Is low-carbing just for type 2's?

[Ihatehypos]

Hi, I've read with much interest what's been written about eating a low carb diet. I just wondered are there any low-carbers on here who have type 1? If so what happens when you do anything active after a meal and your body has no carbs to use? Don't you hypo alot with nothing to keep the insulin busy!? Also don't high protein meals hang around past the action of most fast-acting insulins - do you get high bg's 4-5 hours about you've eaten? Questions questions! Thanks in advance.

 

[fergus]

Hi there,

Type 1 for 27 years and counting. Low carb for the past 7. The second-class diabetics have an easier time of it, most of them, without the added frisson of possible hypos of course. :wink: But that's true regardless of how you eat. The benefit of eating lowcarb is that insulin doses are so much lower (25% for me) so that blood sugar levels are much more stable and predictable. Once you get the hang of it, hypo's are much less of an issue than they used to be.

The same is true where exercise is concerned. I run and cycle and dietary carbs are not esential. The body can manufacture plenty of glucose from dietary protein, glycogen etc. It's what we've done throughout our history until we started farming just a few thousand years ago after all.

Good point about the fast acting insulin though. I've started using regular Humulin at dinner again because it works more slowly, has a less pronounced peak, and a longer duration.

All the best,

fergus