Re: - Specific Carbohydrate Diet & Hypoglycemia??

[Guest guest]

** Hi , thanks for all the advice and explaining the diet.

> If you are interested in the SCD you really need to read the book,

> " Breaking the Vicious Cycle " , and read as much as you can find on

> internet sites.

** Yes, I intend to get the book. I've just been looking over the

websites at the moment to get an idea if this may be right for me.

*Sam

> If you have adrenal problems you likely have problems with

> hypoglycemia even if sugar tests are usually within the normal

range.

** Ok, yes I do have adrenal problems. I've tried all the

supplements and am now starting to try HC slowly. So that is good to

know. So far I've only had serum glucose tested but will get the

hemoglobin A1c as Jackie suggested too.

>

> > Can the yeast make me have blood sugar reactions?

>

> The thing about yeast, or even bacterial dysbiosis, is that on the

SCD

> the only sugars that are allowed are simple sugars that are readily

> absorbed quickly and because they are absorbed so quickly they

aren't

> available for opportunists.

** , since they are the quickly absorbed sugars am I correct in

assuming that they are the ones that will quickly elevate blood sugar

levels too? Like table sugar will, even though I'm sure table sugar

is not allowed. *Sam

And, I really think that maintaining steady blood

> sugar levels has more to do with adrenal problems than with yeast

> problems.

** Sounds like all the more reason to focus on getting my adrenals

under control. They just seem to affect so much. *Sam

> I did go nuts at first and put on a lot of weight. I do think that

> the SCD is right for me but I really have to force myself to be more

> balanced, and have some meat and vegetables with my honey/almond

> biscuits. I expect that you would have to be real careful too.

** Yes, I think you are right, I will have to be real careful.

That's what I'm afraid of, having a hard time controlling myself, the

cravings, the mood swings, and just screwing myself up more in

general. I know that sugar effects me emotionally. *Sam

[Guest guest]

> If I understand the diet correctly, it is allowed, but not required

> to eat fruit and honey on this diet.

** I know but them I'm right back where I started w/just meat,

veggies (& cheating). *Sam

> I have tried SCD a couple of times just for a few days. All I

tried

> was the Welch's grape juice that they recommend. I do not tolerate

> it. Haven't tried the honey, but pretty sure I would not tolerate

> that.

** I wasn't going to push it and even try the juices. The fruit &

honey would just be amazing to me. Gosh, even just the fruit! *Sam

> Digestive enzymes and betaine hcl are likely to help.

** I currently take digestive enzymes but don't tolerate the betaine

hcl as it gives me stomach aches. I really do know that I need it

though as I'm sure I'm low stomach acid. *Sam

>

> When was your hair test and what did it say about blood sugar?

> Ca/Mg ratio is the blood sugar ratio - should be in 4-30 range.

>

> --

>

** Thanks for pointing that out. I didn't know that Ca/Mg was the

blood sugar ratio. My hairtest was in January and the ratio was 16,

right in the middle. I wonder what that means in relation to my

hypoglycemia symptoms? Does it give an idea as to the cause since it

says I'm fine but am actually not?

**Do you know what below & above the range mean? For example is

below the range low blood sugar & above the range is high blood

sugar? *Sam

[Guest guest]

> If I understand the diet correctly, it is allowed, but not required

> to eat fruit and honey on this diet.

** I know but them I'm right back where I started w/just meat,

veggies (& cheating). *Sam

> I have tried SCD a couple of times just for a few days. All I

tried

> was the Welch's grape juice that they recommend. I do not tolerate

> it. Haven't tried the honey, but pretty sure I would not tolerate

> that.

** I wasn't going to push it and even try the juices. The fruit &

honey would just be amazing to me. Gosh, even just the fruit! *Sam

> Digestive enzymes and betaine hcl are likely to help.

** I currently take digestive enzymes but don't tolerate the betaine

hcl as it gives me stomach aches. I really do know that I need it

though as I'm sure I'm low stomach acid. *Sam

>

> When was your hair test and what did it say about blood sugar?

> Ca/Mg ratio is the blood sugar ratio - should be in 4-30 range.

>

> --

>

** Thanks for pointing that out. I didn't know that Ca/Mg was the

blood sugar ratio. My hairtest was in January and the ratio was 16,

right in the middle. I wonder what that means in relation to my

hypoglycemia symptoms? Does it give an idea as to the cause since it

says I'm fine but am actually not?

**Do you know what below & above the range mean? For example is

below the range low blood sugar & above the range is high blood

sugar? *Sam

[Guest guest]

>

> > If I understand the diet correctly, it is allowed, but not required

> > to eat fruit and honey on this diet.

>

> ** I know but them I'm right back where I started w/just meat,

> veggies (& cheating). *Sam

It is reasonable to try SCD. I agree with about reading

up on it and trying the beginners diet.

You may do well and improve on SCD, or not. There is only one

way to find out.

> > I have tried SCD a couple of times just for a few days. All I

> tried

> > was the Welch's grape juice that they recommend. I do not tolerate

> > it. Haven't tried the honey, but pretty sure I would not tolerate

> > that.

