Hi I have been T1 for 23 years now and tried the Keto diet recently. After about a week or so on the diet I did manage to achieve two weeks straight of 100% time in target and reduced my insulin by about half, however after these two weeks my glucose levels did become erratic I was having high readings even if I had a meal with no carbs or if I hadn't eaten at all. This may have been because I wasn't following the diet properly because I didn't really take in the bit about macronutrients. but I did read that as the body is not getting energy from carbs it will use fat for energy instead which causes the liver to produce more glucose. I also remember being told something about the 'honeymoon period' but I can't quite remember what that is. Anyway I am now back up to my original dose of insulin. If you haven't already the book Obesity Code by Jason Fung is a good place to start ( I'm 5.4 and 70kg so I am not overweight but was recommended this book and found it very interesting from a diabetic perspective). I'm planning on trying out the 8 week blood sugar diet next by Clare Bailey next as it has a clear timetable for breakfast lunch and dinner for 8 weeks which would be more helpful for me.Hi all. Looking to hear from people who are T1 and tried keto/low-carb diet. I'm T1 for over 2 years, managing reasonably well, but feeling like reducing carbs further so most likely I will end up producing ketones. I'm not really sure what to expect....but I'm assuming that if my glucose level is in a good range I shouldn't have any risk of DKA while producing ketons due to low intake of carbs?
For me, it makes dosing much easier, both in timing as in amount of insulin.What is your reasoning behind wanting to go on a keto / low carb diet? It's a very successful diet for bringing down blood sugars and weight loss in type 2 diabetics, but wondering what benefits there are for Type 1. If indeed you are even thinking about diabetic benefits. I'm just curious.
Gawd @ANTJE you have to be a mathematician to work out your insulin dosing! As I'm a complete dud at math I don't know how I will cope when/if I go on insulin. Yeah I did wonder what the benefits are with low carbing, in particular child onset T1, but Type 1 (LADA) has some of the components of type 2, like metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance in varying degrees. I did read that the type 2 aspect of LADA varies considerably from individual to individual. Some have little or no insulin resistance or metabolic syndrome, while others more. I can't remember where I read that nugget of info, unfortunately.For me, it makes dosing much easier, both in timing as in amount of insulin.
I need to prebolus because most foods hit me faster than my insulin, but by how long?
If I have a meal needing 5 units, and I'm 20% off in my dose, I'll only need to eat enough to cover 1 unit to correct, or add 1 unit to correct.
If I have a meal needing 50 units and I'm 20% off in my dose, I'll need a significant extra dessert when I'm already full with my meal, or I'll shoot way up in the teens after which it will take ages for a correction dose to start working.
The amount of insulin I need for the same amount of carbs varies throughout the day, depends on activity, on food already eaten that day, on active insulin on board, and on the colour of my socks. So chances on choosing the perfect dose are rather slim.
That said, some people are very good at calculating their doses for higher carb meals, it's all personal preference and experience.
Uhm, I'm one of those lazy diabetics mainly winging it, not calculating. Low carbing makes this much easier. The only time in 7 years I've properly calculated carbs (apart from reading on my pack of LC bread it has 3.8 grams per slice) was when I made some keto nuts and chocolate things to send to @JoKalsbeek to celebrate Sinterklaas and I wanted to include the correct carb count.Gawd @ANTJE you have to be a mathematician to work out your insulin dosing! As I'm a complete dud at math I don't know how I will cope when/if I go on insulin.
Correct.Type 1 (LADA) has some of the components of type 2, like metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance in varying degrees. I did read that the type 2 aspect of LADA varies considerably from individual to individual. Some have little or no insulin resistance or metabolic syndrome, while others more.
Someone posted a study a while back on how the effect of a low carb diet on lipids can be completely different for fat and thin people, but I can't find it anymore.Keto instead it raised my LDL's. If anyone reading this is off put by my raised LDLs , don't be as apparently I am one of these lean hyper mass responder types so my fat metabolism works differently .
