Gave up sugar, EXTREME hunger!!

I gave up sugar 6 days ago and I swear to you I feel like a vacuum. I just ate a full meal and still feel like i could keep going. It started about 3 days into everything. I also am very, very thirsty.

When I get hungry, which is basically all the time now, I feel like I'm going to die if I don't eat. I get a headache, start to shake, and become extremely agitated.

Is this normal and when can I look for it to pass? Its miserable.
«1

Replies

  • ShayCarver89
    ShayCarver89 Posts: 239 Member
    I'm actually in pre diabetes. That's why I gave up sugar. And my diet was basically made up of sweets and carbs.
  • kimondo666
    kimondo666 Posts: 194 Member
    edited August 2019
    get a help with the doctor about less sugar diet. IF you are pre diabetes, maybe some prescritpion to control sugar levels. Do you not have equipment to check sugar levels in blood?
  • Hannahwalksfar
    Hannahwalksfar Posts: 572 Member
    Maybe decline your sugar instead of going cold turkey or replace processed sugar with fruits
  • ShayCarver89
    ShayCarver89 Posts: 239 Member
    That's yet another thing. I still eat fruit. I had fruit salad and a turkey wrap for lunch. There's carbs and sugar. But I haven't had like chocolate, cookies, candy, cake..nothing like that in 6 days. I used to eat junk every single day if it fit into my calories. My body is being slammed for it. I also have been extremely tired and my body aches all over. I'm going through actual withdrawal. I just want to know when and if it'll end.
  • Maxxitt
    Maxxitt Posts: 1,281 Member
    If you would open your diary so that folks could see what you actually are consuming, there might be some helpful input. At this point, it's really hard to guess what might be happening although the symptoms sound like hypoglycemia or an electrolyte issue. If it continues, though, consult your primary care provider.
  • Constance320
    Constance320 Posts: 19 Member
    That's yet another thing. I still eat fruit. I had fruit salad and a turkey wrap for lunch. There's carbs and sugar. But I haven't had like chocolate, cookies, candy, cake..nothing like that in 6 days. I used to eat junk every single day if it fit into my calories. My body is being slammed for it. I also have been extremely tired and my body aches all over. I'm going through actual withdrawal. I just want to know when and if it'll end.

    Are you sure it's not the keto flu? Presumably, if your body is used to 500 grams of sugar daily and you cut it down to 100-150 i would imagine that could happen. How much protein are you getting?
  • Bootzey
    Bootzey Posts: 274 Member
    Stay your course. It’ll pass
  • LyndaBSS
    LyndaBSS Posts: 6,964 Member
    edited August 2019
    LyndaBSS wrote: »
    Time for a trip to the doctor to get him/her up to speed regarding these severe reactions to diet change.

    Agree with this completely ^^^^^

    I'm speaking as a diabetic. Your glucose levels are not something you can afford to fool around with.

    Your endocrinologist should have had you meet with his office's dietician before you started something new.

    In the US, it is not common to have an endocrinologist unless you are an insulin dependent diabetic or otherwise having issues that warrant more care than Metformin and monitoring.

    I'm in the US. That said, I also had my thyroid removed, so I had an endo anyway.
  • NovusDies
    NovusDies Posts: 8,940 Member
    This does not sound like something a pre-diabetic should be going through. I am a little worried that your diagnosis is incorrect.
  • lemurcat2
    lemurcat2 Posts: 7,885 Member
    kimny72 wrote: »
    I'm a little confused between OP'S posts and some of the replies. If OP was simply told they were pre diabetic, this doesn't mean they necessarily need to control carbs or track blood sugar levels or has an endocrinologist. Pre diabetes isn't a condition or diagnosis, it's just a warning that you're headed in that direction. And OP says they are still eating wraps, sandwiches, fruit.

