Has anyone had any luck with the Paleo diet?

[Sweeeeeeeeeet]

Since I've only recently been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, I'm hoping I can beat this thing with proper nutrition. Someone at work told me she's on the Paleo diet and her blood sugar has never been better. I'm not too familiar with the plan, I was hoping someone might be able to fill me in. Anyone on it now? Is it working for your diabetes? Do you think if I eat a very low-carb diet, I can stop taking insulin eventually? My doctor says as long as I use fast-acting insulin, I can eat anything I want; but from what I've seen on some boards, that doesn't seem right. I'm confused!

 

[Indy51]

I would recommend anyone with an autoimmune condition try the Paleo diet, preferably the autoimmune protocol version of the diet. Resources to check out are Dr Terry Wahls and Dr Sarah Ballantyne. Even if you only try it out to see what (if any) difference it makes to your condition. There are lots of success stories for a variety of autoimmune conditions, including people with LADA prolonging their "honeymoon" period. Avoiding gluten seems to be especially beneficial for anyone with an autoimmune condition (coeliac and Type 1 quite commonly cluster together).

I'm not Type 1, so can't really comment in that regard, though following a Paleo/Primal real food version of LCHF has made a big difference in my health - both BG control and amelioration of a number of digestive issues such as IBS and reflux. I can't imagine ever wanting to go back to eating packaged/processed "foods".

 

[azure]

I watch my carbs, but I haven't cut them right down. I think different diets suit different people and that our bodies are all different too. So what works for one person may not work for another.

Did you lose a lot of weight before you were diagnosed? If so, I think you'll need carbs to get that weight back on. Have you seen a dietician?

To answer your question - NO, if you have Type 1 diabetes you can never stop taking insulin (although you may have a honeymoon period when you can get away with taking only small amounts). Even if a Type 1 didn't eat, their blood sugar would still gradually rise and without insulin they could become extremely ill. Even when you're sick and hardly eating, you need insulin to control your blood sugar.

I suggest you get your blood sugars under control first of all, get used to having diabetes and fitting it into your daily life, and then start looking to find a diet that suits you. Suddenly changing could mess your blood sugars up or cause you unnecessary stress if you're still getting used to having diabetes.