How highly would you recommend eating low carb?

[Spiker]

90g / day is great, you are already low carbing and quite possibly in nutritional ketosis already.

 

[robert72]

I agree with @Spiker you are already low carbing, but I can see the logic in wanting to reduce the carbs to level off the unpredictability of gastroparesis. You could always try edging down a little to see if it helps.

 

[jack412]

with no gall bladder, can I suggest you change diet slowly to minimise gut problems. you can also ask Dr about gall/liver salts supplement to help with any digestive problems too.

 

[donnellysdogs]

Can you try having milled flaxseeds? These and chia seeds has kept my stomach moving fantastically since I was diagnosed with slow colonic transit. So much so, that I am now discharged from hospital care.. I keep in contact with my gastro chap though and he is now researching the benefits of flaxseeds with sct...I have honestly never had a problem with my bowels now for at least 6 months. I also stopped having jelly babies or anything jelly like because I believe that was the initial causation of my troubles with sct.

 

[hels]

I low carb as it gives me the security of being able to control my blood sugars and keep them as level as possible. Less carbs means less insulin and more even blood sugars, more carbs means more insulin and more highs and lows. This is important for me as my partner works away month at a time and I am alone with a toddler so cannot risk having hypos. When my partner is home I still low carb as I like the control but am more likely to have a few more carbs and cover it with insulin.

I don't really miss most carbs - to me they are the boring bits of meals to fill them out. They are cheap and convenient - I do sometime miss the ease of just having toast when I can't be @rsed to cook. Overall I like experimenting with food and trying different alternatives.

I certainly don't feel that I have "fallen off the bandwagon" if I eat some carbs - it's just a choice that I have made on that occasion.

 

[catherinecherub]

I know this is probably a silly question as it has quite an obvious answer!

I love my carbs. I love pasta, rice and potatoes. In the past, I've tried to take the right amount of insulin to cover this but it's so easy to get it wrong and misjudge it - it also means I can end up taking whopping amounts of insulin!

Would you recommend I reduce my carbs? It should make my diabetes easier to manage, yes?

(I'm also doing Slimming World so although I've read a little about LCHF, I'm not keen to start eating loads of 'fattier' foods!)

Hi Cookiebell, love the avatar.

You might like to read this article which explains the myths about low carb diets.
You are getting some answers from people who are on a ketogenic diet which is only one of the ways that low carbers are categorised.

10 Myths within the LC community.

http://authoritynutrition.com/10-myths-within-the-low-carb-community/

As the article explains, you can still be classed as a low carber if you are eating 150gms.

We all have to lower our carb intake from the RDA to gain control but carbs are so demonised by some posters that you have to experiment for yourself rather than rely on anecdotal evidence from others. It's your body, your metabolism and your choice when it comes to what you should and should not be eating.

 

[Geordie lass]

Great work, and brill advertisement for low carb! I'm new enough to the low carb way of eating but I love it so far: great bg control, more stable mood, and much less hunger all in all! Can I ask you what you tend to eat on a typical day? And was the weight loss mainly due to diet/ exercise r a bit of both? 6 stone is phenomenal

I do a lot of exercise, mainly gym and running, 4-5 times per week. My portion sizes have been cut right down. I also had a sleeve gastrectomy which has helped a lot...my Endo is so pleased that my control is within normal range now as for 10 years my diabetes has been quite badly controlled. The sleeve gastrectomy was my last hope in getting the weight off that the massive insulin doses had made me gain the weight as I was a healthy weight when diagnosed! So, LC is definately working for me!

 

[Geordie lass]

That sounds more like severe starvation than a sustainable low carb diet though.

If you read my previous posts on other threads I had mentioned that I had a sleeve gastrectomy in April, so I can't eat big portions anymore, which is good for me as my portion sizes were huge prior to this and my insulin dosage was ridiculous! So that is why LC is working for me. I've never felt healthier, and no I am not severely starving my body! For the size of my stomach now, I eat as much as I can, and the LC for me will be sustainable...for the rest of my life!!! It's the best thing I have ever done in order toget my diabetes in a more "normal" range too.

 

[Scardoc]

I think @zand's quote is brilliant; "It's just my personal view that people need legs more than they need carbs".

As you know currently 94% of Type 1 diabetics fail to get HbA1cs below 6.5% Type 1 diabetics are told to dose adjust to 'eat normally' which means eat carbohydrates.

I think it is completely reasonable to equate carbohydrate with poor control; look at those statistics!