At only 3 years in, it's quite likely you're still producing some insulin yourself, the honeymoon period.I'm T1 for over 2 years, managing reasonably well, but feeling like reducing carbs further
Not me I'm afraid.Someone posted a study a while back on how the effect of a low carb diet on lipids can be completely different for fat and thin people, but I can't find it anymore.
It's also outside the scope of this thread, I fear.
@EllieM was that you sharing this interesting study?
Dang, it was a very interesting and relevant study, should have bookmarked it.Not me I'm afraid.
Check out Ketosis-prone diabetes. I came across it by chance. Here is a wiki link to it. It's quick and easy to read. You will glaze over if I try and explain it. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ketosis-prone_diabetesAs regards DKA, my ketones normally run at levels of about .2, as I'm not in dietary ketosis. It's not impossible to have a DKA at normal blood sugars (google euglycemic DKA) but I think that is normally associated with certain medications (eg flozins).
Well, I thought that on keto maybe I can reduce my insulin and hence minimise events of hypo/hyperglycaemia. After reading comments and thinking more about it, it sounds like it might be tricky because I will still need to compensate for the glucose released by my body from fat, which looks like might be tricky? From this perspective maybe going to low carb diet, but with sufficient carbs in order to avoid ketosis, would potentially be better in the cae of T1?What is your reasoning behind wanting to go on a keto / low carb diet? It's a very successful diet for bringing down blood sugars and weight loss in type 2 diabetics, but wondering what benefits there are for Type 1. If indeed you are even thinking about diabetic benefits. I'm just curious.
No matter how many carbs you choose to eat, the main thing is matching your insulin doses to your food.Well, I thought that on keto maybe I can reduce my insulin and hence minimise events of hypo/hyperglycaemia. After reading comments and thinking more about it, it sounds like it might be tricky because I will still need to compensate for the glucose released by my body from fat, which looks like might be tricky? From this perspective maybe going to low carb diet, but with sufficient carbs in order to avoid ketosis, would potentially be better in the cae of T1?
Same here, depending on how many carbs I eat.Because I can see that when I eat carbs (mostly dinners), I struggle to compensate well and can't avoid spikes.
Hi as a T1 I can highly recommend a keto diet for the last 4 years and my control is absolutely amazing. Yes you’ll have ketones but don’t get confused between dietary ketones and ketoacidosis.Hi all. Looking to hear from people who are T1 and tried keto/low-carb diet. I'm T1 for over 2 years, managing reasonably well, but feeling like reducing carbs further so most likely I will end up producing ketones. I'm not really sure what to expect....but I'm assuming that if my glucose level is in a good range I shouldn't have any risk of DKA while producing ketons due to low intake of carbs?
That’s one of the biggest misconceptions. Ketones that are used for energy when you become fat adapted and keto acidosis which is when you’re ketones go extremely high most likely caused by a lack of insulin.Hi all. Looking to hear from people who are T1 and tried keto/low-carb diet. I'm T1 for over 2 years, managing reasonably well, but feeling like reducing carbs further so most likely I will end up producing ketones. I'm not really sure what to expect....but I'm assuming that if my glucose level is in a good range I shouldn't have any risk of DKA while producing ketons due to low intake of carbs?
Hello MacHi all. Looking to hear from people who are T1 and tried keto/low-carb diet. I'm T1 for over 2 years, managing reasonably well, but feeling like reducing carbs further so most likely I will end up producing ketones. I'm not really sure what to expect....but I'm assuming that if my glucose level is in a good range I shouldn't have any risk of DKA while producing ketons due to low intake of carbs?
Hi @jane Prevost & welcome to the forumHello Mac
I was diagnosed in Jan 2022 with type 1 age 56 and found the keto after finding the conventional route using insulin to carbs unreliable. I was playing a lot of sports and kept getting hypo glycaemic bouts which massively impacted my quality of life and mental health.
I now eat around 30g of carbs a day and my bloods are usually between 95 and 99 % in range. My medical team are amazed at my results.
I get the odd hypo but only seldom is it a bad one. I have lots of energy and a very healthy diet.
Please let me know if you have any questions as I have spent many hours researching the diet and have some fab recipes.
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