> -----Original Message-----
> From: Paleolithic Eating Support List
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of [log in to unmask]
> Sent: Sunday, April 19, 2009 3:50 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Blood Glucose 83
> 
> > Hi All,
> >
> > I would argue that elevated fasting blood glucose in the context of a
> low
> > carb diet is suggestive of excessive protein intake and inadequate fat
> > intake. When we need energy, our livers will utilize proteins to produce
> > glucose for energy, by a process of gluconeogenesis. The liver will make
> > use
> > of dietary proteins or, when these are not available, self-proteins,
> > usually
> > beginning with breaking down and using muscle proteins for glucose.
> >
> > Best Wishes,
> > Ron
> 
> The thing that puzzles me is:  Why do low-carbers need to produce more
> glucose than their tissues can immediately use, causing insulin to be
> released to (attempt to) clear it from the bloodstream?  The process of
> gluconeogenesis should, it seems to me, operate at a threshold level,
> producing just enough glucose to "get by", not a surplus.
> 
> The "morning BG surge" is a familiar phenomenon.  Since glucose is the
> preferred fuel for sudden, explosive, action, perhaps evolution has
> adapted us to create a surge of glucose in the morning to prepare us for
> immediate vigorous action upon awakening.
> 
> If adding some carbohydrate to the diet causes fasting BG to be lower than
> it is on zero carbs, then that is sufficient reason not to do zero carbs.
> The whole point of reducing carbs in the first place is to minimize rises
> in BG and insulin.  If low carb does this more effectively than no carb,
> then that's important information, puzzling as it may be.
> 
> My best guess is this:  If we eat more protein than we can use for tissue
> maintenance, it has to be converted to glucose because there's nothing
> else to be done with it.  But if that's so, then eating a bit more
> carbohydrate shouldn't have any effect.  Weird.
> 
> Todd Moody

[Ron] When the pancreas is producing glucagon, its production of insulin is
usually quite low. Perhaps the elevated fasting BG reflects limited insulin
production congruent with elevated glucagon production. 

When I'm in ketosis, my fasting BG is quite low (4.1-4.3) but I stringently
limit my protein intake.

Best Wishes, 
Ron