You might have a justification for your shocked CAPITALS if zand was suggesting dropping an essential nutrient, but she is not; she just pointing out to someone who is asking about reducing carbohydrates that the best way to get better control is to do just that and remove the problem to the greatest extent possible.

Best

Dillinger

Now, from reading that, the inference is that eating your RDA of carbohydrates is the reason 94% of type 1 diabetics are not hitting the target of 6.5%. This is the kind of comment that led me, when discussing this forum with a GP, to calling it the "low carb" forum. Yes, for some it is a great tool but it is far from the be all and end all it is most certainly not the reason that 94% of T1's don't have an HbA1c of 6.5% or below.

How many stick to the recommended alcohol intake?
How many exercise as often as recommended?
How many test regularly?
How many have a good knowledge of their insulin requirements?
How many have been let down by the system?
How many actually, genuinely, give a **** about their diabetes?

There are so many variables that come into play with BG control that you cannot even begin to blame one single factor for the 94% fail rate. It's impossible.

Until this year I had never been higher than 6.5% but have been 7.0%, 6.7% and 6.8% through the last 9mths. Carbs? Not changed. Exercise - drastically reduced through injury. Lipohypertrophy - big issue with lack of injection sites. Oh, and my specialist is now preaching that 6.7% is the new 6.5% so my figures are great.

Counting carbs for T1's is most definitely essential for knowing your insulin requirements and reducing carbs should, theoretically, make that easier. However, there are so many other factors to figure in that it won't equate to radically more T1's hitting the target.

I am of the firm belief that the 94% would be hugely reduced if more T1's took control of their condition and cared for themselves better.

 

[Totto]

If you read my previous posts on other threads I had mentioned that I had a sleeve gastrectomy in April, so I can't eat big portions anymore, which is good for me as my portion sizes were huge prior to this and my insulin dosage was ridiculous! So that is why LC is working for me. I've never felt healthier, and no I am not severely starving my body! For the size of my stomach now, I eat as much as I can, and the LC for me will be sustainable...for the rest of my life!!! It's the best thing I have ever done in order toget my diabetes in a more "normal" range too.

Whatever floats your boat!

I do however think that 10 grams of fat per day is dangerously low.

 

[Dillinger]

impossible.

Until this year I had never been higher than 6.5% but have been 7.0%, 6.7% and 6.8% through the last 9mths. Carbs? Not changed

Well, reduce your carbs then and your HbA1cs will improve.

The primary elevator of blood glucose is dietary carbohydrate, even AMBrennan would agree with that surely? So, address the primary issues first and look to the ancillary issues after that.

People get suspiciously hysterical on here about what 'low-carb' means and I think that it is an irrelevance; low-carb means as few carbs as are necessary to normalise your blood sugars.

This thread is about whether people recommend a low-carb diet for diabetics; I am genuinely at a loss as to why the usual suspects get so upset that people actually do recommend that approach. If you don't want to do it then fine; the buffet tables that way, but why not allow people who haven't made up their minds the chance to consider alternative approaches, especially when they are as effective and as simple as not eating starchy carbs?

Dillinger

 

[douglas99]

Well, reduce your carbs then and your HbA1cs will improve.

The primary elevator of blood glucose is dietary carbohydrate, even AMBrennan would agree with that surely? So, address the primary issues first and look to the ancillary issues after that.

People get suspiciously hysterical on here about what 'low-carb' means and I think that it is an irrelevance; low-carb means as few carbs as are necessary to normalise your blood sugars.

This thread is about whether people recommend a low-carb diet for diabetics; I am genuinely at a loss as to why the usual suspects get so upset that people actually do recommend that approach. If you don't want to do it then fine; the buffet tables that way, but why not allow people who haven't made up their minds the chance to consider alternative approaches, especially when they are as effective and as simple as not eating starchy carbs?

Dillinger

Buffet table is actually a good idea for me. I can choose to portion control, avoid the excess of fats and creams and butters, and choose to only eat the amount I need, so don't mind if I do thanks!

 

[Robinredbreast]

I'm T2 but believe strongly in minimising meds in all things. Eating low carb enables me to do without meds. If I was T1 I would want to minimise insulin dosing. Why anyone would want to take more poison just because there's an antidote handy defeats me.

Oh and yes it makes me feel better, fitter and satisfied with what I eat.

I am happy for you that you are feeling better, fitter and satisfied.

As a type 1 for 25 years Insulin is my life line, even if I have eggs and bacon, an omelette I still have to take Insulin. I have never taken poison in my life and talking about Insulin being an antidote is an insult and a negative response to type 1's who take it,.whether it is 10 units a day or 15, 20, 30, 40 or 50 !.. Also, don't forget the type 1 children as well.
Any diabetic reducing their carb intake is most certainly a good thing. I for one am happy in my reduction.

