How low should your blood sugar go during a fast?

[LilyBell214]

I just cut short a 72 hour fast at 54 hours because my blood glucose went down to 51. My ketones were 3.2 and GKI 0.89. I did feel shaky but could complete activities. We went on a hilly hike that day. It was right before bed so I was a little nervous to go to sleep with it that low. Any thoughts or advice? Is that a normal reading during fasting?

[Subtle_badger 16Kg IF 72hrs]

Hey there, LilyBell214

I waited for someone who could comment on your numbers, but maybe there is no one around right now. So you get my ill-informed advice:

You did good. Now is not the time to stress our bodies too much. Stress can be useful for building strengths; break things down and they rebuild much stronger. But if you are doing a fast and your body finds it taxing and decides to pause your immune system to deal with the stress and right then you meet someone with symptom free but contagious coronavirus, well that could be bad.

Shaky and a scary* blood sugar? Wrap it up. Save pushing your body and risking being immuno-compromised to less uncertain times.

Also, in case I haven't made it clear, I am not any sort of expert. I am a dabbler and have only done one fast greater than 36 hours.

*I don't know anything about blood sugar, except HbA1c, so this is just based on what you wrote.

[LilyBell214 in reply to Subtle_badger]

Thanks! I'll try again in a few months. Hopefully we're over this scary pandemic soon. My husband completed the 3 day fast. I had 1/2 avocado & nuts last night and resumed fasting with him today. When we broke our fast, my GKI was 2.8 so I still was in ketosis. We wanted to do a total reset, particularly due to the coronavirus. We've read 3 days is a good immune strengthener. Both of us work in the ICU so we're gearing up to return to work next week.

[Subtle_badger 16Kg IF 72hrs in reply to LilyBell214]

Ah, it sounds like you know what you are doing. Fasting while you are isolated with time to recover before exposure sounds really sensible.

I look forward to all this being over, and you can coach me on doing a longer fast.

Stay well, and I can't even begin to thank you for what you do. ICU must be hard enough in the best of times, and now - I have no words.

[Stoozie Administrator]

Hello and welcome, I don't remember saying Hi before

I am sorry but I don't feel able to comment with any expertise on your numbers but would encourage you as the wise Subtle_badger did to listen to your body. You sound very sensible, and that you are trying to take an evidence-based approach.

[LilyBell214 in reply to Stoozie]

Thank you! Done with our fast and feel good. We do Intermittent Fasting, but like how good we feel with the 3 day. I do think all of the advice to curb extended fastingi during these troubling times is the best approach as well. Thank you all.