• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Low Carb Diet

S

shell22150

Newbie
Messages
2
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Hi everyone this is my first visit only joined today. I am type 1 diabetic and wish to undertake a low carb diet. I have looked online at various options but wondered if anyone can advise me which is best and if they have low carbed also. Thanks.
 
Hi Shell, I'm type 1 too but just count carbs and inject accordingly. I have reduced carb intake but don't really follow a diet. So, didn't really answer your question but at least I said "hi" lol


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
Thanks for saying hi, I'm trying to carb count too but find it easier to limit carbs, just trying to find the right amount and get ideas online for swapping foods.
 
Hi Shell,
I'm a T1 low carber. My view on low carbing is that if you are hitting the 6.5% HbA1c target (or thereabouts) by eating carbs then carry on. If not, then it's worth having a go at low carbing. It's been completely revelatory for me. I went from having a few hypos a week and a high nearly every day (when carb counting) to having a few of each per month (when low carbing) - this is from testing before and after every meal and before bed and waking up. I can go out to restaurants and have perfect sugar levels. I can go out drinking all night and maintain perfect sugar levels. This was just not possible when I was eating carbs.

The best place to start is to buy Richard Bernstein's Diabetes Diet book. Bernstein is an American T1 diabetic, he's in his 80s and is also a medical doctor. He low carbs and his book explains the reason why he believes low carbing to be the best diet solution for diabetics. He prescribes 6, 12 and 12 grams of carbs for breakfast, lunch and dinner, respectively. I find this to be too prescriptive, so just avoid bread, rice, pasta, potato etc.

His book contains recipes too. Another good book is Karen Barnaby's Low Carb Gourmet, loads of good ideas in there. Pop into the Low Carb forum on here, there are loads of great ideas.

Any other questions, then just ask!
 
Hello all I am new to the forum too! In regards to the low carb diet, Is this effective for weight loss too? I am having problems trying to lose a few pounds and also with very erratic bg readings, so wondering if this may be the right direction for me to go in?


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
Hi Jo,
I was just about to reply to your other thread! Low carbing could be the answer to you too. It certainly stopped the swings in my levels. I also lost a bit of weight - about 0.5 stone and a few inches from my waist in the 10 months or so I've been doing it. Even though I've been stuffing my face!
 
Hi low carb diets can be effective but it all depends on your energy requirements .. I recently cut down in my carbs and started an intense exercise programme but found that I was constantly getting hypos I had a word with my diabetic specialist who advised me to increase my carb intake been a week since my visit feel a bit more energetic and less hypos.


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
Quasim, did you adjust your insulin to account for the exercise? I drop my Lantus by 20% for two days after exercising and drop my Novorapid by one unit for my post exercise meal.

I got this technique from Gary Scheiner's Think Like A Pancreas book. Another good book to buy!
 
Hi thanks Sam will definitely look at the book .. I have dropped my lantus to 10 Units use to suffer severe hypos 2 hours after breakfast. I was told to increase my carb intake so hopefully trying to match my insulin with my carb intake :-)


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
Hi thanks Sam will definitely look at the book .. I have dropped my lantus to 10 Units use to suffer severe hypos 2 hours after breakfast. I was told to increase my carb intake so hopefully trying to match my insulin with my carb intake :-)


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
Back
Top