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Carb refuel diet plan?

lizdeluz

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,306
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
I've just been reading about the need to refuel my diet with a carby meal once every 5 or 7 days? LCHFers should do this 'carb-cycling' apparently, for the following reasons:
  • Replenishes glycogen - this will avoid the breaking down of protein instead of fat?
  • Revs up the thyroid - a slow thyroid function will mean a slow metabolism and no/reduced fat loss?
  • Increases leptin levels - low leptin levels cause increased hunger?

I have an underactive thyroid, and don't think I'm going to be able to rev it up anyway!

Can someone in the know on these issues please explain to me whether low-carbers with diabetes need to do this carb-cycling plan? I get the impression that it wouldn't work anyway for people with little or no insulin hormone?
 
As a Swede and done LCHF for more than 2 years and probably read most stuff about LCHF, I've never heard about this and don't think the reasons you listed is valid. Rather I would suggest to get better fat burning the suggestions is to be very strict for a couple of days, that's less than 10 gram of carbs per DAY or less then 3 E% of carbs while the fat is around 85 E%.
 
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lizdeluz, in respect of T2s. the ability to store glycogen is impaired, thus having a carby meal doesn't make sense as the body wouldn't be able to handle it. If you were on insulin (which I'm not) then I assume you'd have to mess with your insulin doses to do this and wouldn't that in itself have issues?
Personally I'm a diet/exercise controlled T2. I average around 10hrs exercise a week and have been LCHF for a while. I do have issues with my glycogen reserves as, being T2, I can't carboload in advance of an endurance event. With my current diet I run out of energy after an hour of running. However, after exercise, the body is primed to absorb glycogen and if one was to have a carby meal then immediately after exercise is the time to do it.
 
Thank you both. I can't say I fully understand everything you've both said, but I agree with the gist - that 'carb refuelling' isn't an idea that sits well with diabetes. It reminds me of another diet I've heard about which is called the 5:2 diet? Which again, I can't see being appropriate for us diabetics.
 
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