What does it mean if you start to black out when you stand up?

[Jonndad]

I have CKD.  This happens only when I start a strict low carb, low-protein vegetarian diet and bring my blood sugars under tight control.  If I want the blacking out  to stop I just start eating everything in sight and let my blood sugars go to 400.  What's going on?  My blood pressure is always around 130/80 when I check it at the supermarket.

[Willis]

In my personal experience I've had "blacking out" problems when I stand up when my blood pressure was too low. You need to get a BP monitor and start checking your BP several times a day to see what's going on. If you are on BP meds (I talk from experience) it's possible that your BP can fluctuate wildly during any given day. But I must also add that it could be something even more serious and you should talk to your doctor as soon as possible.

 

[jbeany]

(Willis and I are thinking the same thing - he just posted faster than I did.)

Did you ever get dizzy from standing up too fast before your kidney problems began?  It's not unusual.  The body has to adjust blood pressure quickly when you stand, and kidneys are a huge part of blood pressure control.  Your CKD is making that harder to accomplish.

I wouldn't suggest pigging out as a solution though.  Causing more problems in the long term isn't a good way to help this one!  Are you on bp meds?  You might be able to adjust either the dose or the dosing schedule, to keep your blood pressure on an even keel.  If you don't have a bp monitor of your own, you should get one.  I'd suggest taking regular readings for a day or two, and noting them down, along with times you had the dizzy spells.  You may be able to see a pattern that you can treat.

[Jonndad]

I'm not on any BP meds.  This has been happening for years but only when I start these radical changes in diet.  When I say radical I mean going from eating everything in sight and running dangerously high blood sugars for months and sometimes years to 1000-1200 calories a day of basically fats and vegetables with a little protein to try and prolong the life of my kidneys AND suddenly I start keeping my blood sugar normal 24/7.  This is mystifying to me because I never have the problem when I am eating a horrible diet and running high blood sugars.  I read something somewhere where somebody suggested taking your blood pressure when you're lying down and then when you stand up.  Is eating more the cure to this or what?

[jbeany]

My guess is, when you switch to the proper diet, you are also drastically lowering your sodium intake.  It usually goes hand-in-hand with suddenly stopping the junk.  Maybe try the low cal diet, check your bp, and either start having some soup or broth or including pickles and olives with your meals and snacks?  Pickles are low fat and low protein, so they won't mess up your diet goals.

If you can get your body adjusted gradually to the low sodium, then your bp might stabilize.

[MaryJoe]

Maybe your blood sugar is contributing to the problem.  If you're making radical changes you could be bottoming out.  Have you tried changing your diet in a more gradual way?  All bad to all good in a flash may not be the best way to go.  Are you also changing the liquids you drink or the amount?  Dehydration is not your friend either.  I don't know, my first thought was BP drop like jbeany and willis.  There is a condition called orthostatic hypotension - essentially a sudden drop in BP when you change position.  You need to take your BP lying down, then sitting, then standing.  Be careful during position changes, rest if you get dizzy.  Hope you get to the bottom of the problem - and not by hitting the floor 

[thegrammalady]

my problem was dehydration and lack of salt. we raised my dry weight, i get to drink more and add salt. i take a salty snack to dialysis or i end up so low it's the hospital for me. i was checked up one side and down the other before we came to this conclusion. i find the extra fluid and salt wonderful  they took me off all blood pressure meds about 2 years into dialysis.

[Joe]

I've had that happen with both dehydration and low BP. If you're not checking your BP a couple of times a day, you should. It's the most common cause for me. Usually can take care of it by eating something salty like frites or such. Don't eat them often, but when my BP is that low I want to get it back up fairly quickly.

[Jonndad]

Thank you all so much for your input and advice.  You've given me several ideas to talk to my Dr. about.