Lactic acid build up?? **Help**

[_Goddess_]

I was on a med for my diabetes called metforman. Which has a warning of lactic acid build up from this alone. I have been off this med for 2 months now and the lactic acid has gone down but it is still higher than it should be. My Doctor says it must be from my diet and that I need to add more carbs in my diet to counter this effect. I really don't want to add much more to my diet I am already at 40 grams a day. If I add much more I will stop losing! Has anyone here had the same effect?? And if so is there something I can do? I have added minerals to try to help myself and just seen a small effect. :help: what else is there??

[Dodger]

Goddess,

I'm a little confused by what you doctor said. Lactic acid is a byproduct from glucose being used for energy. Normally it does not stay around for long in the body and is recycled into other compounds.

I do not understand how adding more carbs into the body would reduce lactic acid.

I have read that some bacterial infections can cause high lactic acid. How do you feel, energy wise?

[Niky Brady]

doesn't the amino acid L-glutamine reduce (or counter) lactic acid build-up? I know I use it after working out to reduce the EFFECTS of lactic acid build-up. Am I wrong?? really curious now.....

[_Goddess_]

:) You know, to tell the truth I never knew what the lactic acid was caused from at all! Maybe, you can give me more info on this or lead me to where to find this out. I never thought of using the web to find out about my diet and the problems with it, until a friend suggested I try looking around. When I found this site I liked to jump out of my skin with excitement. Most people here still think it's a fad diet, even if Atkins has been around since the 70's. They are all too happy to scare me into thinking I'm trying to kill myself!
As far as health goes I feel ok. :thup: I have some allergys from the pollen in the air but no infections to speak of. I am pretty energetic or so-so but not sick in any way. So tell me more if you would, both of you sound pretty informative. I would love to hear about the L-glutamine and the effects on lactic acid, and the amounts that are recomended.
My doctor is concerned mostly because of the med. I was on at first. You have to understand my Doctor is young and to tell the truth most Doctors still look at this as a dangerous way of eating. I have tought her alot so far and I am sure together we will learn much more.
I do know that high levels of lactic acid in your system can make you really sick!! Take my word for it when I was on "Metforman" {a drug for my diabetes} the levels of lactic acid was out of control. {in normal times you can't and don't have this problem} I had horriable head ackes and was terriably sick in my stomuch. I felt dizzy and felt like I was going to pass out, and to tell the truth my Doctor has had me pretty scared and I have had to have about 8 blood test in the past month or so because she was so worried. She says that it is much lower now, but still looks at me like it is not okay.
She keeps trying to get me on a so called "balanced" diet, I wonder... could this just be a ploy???? **Smile** I wouldn't put it past her LOL
Thanks for your replys, any help will be greatly recived!!!! :wave:

[Niky Brady]

I did some research and I found some good stuff...

It sounds like Dodger is correct and your doctor is a bit misinformed... I think she may just be guessing....

General Lactic Acid Buildup Information
Lactic acid is a waste product produced by muscle tissue and red blood cells. When oxygen levels are high, the body breaks carbohydrates into water and carbon dioxide, but when oxygen is scarce, carbs used for energy turn into lactic acid. When exercisers “feel the burn”, they are actually experiencing excess amounts of lactic acid in their muscles. Very high levels of lactic acid can be dangerous, and even life-threatening. Lactic acid buildup is a reversible condition; when tissues are exposed to adequate amounts of oxygen, the acid is metabolized and bodily systems return to normal.
Possible Causes of Lactic Acid Buildup
Lactic acid levels increase when strenuous exercise or other situations cause an interruption in the delivery of oxygen throughout the body. Lactic acid buildup can also be attributed to shock, severe infection, AIDS and liver damage. Using a diabetic medication called metformin can also trigger lactic acid buildup.

The amino acid L-Glutamine actually reduces the levels of lactic acid in the system and is naturally produced by the body. It is relatively cheap and commonly found in health supplement stores.


Another amino acid DMG (N,N-Dimethylglycine) is also naturally occuring and helps decrease lactic acid buildup by enhancing the delivery of oxygen to cells.

So DMG helps your body produce less lactic acid and L-Glutamine reduces what has already been produced.

To tell you the truth I have never heard of a doctor suggesting that a diabetic eat MORE carbs. Your body already has a defect in the way it responds to carbohydrates and if you are building up lactic acid it sounds like your body has a hard time with oxygen delivery, too. That would cause any carbs you eat to be inefficiently broken down and they would be converted partially into lactic acid.

If you are exercising intensly that would cause this, also. Slower, less intense workouts can help minimize this effect.

HTH

[Dodger]

How high are your lactic acid levels? Normal levels are 6 to 16 mg/dL. Do you know what your levels were before you went on Metformin?