 

[Kat100]

I am happy for you that you are feeling better, fitter and satisfied.

As a type 1 for 25 years Insulin is my life line, even if I have eggs and bacon, an omelette I still have to take Insulin. I have never taken poison in my life and talking about Insulin being an antidote is an insult and a negative response to type 1's who take it,.whether it is 10 units a day or 15,20, 30,40 or 50 units.. Also, don't forget the type 1 children as well.
Any diabetic reducing their carb intake is most certainly a good thing. I for one am happy in my reduction.

I fully support robinredbreast ...to,suggest insulin or medication that people need for any health problem is indeed insulting when it is referred to as poison ....
This response to peoples health needs saddens me ...and concerns me .
I can't cope without a lot of medication not just for diabetic reasons ....if you don't need any medication then you are indeed lucky . ( this supports RRB with reference to medication bring referred to as poison by another poster )

 

[Geordie lass]

Whatever floats your boat!

I do however think that 10 grams of fat per day is dangerously low.

"Whatever floats your boat"..... what are you going on about!?? I didn't ask for your opinion. I was merely giving my advice as to the OP's question about low carbing! Not interested in the slightest whether you think my fat intake is too low or whether you think I am starving myself. I suggest if you haven't got anything positive or constructive to say then don't say anything at all!

You obviously do not have any idea as to the positive effects that low carbing has on Type 1 diabetes. I see you are type 2, diet alone...that just speaks for itself! How rude you are!

 

[paul-1976]

I see you are type 2, diet alone...that just speaks for itself! How rude you are!

Oh great! A REAL 'us and them' attitude and for real this time! What the heck do you mean about "Type 2 and diet alone that just speaks for itself??!! This is prejudice pure and simple in my book! How rude you are Geordie lass more like!

 

[Geordie lass]

Oh great! A REAL 's and them' attitude and for real this time! What the heck do you mean about "Type 2 and diet alone that just speaks for itself??!! This is prejudice pure and simple in my book! How rude you are Geordie lass more like! [/QUOTE

Sorry Paul...i dont wish to offend any type 2's on this forum. I was just directing my disgust at the rude member who was being very negative about my low carb plan. i am not a rude person, as you put it...but when other members are being rude to me I will let them know!! My point was that she did not understand the positive effects that low carbing has on type 1's and their bg levels as it is in my opinion different to being type 2. Enough said!!! I am not getting into a bickering game as this just becomes very childish.

 

[Bluetit1802]

"Whatever floats your boat"..... what are you going on about!?? I didn't ask for your opinion. I was merely giving my advice as to the OP's question about low carbing! Not interested in the slightest whether you think my fat intake is too low or whether you think I am starving myself. I suggest if you haven't got anything positive or constructive to say then don't say anything at all!

You obviously do not have any idea as to the positive effects that low carbing has on Type 1 diabetes. I see you are type 2, diet alone...that just speaks for itself! How rude you are!

I fail to understand your last paragraph. Low or lowish carbing is essential for diet only type 2's. We have no other way of controlling it.

 

[noblehead]

I am happy for you that you are feeling better, fitter and satisfied.

As a type 1 for 25 years Insulin is my life line, even if I have eggs and bacon, an omelette I still have to take Insulin. I have never taken poison in my life and talking about Insulin being an antidote is an insult and a negative response to type 1's who take it,.whether it is 10 units a day or 15, 20, 30, 40 or 50 !.. Also, don't forget the type 1 children as well.
Any diabetic reducing their carb intake is most certainly a good thing. I for one am happy in my reduction.

Great post RRB.

 

[Totto]

"Whatever floats your boat"..... what are you going on about!?? I didn't ask for your opinion. I was merely giving my advice as to the OP's question about low carbing! Not interested in the slightest whether you think my fat intake is too low or whether you think I am starving myself. I suggest if you haven't got anything positive or constructive to say then don't say anything at all!

You obviously do not have any idea as to the positive effects that low carbing has on Type 1 diabetes. I see you are type 2, diet alone...that just speaks for itself! How rude you are!

If you give it some thought you might find my suggestion as to your extremely low fat intake actually is constructive.

I can also very much appreciate the very positive effect of low carbing for T1, maybe even more so as I myself, as a very carb sensitive T2 actually can stay off meds by low carbing.

I also think low fat diets are dangerous, and if you want to low carb you need a good portion of healthy fat to keep you going. As in a couple of hundred grams per day.