>

> ** I wasn't going to push it and even try the juices. The fruit &

> honey would just be amazing to me. Gosh, even just the fruit! *Sam

Fruit is what attracted me to SCD, too. But I really do okay on my

current diet, and I have other priorities to address, so I am better

off sticking with what works. If what you are doing is not working

for you, then trying SCD makes good sense.

> > Digestive enzymes and betaine hcl are likely to help.

>

> ** I currently take digestive enzymes but don't tolerate the betaine

> hcl as it gives me stomach aches. I really do know that I need it

> though as I'm sure I'm low stomach acid. *Sam

I was the same way at first - actually nausea is my symptom, not

stomach ache. It has taken me all year to work up my tolerance.

I still need to increase, but it has helped my digestion a lot.

> > When was your hair test and what did it say about blood sugar?

> > Ca/Mg ratio is the blood sugar ratio - should be in 4-30 range.

> >

> > --

> >

>

> ** Thanks for pointing that out. I didn't know that Ca/Mg was the

> blood sugar ratio. My hairtest was in January and the ratio was 16,

> right in the middle. I wonder what that means in relation to my

> hypoglycemia symptoms? Does it give an idea as to the cause sinure

Calcium and magnesium affect the release of insulin. But even if

you release insulin appropriately, you can have insulin resistance

and be unable to use the insulin properly, so that may lead to blood

sugar symptoms. I don't have the big picture of how it all works,

but I know that Ca/Mg does not always show problems with blood sugar.

> **Do you know what below & above the range mean? For example is

> below the range low blood sugar & above the range is high bood

> sugar? *Sam

>

It is not that simple. All you can say is that Ca/Mg out of range

indicates problems with blood sugar regulation. I don't think it

tells you whether blood sugar is high or low.

--

[Guest guest]

> Fruit is what attracted me to SCD, too. But I really do okay on my

> current diet, and I have other priorities to address, so I am

better

> off sticking with what works. If what you are doing is not working

> for you, then trying SCD makes good sense.

** If you don't mind me asking, what is your current diet? *Sam

> > ** I currently take digestive enzymes but don't tolerate the

betaine

> > hcl as it gives me stomach aches. I really do know that I need it

> > though as I'm sure I'm low stomach acid. *Sam

>

>

> I was the same way at first - actually nausea is my symptom, not

> stomach ache. It has taken me all year to work up my tolerance.

> I still need to increase, but it has helped my digestion a lot.

>

** I was thinking maybe I started with a dose of the betatine hcl

that was too high. What is a good starting dose? I was using 200mg

in a combo product. Do you know someplace to get it in small dose

pills? *Sam

[Guest guest]

>

> > Fruit is what attracted me to SCD, too. But I really do okay on my

> > current diet, and I have other priorities to address, so I am

> better

> > off sticking with what works. If what you are doing is not working

> > for you, then trying SCD makes good sense.

>

> ** If you don't mind me asking, what is your current diet? *Sam

meat/poultry/fish

veggies, including some starchy veggies

goat yogurt every 4 days

1-2 eggs every 4 days

whole grains - buckwheat, quinoa, rice, corn

lentils/beans - few servings per week

nuts

I also eat some dark chocolate - I used to stick with sugar free,

but now I'm eating some low sugar types. I would probably be better

off without any of it.

I cheat with fruit too often and always regret it.

Digestive enzymes help with the grains and starchy veggies.

I imagine this is not going to help everyone, but that's my

experience. I do have to limit the amount.

> > > ** I currently take digestive enzymes but don't tolerate the

> betaine

> > > hcl as it gives me stomach aches. I really do know that I need it

> > > though as I'm sure I'm low stomach acid. *Sam

> >

> >

> > I was the same way at first - actually nausea is my symptom, not

> > stomach ache. It has taken me all year to work up my tolerance.

> > I still need to increase, but it has helped my digestion a lot.

> >

>

> ** I was thinking maybe I started with a dose of the betatine hcl

> that was too high. What is a good starting dose? I was using 200mg

> in a combo product. Do you know someplace to get it in small dose

> pills? *Sam

I had tried small amounts of betaine hcl in the past, cutting

tablets into pieces, but I could not adjust to it. When I tried

again this year, I used Digestin (Progressive Labs) to start with.

It has 115 mg betaine hcl per capsule. Also has 50 mg ox bile

and various other ingredients, including enzymes. I made sure to

take it in the middle of the meal, and only with larger meals at

first. I increased to 2 caps, then 3 caps with meals. When I

got to 3 caps, I was able to transition to using plain betaine hcl

in larger amounts, along with digestive enzymes and ox bile. In

the past couple of months I have used 500-750 mg betaine with

every meal.

There have been several benefits from this. I can eat more meat

than I used to, I enjoy eating more because the aftermath is more

comfortable, my upper gut area just feels better and occasionally

I even feel a little gurgling in there. Also, even back in June

my hair test started to get a few elements going high instead of

low.

--