Over the past few weeks, my symptoms have worsened. These include:
-Intense brain fog
- Night sweats
- Waking up 1-2 times a night to use the loo
- Dizziness in the evenings, which improves with food or sugary snacks
I've recently had a consultation with my GP and am awaiting blood test results (including HbA1c). My GP suspects it could be diabetes or pre-diabetes.
I've also lost weight in the last few months, dropping from 83-84kg in April/May to 79kg now. I'm unsure if this is due to changes in my diet, as I’ve cut down massively on sugar and sugary foods
For context, I'm currently on 100mcg of T4 and 10mcg of T3 (Thybon Henning)
This year has been particularly challenging—I was unemployed earlier, took a short-term contract, and have recently secured a permanent role in a high-pressure environment where I need to prove myself.
Without the blood test results, it’s hard to make decisions, but my endocrinologist previously suggested Metformin, which I wasn’t keen on.
If my GP does recommend medication based on the test results, I’m considering whether Berberine might be a better option.
Thank you for your support.
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BookLover2020
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Brain fog is a gluten and sulphite allergy symptom for me, that and low B12/ferritin.
In a previous post you were starting B12 supplements, is that working for you? It might be that you red even more.
under/over T3 replacement is also a sweating symptom for me. When did you last have your full thyroid FT4 and FT3 tested?
Any other symptoms of under/over replacement? Constipation or loose?
Have you had B12 Ferritin or folate tested recently?
Sounds like you are doing all the right things re possible diabetes, well done.
Could you try higher protein lower carb so you balance your blood sugar a bit? Sounds like with dropping sugar you could afford to up your calorie intake of calorie dense foods, nuts, meats, fish depending on your allergies.
Sorry I didn't give much information about my diet.
For breakfast, this is what I have most days. Finally I think I managed to find a breakfast option that keeps me full for longer. I will give the details below that might be useful for others.
- 100 % Rolled Jumbo Oats (They are better than rolled oats alone)
- Cup of full fat milk
- Seeds (Chia, pumpkin and flax)
- Teaspoon of almond butter
- 20g of Whey Protein powder. This brand uses Stevia instead of sucralose as sweetener
- BlueBerries for some added taste
- Coffee with Milk (no sugar)
This keeps me full for 2-3 hours.
Lunch and Dinner - Most days
- Chicken Breast, Thigh.
- Broccoli/Carrots
- Rice/Brown rice/Potato.
Snack:
Protein Bar with low sugar, Banana, Nut snacks with less or no salt.
With regards to B12, I take one tablet on a weekend. The B-Complex that I take everyday already has B12.
Re other tests, I guess I need to wait for the full test results.
The banana and oats would floor me (wore a continuous glucose monitor for the Zoe programme, massive spike, even steeper blood sugar drop 2 hours later). but otherwise this is awesome! I think you can test with a continuous glucose monitor privately, basically wear it, link the app on your phone, eat things like your breakfast and test before and after, 1 hour , 2 hours, try white bread, white rice, brown bread, brown rice, any bread with peanut butter, and learn what spikes for you. For me bananas and oats were the surprises 🌱
I did, I tried all the gluten free organic, did you know oats have the highest glyphosate herbicides residue of any grain? It’s awful, to harvest they literally spray off the whole field to defoliate.
Banana is a complete no for me in all circumstances, I would want to puke while doing weights the sugar drop would be so sharp.
But we are all different , I’ll be fascinated by your Libre results, tag me when you post 🤓
Anything organic is likely to be lower, it’s horrific, even thinking about all the oat milk and aveeno skin products 🤯
Just put the @ symbol in front of their name and it appears in a drop down, you click them and it turns blue and they get a notification of a mention 🌱 eg BookLover2020
Regenallotment BookLover2020 I used a Dexcom CGM for 3 weeks - I rarely eat oats for breakfast but decided to test them a couple of times just to see. They spiked my blood sugar massively and then the drop too - absolute no no. Interestingly a 'breakfast' of 50g 85% dark chocolate did nothing - marginal slight raise then slow lowering. I now stick with a smoothie with pea/hemp protein, berries (different combinations), avocado, passion fruit, seeds, water and just a quarter of a banana for sweetness. A few times a week I replace the 1/4 banana with a few prunes (for the boron and to vary the taste) and they don't cause a spike either. We are all different but getting a CGM helped me identify I was actually doing pretty well with my blood sugar and it wasn't the problem - good to eliminate or identify things that could be affecting you. Organic all the way when it comes to oats 👍 and other things if you can afford it.