As long as your levels are decreasing, I would not be too concerned. Your body may be just slower than most in removing lactic acid.

[Niky Brady]

How high are your lactic acid levels? Normal levels are 6 to 16 mg/dL. Do you know what your levels were before you went on Metformin?

As long as your levels are decreasing, I would not be too concerned. Your body may be just slower than most in removing lactic acid.

Yeah, it sounds like you just had a really severe reaction to the metformin.

Do you also find it strange that a doctor is recommending MORE carbs for a diabetic or is it just me?

[_Goddess_]

Wow, did I come to the right place or not??? :) *Smile* :) & :bhug: {{{{Hugs}}} :bhug: Yes, mama I feel the same way about the carb thing, too. It's not just you!! Good doctors are hard to find, sometimes. I think a person has to find out what works for them selfs alot more than you should for as much as doctor charge. But I'm not saying there not helpful..... but, for this, I do believe she is guessing also, guessing and scaring me to death! :cry:
General Lactic Acid Buildup Information
Lactic acid is a waste product produced by muscle tissue and red blood cells. When oxygen levels are high, the body breaks carbohydrates into water and carbon dioxide, but when oxygen is scarce, carbs used for energy turn into lactic acid. When exercisers “feel the burn”, they are actually experiencing excess amounts of lactic acid in their muscles. Very high levels of lactic acid can be dangerous, and even life-threatening. Lactic acid buildup is a reversible condition; when tissues are exposed to adequate amounts of oxygen, the acid is metabolized and bodily systems return to normal.

Possible Causes of Lactic Acid Buildup
Lactic acid levels increase when strenuous exercise or other situations cause an interruption in the delivery of oxygen throughout the body. Lactic acid buildup can also be attributed to shock, severe infection, AIDS and liver damage. Using a diabetic medication called metformin can also trigger lactic acid buildup.



The amino acid L-Glutamine actually reduces the levels of lactic acid in the system and is naturally produced by the body. It is relatively cheap and commonly found in health supplement stores.


Another amino acid DMG (N,N-Dimethylglycine) is also naturally occuring and helps decrease lactic acid buildup by enhancing the delivery of oxygen to cells.

So DMG helps your body produce less lactic acid and L-Glutamine reduces what has already been produced.

To tell you the truth I have never heard of a doctor suggesting that a diabetic eat MORE carbs. Your body already has a defect in the way it responds to carbohydrates and if you are building up lactic acid it sounds like your body has a hard time with oxygen delivery, too. That would cause any carbs you eat to be inefficiently broken down and they would be converted partially into lactic acid.

If you are exercising intensly that would cause this, also. Slower, less intense workouts can help minimize this effect.


Fantastic info, All I can say is thanks. I will get the L-glutamine and dmg and try it out tonight.

Dodger, I really don't know what the amounts were before the metformen but surelly with all the test she's done, you would think if it were high before she wouldn't have gave me the metformen in the first place. Wouldn't you? :q: Geeezzze....... I don't remember, I should have wrote the amounts down when I was retested last week. I will call her today and find out what the amount levels are now just to see. I have a feeling there not much higher than what you qouted as in the normal range......

Normal levels are 6 to 16 mg/dL.

You 2 have no idea how helpful you have been to me. I have been very scared and worried ever since this whole thing started. All I got from medical people was "maybe you should just stop your diet..... When all they had tryed me on before blew me up and extra 200lbs...... put me on handfuls of meds. three times a day and gave me a cane.... On this diet I am finolly losing weight and eating well {i might add} where before I was starving and gaining. I am off all meds except one for highblood pressure and with losing more weight I will be off that one too!!! :rheart: You've just made my staying on the right track a lot more easier. :sunny:

[Niky Brady]

I'm glad we could help. You sound much happier today! Congrats on your progress too! You're doing fantastic! 70lbs! That's so awesome!

[Niky Brady]

P.s your ticker will work if you use the bbCode format.

[_Goddess_]

Thanks Mama, the ticker works!! :)*Smile*:) I do feel better. I was looking at your photos you have on line, youv'e really changed alot. :thup: Youv'e really done great!! You have alot to be proud of!!!:D

[Niky Brady]

Thanks! I almost wish I had more fat photos (almost ;) ) so I could see more of the changes but it was a rare occasion that I let people photgraph me at my biggest.

[_Goddess_]

No one!!! Wants fat pictures, I hate to have my pictures took. My kids are always wanting to "take your picture mommie" and I always run!!
:lol: LOL :lol:
I just don't look like myself, and the last thing in the world I want to do is remember how I am now. But, I know I should if for nothing else to inspire myself to keep it up.

Well I gotta run, kids are wanting to go to movies,
Talk to you later,
Mary