    I don’t know where OP is from, but in the UK the standard advice for blood sugars that are above the healthy range but below diagnosed diabetic range (not all doctors in the UK even use the term “prediabetic” though mine does) is to lose weight to a healthy BMI if overweight, cut out added sugars and reduce “white” starches, by which they mean go for Wholemeal versions of bread, pasta, rice etc with more fibre. They don't limit fruit but suggest you go for at least 3 portions of veg a day. . We wouldn’t be referred to an endocrinologist but our blood sugars would be checked at the GP approx every six months.

    This seems normal for here too. Advice to lose weight, cut back on added sugar (which very often comes with fat, btw), and switch out refined for whole grain foods is not all that specific to "prediabetes" (on what that means I recommend the recent Sigma Nutrition interview with Nicola Guess). But this isn't really a special diabetic diet, it's what the dietary guidelines recommend for healthy eating and common advice to people trying to lose.

    It's also not inconsistent with what kimny said about there being no necessary reason to assume OP needs to control carbs or track blood sugar levels, etc.
  • NovusDies
    NovusDies Posts: 8,940 Member
    kimny72 wrote: »
    lemurcat2 wrote: »
    kimny72 wrote: »
    I'm a little confused between OP'S posts and some of the replies. If OP was simply told they were pre diabetic, this doesn't mean they necessarily need to control carbs or track blood sugar levels or has an endocrinologist. Pre diabetes isn't a condition or diagnosis, it's just a warning that you're headed in that direction. And OP says they are still eating wraps, sandwiches, fruit.

    I don’t know where OP is from, but in the UK the standard advice for blood sugars that are above the healthy range but below diagnosed diabetic range (not all doctors in the UK even use the term “prediabetic” though mine does) is to lose weight to a healthy BMI if overweight, cut out added sugars and reduce “white” starches, by which they mean go for Wholemeal versions of bread, pasta, rice etc with more fibre. They don't limit fruit but suggest you go for at least 3 portions of veg a day. . We wouldn’t be referred to an endocrinologist but our blood sugars would be checked at the GP approx every six months.

    This seems normal for here too. Advice to lose weight, cut back on added sugar (which very often comes with fat, btw), and switch out refined for whole grain foods is not all that specific to "prediabetes" (on what that means I recommend the recent Sigma Nutrition interview with Nicola Guess). But this isn't really a special diabetic diet, it's what the dietary guidelines recommend for healthy eating and common advice to people trying to lose.

    It's also not inconsistent with what kimny said about there being no necessary reason to assume OP needs to control carbs or track blood sugar levels, etc.

    Yeah, and my concern is more that everyone is focusing on cutting too much sugar for a diabetic, but if she just had a checkup and is not diabetic, there's no reason for cutting out sweet treats to cause extreme hunger, headache, shakes, fatigue etc. And I don't want OP to just shrug it off as getting used to the diet change when it is most likely something else.


    What she described sounds exactly like a low blood sugar event which is why I think people are responding the way they are. I don't think it makes sense with a pre-D diagnosis so I agree with you. This is why I am concerned that her diagnosis is incorrect. I am not sure how that can happen. If she was not properly fasted her BG would be high so that is easy. I am not sure if a very high carb diet can goose an a1c but I barely understand what that is only that it is a result of ~90 days.
  • kimny72
    kimny72 Posts: 16,011 Member
    NovusDies wrote: »
    kimny72 wrote: »
    lemurcat2 wrote: »
    kimny72 wrote: »
    I'm a little confused between OP'S posts and some of the replies. If OP was simply told they were pre diabetic, this doesn't mean they necessarily need to control carbs or track blood sugar levels or has an endocrinologist. Pre diabetes isn't a condition or diagnosis, it's just a warning that you're headed in that direction. And OP says they are still eating wraps, sandwiches, fruit.