Do you know that that is very bad for your health? The body needs salt, especially the adrenals. And if you are hypo you need fully functioning adrenals.
When was the last time you had a full thyroid test? Brain fog could be a sign of under-medication. And be aware that if you have not got a sufficient amounts of thyroid replacement, this could actually put you in the pre-diabetes state, as your metabolism is slowed down (body has insufficient amounts of thyroid hormones to process glucose and other metabolic processes such as lipid metabolism, which is why glucose and cholesterol levels can rise!). In most cases, if people are on adequate amounts of thyroid medication, their glucose and lipid levels go down again, as this is a metabolic problem and not a dietary problem. Thyroid hormones are so important for so many metabolic processes, it is actually quite worrying that GPs are not more clued up about this!
Your breakfast sounds very similar to mine! I also have a shake with milk, rolled jumbo oats (our Aldi has organic ones), natural whey protein isolate (no added sugar or stevia, I keep away from all sweeteners), linseeds, a spoonful of peanut butter and a banana (or blue berries on occasions). And as you said, it is tasty and keeps you full for quite a while 😉.
It sounds like you have been through it recently as well, and stress can really cause havoc with all your systems, hopefully it will get better soon. I find, that I do need some carbohydrates to function well, if I cut out too much, it does not agree with me at all, but we are all different.
I would see what your thyroid results are and perhaps test Vitamin D and ferritin as well. Then you have a good idea if it all works well or if you need some adjustments. Hope you will feel better soon.
It's been 4 months and I'm due to see my endo next month. I will ask the GP to test that. Re FT3, I may have to do it privately.
Can I ask what brand of Rolled Jumbo oats do you buy? I buy the Quaker one. Just wondering if there is a better one. It's convenient though. Takes 3-4 minutes to make it in an microwave.
It is definitely worth testing the FT3, not all endocrinologists test that as they are also obsessed with TSH, which might be suppressed or low due to you taking T3, but that should not guide if you need an increase in your meds, the T4 and T3 should give you the answers there.
I think my oats might not be the jumbo ones, they are 100% organic rolled oats made by Kavanagh's and our local Aldi stocks these. They are great though for mixing in shakes or porridge. I also make almond and oat cookies with them - you have to have some treats occasionally and at least I know what I put in them!
You likely need separate B12 daily……not just once a week
With serum B12 result below 500, (Or active B12 below 70) recommended to be taking a separate B12 supplement
A week later add a separate vitamin B Complex
Then once your serum B12 is over 500 (or Active B12 level has reached 70), you may be able to reduce then stop the B12 and just carry on with the B Complex.
If Vegetarian or vegan likely to need ongoing separate B12 few times a week
Igennus B complex popular option. Nice small tablets. Most people only find they need one per day. But a few people find it’s not high enough dose and may need separate methyl folate couple times a week
Thorne Basic B recommended vitamin B complex that contains folate, but they are large capsules. (You can tip powder out if can’t swallow capsule) Thorne can be difficult to find at reasonable price, should be around £20-£25. iherb.com often have in stock. Or try ebay
IMPORTANT......If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 5-7 days before ALL BLOOD TESTS , as biotin can falsely affect test results
In week before blood test, when you stop vitamin B complex, you might want to consider taking a separate folate supplement (eg Jarrow methyl folate 400mcg) and continue separate B12
Post discussing how biotin can affect test results
Do you always get same brand levothyroxine and same T3 at each prescription
Recommended that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am, only drink water between waking and test and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test
This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)
T3 ….day before test split T3 as 2 or 3 smaller doses spread through the day, with last dose approximately 8-12 hours before test
Recommended that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am, only drink water between waking and test and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test
This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)
T3 ….day before test split T3 as 2 or 3 smaller doses spread through the day, with last dose approximately 8-12 hours before test
Monitor My Health (NHS private test service) offer thyroid and vitamin testing, plus cholesterol and HBA1C for £65
You mention needing a snack in the evening to fill better? Even with a BMI of 23, I have battle managing fasting blood glucose. The absolute certain sure way of waking up with high FBG is to eat after 7pm. Just an observation but one you might think worth thinking about. Also tend to have carb heavy meal early in the day but stick high protein with low carb veg for the last meal
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