I have been tring to stick to a low carb diet since type 2 diagnosis In July this year. However, I have just read on another site that cutting carbs cause ketones and they recommend that complex carbs are required to keep ketones at bay?
Ketones and Diabetes
What are ketones?
Ketones are produced when the body ‘burns’ some of its own fat for fuel. This happens when the body cannot utilise the glucose in the blood to meet its energy needs.
Why should you be aware of ketones?
Insulin is a hormone produced in the pancreas that helps the body to use glucose as an energy source. As people with diabetes do not produce insulin, or their insulin doesn’t work as it should, the body may have to start burning fat for energy in situations where glucose isn’t being used, and this produces ketones. The presence of ketones in the bloodstream is therefore a possible complication of diabetes. If left untreated, this can result in a condition called diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). Blood becomes acidic which is a serious problem that can lead to diabetic coma.
There are a number of things that you can do to help prevent raised ketone levels and DKA:
Eat sensibly and regularly
If you regularly skip meals, particularly carbohydrate based ones, your body will naturally start to produce ketones. A sensible mixed diet with a regular source of starchy or ‘complex’ carbohydrates will help to prevent the production of ketones.
Preferred carbohydrates
Starch and sugars are both types of carbohydrate. Starchy or ‘complex’ carbohydrates are the preferred source of energy in the diet of people with diabetes, such as:
•Whole grain cereals
•Vegetables
•Beans
•Nuts
•Wholemeal bread
•Brown rice
•Potatoes
•Pasta
Maintain your diabetes therapy
It may sound obvious, but be sure to stick to the treatment plan prescribed by your doctor, using insulin and/or taking your oral medication as instructed. Poor glucose control contributes to ketone production, so make sure you regularly check your blood glucose and let your doctor or nurse know if it is outside your target range.
Take regular exercise
Regular exercise is good, but build up gradually and make sure your body has enough carbohydrates to meet your energy needs. Fat will be broken down and ketones produced in the absence of adequate carbohydrates during sudden exercise.
Take extra care during illness
If you don’t feel like eating when unwell, try to match your normal carbohydrate intake with milk, fruit juice or glucose drinks. As illness may affect your diabetes therapy, carefully monitor your blood glucose and report any changes to your doctor or nurse.
If you start vomiting - particularly if you have high blood glucose, are passing a lot of urine, feel cold and have rapid breathing - seek medical advice immediately, as these symptoms could be due to DKA.
Is this advice correct and should I be eating carbs?
Ketones and Diabetes
What are ketones?
Ketones are produced when the body ‘burns’ some of its own fat for fuel. This happens when the body cannot utilise the glucose in the blood to meet its energy needs.
Why should you be aware of ketones?
Insulin is a hormone produced in the pancreas that helps the body to use glucose as an energy source. As people with diabetes do not produce insulin, or their insulin doesn’t work as it should, the body may have to start burning fat for energy in situations where glucose isn’t being used, and this produces ketones. The presence of ketones in the bloodstream is therefore a possible complication of diabetes. If left untreated, this can result in a condition called diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). Blood becomes acidic which is a serious problem that can lead to diabetic coma.
There are a number of things that you can do to help prevent raised ketone levels and DKA:
Eat sensibly and regularly
If you regularly skip meals, particularly carbohydrate based ones, your body will naturally start to produce ketones. A sensible mixed diet with a regular source of starchy or ‘complex’ carbohydrates will help to prevent the production of ketones.
Preferred carbohydrates
Starch and sugars are both types of carbohydrate. Starchy or ‘complex’ carbohydrates are the preferred source of energy in the diet of people with diabetes, such as:
•Whole grain cereals
•Vegetables
•Beans
•Nuts
•Wholemeal bread
•Brown rice
•Potatoes
•Pasta
Maintain your diabetes therapy
It may sound obvious, but be sure to stick to the treatment plan prescribed by your doctor, using insulin and/or taking your oral medication as instructed. Poor glucose control contributes to ketone production, so make sure you regularly check your blood glucose and let your doctor or nurse know if it is outside your target range.
Take regular exercise
Regular exercise is good, but build up gradually and make sure your body has enough carbohydrates to meet your energy needs. Fat will be broken down and ketones produced in the absence of adequate carbohydrates during sudden exercise.
Take extra care during illness
If you don’t feel like eating when unwell, try to match your normal carbohydrate intake with milk, fruit juice or glucose drinks. As illness may affect your diabetes therapy, carefully monitor your blood glucose and report any changes to your doctor or nurse.
If you start vomiting - particularly if you have high blood glucose, are passing a lot of urine, feel cold and have rapid breathing - seek medical advice immediately, as these symptoms could be due to DKA.
Is this advice correct and should I be eating carbs?