    I don’t know where OP is from, but in the UK the standard advice for blood sugars that are above the healthy range but below diagnosed diabetic range (not all doctors in the UK even use the term “prediabetic” though mine does) is to lose weight to a healthy BMI if overweight, cut out added sugars and reduce “white” starches, by which they mean go for Wholemeal versions of bread, pasta, rice etc with more fibre. They don't limit fruit but suggest you go for at least 3 portions of veg a day. . We wouldn’t be referred to an endocrinologist but our blood sugars would be checked at the GP approx every six months.

    This seems normal for here too. Advice to lose weight, cut back on added sugar (which very often comes with fat, btw), and switch out refined for whole grain foods is not all that specific to "prediabetes" (on what that means I recommend the recent Sigma Nutrition interview with Nicola Guess). But this isn't really a special diabetic diet, it's what the dietary guidelines recommend for healthy eating and common advice to people trying to lose.

    It's also not inconsistent with what kimny said about there being no necessary reason to assume OP needs to control carbs or track blood sugar levels, etc.

    Yeah, and my concern is more that everyone is focusing on cutting too much sugar for a diabetic, but if she just had a checkup and is not diabetic, there's no reason for cutting out sweet treats to cause extreme hunger, headache, shakes, fatigue etc. And I don't want OP to just shrug it off as getting used to the diet change when it is most likely something else.


    What she described sounds exactly like a low blood sugar event which is why I think people are responding the way they are. I don't think it makes sense with a pre-D diagnosis so I agree with you. This is why I am concerned that her diagnosis is incorrect. I am not sure how that can happen. If she was not properly fasted her BG would be high so that is easy. I am not sure if a very high carb diet can goose an a1c but I barely understand what that is only that it is a result of ~90 days.

    So OP, I think our amateur consensus is this is NOT normal. If you are eating at a steep deficit, eat more. If you are still feeling this way today, especially the shakes, agitation, and body aches, it might not be a bad idea to pop into your doctor's office or an urgent care office and see if a pro can spot the cause.

    Just cutting back on sweet treats while still eating other carbs should not lead to these symptoms, or really any noticable symptoms, assuming you are not in fact diabetic. Let us know!
  • lemurcat2
    lemurcat2 Posts: 7,885 Member
    kimny72 wrote: »
    lemurcat2 wrote: »
    kimny72 wrote: »
    I'm a little confused between OP'S posts and some of the replies. If OP was simply told they were pre diabetic, this doesn't mean they necessarily need to control carbs or track blood sugar levels or has an endocrinologist. Pre diabetes isn't a condition or diagnosis, it's just a warning that you're headed in that direction. And OP says they are still eating wraps, sandwiches, fruit.

    I don’t know where OP is from, but in the UK the standard advice for blood sugars that are above the healthy range but below diagnosed diabetic range (not all doctors in the UK even use the term “prediabetic” though mine does) is to lose weight to a healthy BMI if overweight, cut out added sugars and reduce “white” starches, by which they mean go for Wholemeal versions of bread, pasta, rice etc with more fibre. They don't limit fruit but suggest you go for at least 3 portions of veg a day. . We wouldn’t be referred to an endocrinologist but our blood sugars would be checked at the GP approx every six months.

    This seems normal for here too. Advice to lose weight, cut back on added sugar (which very often comes with fat, btw), and switch out refined for whole grain foods is not all that specific to "prediabetes" (on what that means I recommend the recent Sigma Nutrition interview with Nicola Guess). But this isn't really a special diabetic diet, it's what the dietary guidelines recommend for healthy eating and common advice to people trying to lose.

    It's also not inconsistent with what kimny said about there being no necessary reason to assume OP needs to control carbs or track blood sugar levels, etc.

    Yeah, and my concern is more that everyone is focusing on cutting too much sugar for a diabetic, but if she just had a checkup and is not diabetic, there's no reason for cutting out sweet treats to cause extreme hunger, headache, shakes, fatigue etc. And I don't want OP to just shrug it off as getting used to the diet change when it is most likely something else.

    Yes, good point.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    Please change your Diary Sharing settings to Public: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/account/diary_settings