I don't think you should reduce your calories, but try increasing your fat. Since you are taking insulin you should be able to figure out what your carb:insulin ratio is. You may also be very insulin resistant and need more metformin.

 

[MsTCB]

I did a normal low carb high fat non calorie restricted diet until 10/28/11. I use only coconut oil for cooking. I am so confused on my choesterol.
HDL is 48 (up from 39 )
Triglycerides are 189 (up from 138)
C-LDL 126 up from 108

I spike 30-40 points just from eating an egg. Doesn't make sense. I have terrible spikes when I eat anything. Desperately trying to normalize my sugars. Have to lose about 50 lbs yet and hoping weight loss will help

Spiking that much from an egg could mean that you are Insulin deficient. Has your Doc checked your C-Peptide? That will tell you how much of your own Insulin you are still producing. I would guess that it is low.

I'm not all that alarmed at the 500 calorie diet. I've followed one like that and would lose 1 lb a day for about a month and then take a break for about 3-4 months and then do it again. Not a problem.

 

[beefy]

I aim for 30-40 carbs a day and 2000 calories. If you go much under 1200 calories a day your body goes into starvation mode and strips nutrients and protein from your muscles like your heart, it is very dangerous. I don't think you should reduce your calories, but try increasing your fat. Since you are taking insulin you should be able to figure out what your carb:insulin ratio is. You may also be very insulin resistant and need more metformin.

I agree with everyone else - you're in starvation mode, and that's what's wreaking havoc on your system.

In starvation mode you won't properly burn fat for fuel. Your body will instead catabolize muscle tissue.

Up your healthy fat intake. You may need to minimize protein as it's likely causing your spikes from eggs, etc. In starvation mode your body will convert the protein into glucose... You NEED the higher amounts of fat for energy so that doesn't happen.

Good luck!

 

[laney1566]

I am amazed at the carb counts here. I was told to eat between 30-45 carbs per meal. When I stick to that, with Insulin. My levels are good and I slowly lose weight.