This thread is great, and touches on many issues that have contributed to my health problems; as I posted in my thread "Ketogenic Diet is helping me".

A few years ago, I lost 15lbs on Atkin's and at 5'7" was down to 115lbs. Due to laziness, alcohol consumption, caffeine and lack of activity I strayed from the diet and gained 30+lbs. It was after this that I stressed my hand while fishing and noticed the nodule. My foot had been hurting for a while, but I had no idea what it was.

The Atkin's had no affect on what I later discovered was severe hypoglycemia; which has plagued me since I was in high school. I am convinced that alcohol and caffeine played a major part in my symptoms. However, removing these elements had no effect until I went into a ketogenic state.

This suggests, that in my case, blood glucose levels play a key role in the tenderness of my nodules. It's also interesting that I had almost no caffeine withdrawal while on this diet. In the past, I found it almost impossible to quit caffeine due to weeks of fatigue and lack of concentration.

In the past three weeks I have only had three or four alcoholic beverages consisting of clear alcohol (gin, vodka) mixed with sugar free mixers. I now find the thought of more than one drink, at a time, unappealing. I drink decaffeinated coffee (which I'm told probably contains some caffeine). Remarkably, I'm wide awake and full of energy. My hypoglycemic symptoms have been gone since I first tested positive for Ketones.

It's my feeling that this is neither a coincidence nor placebo. I believe that I was being poisoned by glucose which caused severe drops and spikes in my blood sugar.

Thanks Andrew and Kevin for all of the helpful information you have posted!