What improved when I went low-carb? Well, I started making a list of all the things that have improved for me since I decided to make the commitment to a very low-carb, ketogenic diet with a plan to publish the list at some point.
The problem with that is that the list seems to be never ending. I just keep adding to the list.
I decided today (08-21-21) that I would publish my list up to this point. I have no doubt that it will continue to get longer as time goes by and I will definitely have to share my updated list here on the blog occasionally.
If you are wondering about a list of things that did not improve for me with a low carb diet…. Well – there isn’t one! I haven’t found anything yet that has gotten worse. If I do find something, I will be sure to make a list for that too.
- Stabilized type 1 diabetic blood glucose – (on day one!)
- Standard deviation under 20 3+ years
- No blood glucose over 160mg/dl in 3+ years
- No more roller coaster blood sugars
- Glucose predictability
- Consistently Normal glucose 3+ years and counting
- Afib improved
- Coronary Risk score – improved
- Reduced basal insulin
- Less whole body water retention
- Leg Swelling improved
- Improved Mood
- Improved Blood Pressure
- Improved Mental Clarity
- Improved Concentration
- Reduction in bowel distress (IBS)
- Steatorrhea stopped
- Colon “Dumping” – stopped
- Digestive timing improved
- Constant GI gas pain – stopped
- Heartburn stopped
- Mouth sores disappeared
- Tongue plaque – “geographic tongue” and sores gone
- Thrush gone – no recurrence
- Magic mouthwash – discontinued
- Thrush meds – discontinued
- No recurrent kidney infections
- No more recurrent bladder infections
- No more candida-related skin rashes
- Nystatin powder – discontinued
- Skin Tags – reducing in size
- Skin Tags – disappearing
- Improved skin tone in the legs
- The shiny appearance on the leg skin disappeared
- vascular improvements in legs- More blood flow overall – more stamina
- Knee pain reduced
- Foot pain reduced
- Hand pain reduced
- elbow pain – gone
- wrist pain – gone
- hip pain – gone
- back pain – gone
- neck pain (c-spine fusion) – improved
- No insulin pump site infections
- Muscle Strength Improved
- C-reactive protein – Normalized
- Sed Rate – Normalized
- A1c – Normalized
- Vitamin D Levels – Normalized
- Vitamin B Levels – Normalized
- Kidney Function labs – Improved
- Inflammatory Markers – All Normal
- Lupus in Remission!
- Constant Hunger – Gone
- Hair growth – Improved
- Hair loss overall – Improved
- Hair growth on legs – returned (vascular improvement)
- Purple and Red damage on lower legs – hugely improved and nearly gone.
- Adema swelling – greatly reduced
- Ruptured blood vessels in legs – stopped
- Vascular infections in both legs – stopped
- Skin texture overall- Improved
- Fingernail ridges improved – some are gone
- Asthma – Improved
- Blood Pressure meds reduced
- Albuterol – changed to prn
- Prednisone – stopped
- Azathiaprine – stopped
- Plaquenil – stopped
- Methocarbamol – stopped
- Creon – decreased from 8 to 2 capsules per day
- Gastric Delay – Improved
- Malabsorption – Improved
- Headaches – gone
- Eyesight – Prescription improved
- Symbicort Inhaler – stopped
- Snoring – stopped
- Morning 9 am exhaustion – gone
- CPAP for Sleep Apnea – stopped
- Depression – gone
- Daily energy – much improved
- Constant hunger – gone
- Satiety -for the first time in my life
- Sleep greatly improved
- High elevation adaptation is faster
- Exercise tolerance greatly improved
- 155 lbs of fat lost
- Muscle Gained
- Overall strength – greatly improved
- Endurance – greatly improved
- Stress tolerance – improved
- Mental strength – improved
- Family relationships improved
- Eye color – deeper? Who knew?
- Allergies – much improved
- No sunburns in 3 years
- Sun, heat & light tolerance improved
- Mosquito bites do not swell & fewer bites overall
- Eye sensitivity to light – much improved
- Anxiety – greatly improved – Rare occurrence
- Swimming
- Bike Riding
- Hiking
- Lifting Weights
- Gardening
- Hand strength returning
- Less dislocation of thumbs
- Familial Tremor greatly improved in my Hands and Voice
- Posture Improved
- Height – regained 1/2 inch
- Healing is faster – cuts, etc
- Smiling – much more often 🙂
- ….. to be continued