Sodium Amounts
NYPhotographer2021
Posts: 510 Member
Hello. So in addition to being T2D, I also am hypertensive. I've been monitoring my blood pressure for a few weeks and I could not get it down to "normal". Finally yesterday, I decided to drastically reduce the amount of sodium I was ingesting. Because I am eating a ketogenic diet, with my carbs 20 or less, I've been adding more sodium to my food. Pink salt mainly. My sodium was almost always above 4000 mg/day. But my blood pressure was averaging out to be around 130/90.
Yesterday, my morning measure was 124/75. Not bad, but based on my earlier measurements, it wasn't good either. So I didn't consume any extra sodium yesterday. My nighttime measure was 119/77! I was back in the "normal" range! A fluke, I thought. This morning, my measure was 103/65. Hmmm...maybe not a fluke!
I know we need the extra sodium because of our carbs being so low and our systems need that micronutrient. So I am conflicted. I'm almost 60, and need my heart to be in good condition for a bit longer. But nor do I want the lack of sodium to be my downfall either.
Any comments or advice? I am going to continue with not adding extra sodium today and continue monitoring my bp. I am using No Salt for the added potassium, and also take magnesium and calcium supplements. TIA!
Yesterday, my morning measure was 124/75. Not bad, but based on my earlier measurements, it wasn't good either. So I didn't consume any extra sodium yesterday. My nighttime measure was 119/77! I was back in the "normal" range! A fluke, I thought. This morning, my measure was 103/65. Hmmm...maybe not a fluke!
I know we need the extra sodium because of our carbs being so low and our systems need that micronutrient. So I am conflicted. I'm almost 60, and need my heart to be in good condition for a bit longer. But nor do I want the lack of sodium to be my downfall either.
Any comments or advice? I am going to continue with not adding extra sodium today and continue monitoring my bp. I am using No Salt for the added potassium, and also take magnesium and calcium supplements. TIA!
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Replies
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I am right there with you. I have cirrhosis and am on a very low sodium diet. I am concerned that I will not get enough sodium, { average 300 -400 mg daily}
sounds like you are doing great! I'm impressed!1 -
ChoosingToChange wrote: »I am right there with you. I have cirrhosis and am on a very low sodium diet. I am concerned that I will not get enough sodium, { average 300 -400 mg daily}
sounds like you are doing great! I'm impressed!
Thank you! Yes, it's hard to know exactly what to do with sodium. I know keto works which is why I've chosen it to be my woe this time around. I had success with it, but then life got in the way, and I went back to eating high carb. But trying to stick with it this time around. Just not sure what to do about sodium.0 -
I'm sorry if you've said somewhere how long you've been low-carbing. I homeschool 3 kids and mod 3 groups so I skim sometimes.
Eventually some folks can lower the sodium just a bit once their bodies have adapted to low-carb. So over time you might be ok with a bit less. Just monitor it while using just regular sodium and see how you feel. If you start to feel symptoms of electrolyte imbalance, then maybe inch up a small increment, as in 50 or a 100mg to see if a wee boost will suffice.
That's what I would do if I were in your situation. Hopefully my babbling turns out to be helpful.
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Thank you @baconslave I've only been low carbing it for about 6 weeks now. Below 20 grams consistently the last couple of weeks. I will keep an eye on it and how I feel. Thanks again!0
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I am keto .. Type 2 diabetic and my sodium is set at 5000mg because I do not want the keto flu1
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Megan_smartiepants1970 wrote: »I am keto .. Type 2 diabetic and my sodium is set at 5000mg because I do not want the keto flu
How is your blood pressure? High? Normal?0 -
NYPhotographer2021 wrote: »Megan_smartiepants1970 wrote: »I am keto .. Type 2 diabetic and my sodium is set at 5000mg because I do not want the keto flu
How is your blood pressure? High? Normal?
My blood sugar on Friday was 120 ... When I was diagnosed with T2 in 2019 it was in the 2's, 3's and sometimes 5's but I was also admitted for the flu/pneumonia ...My blood pressure has been normal for about a month now ...1 -
Awesome! My blood sugar has been good. Just worried about my bp. As much as I don't want the keto flu, I also don't like my bp being high. So we will see how that goes!0
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I have congestive heart failure. Also T2D. Have for 20 years, since I was 27.. on my 3rd ICD, but the good news is, I've lost a bit over 100 lbs.
I have done low carb on and off for half the years since I was diagnosed.. all my improvements have been in these 10 years.
Recently I started ZC, or maybe you know it as carnivore.. just animal products.. for me that is meat, eggs, cheese, fish, and fowl, with butter and mayo. Just water. No plants, very few carbs, if any per day.
I found I was eating a bit too much sodium. Someone told me 3000-4000 mg was best on very low carb, but I was at 4500-5000 a day.
I've cut back to 1500-1800 a day, which basically means cutting ham out, and limiting sausage & cheese.
The thing is, I am on 16 pills a day, plus basal Insulin. My blood sugars are low, but so is MY BP.. I started having breathing issues from high NA.. water weight gain builds up, but my BP hasn't changed due to triple the Na.
I run 85-100 for systolic, and 50-70 for diastolic. So 90/60 is normal, until I can see my cardiologist and cut another one of my BP meds, or drop a dose.
Back in 2001, I would run much higher... 200/160 wasn't unusual. Guess they really medicated against that, and with weight loss, now I worry about low BP. My pacemaker keeps me at 75 HR, so unless I have some uncontrolled A-Fib, I'm good in this regard.
Still can't have 4000 mg Na a day though, due to breathing.1
