Protein and fat effect on blood sugar - interesting article

[Vectian]

This article talks about how protein and fat can affect blood sugar and cause it to stay elevated hours after eating. I have been seeing this happening myself on the CGM.

How Fat & Protein Affect Blood Glucose – Waltzing The Dragon Inc.

waltzingthedragon.ca

It also says that eating fat increases insulin resistance, so it's that rather than the fat itself raising blood sugar. But hang on, isn't a LCHF diet often recommended for putting T2 into remission, where the main problem is insulin resistance? How can eating more fat both worsen and improve IR?

 

[Justfish]

Thanks for sharing the article. It’s interesting but a study carried out in Israel some time ago monitored around a 100 subjects to see what foods raised the sugar levels in individuals and the surprising conclusion was that everyone’s body response different to various foods. It’s not one size fits all.

 

[Vectian]

Thanks for sharing the article. It’s interesting but a study carried out in Israel some time ago monitored around a 100 subjects to see what foods raised the sugar levels in individuals and the surprising conclusion was that everyone’s body response different to various foods. It’s not one size fits all.

It does say that in the article, but a significant number of people must have this effect, I know I do. Curious also that a low carb high fat can have similar results to a high carb low fat diet, when they would seem to be opposite.

 

[Jasmin2000]

I'm type I, low carb high protein and fat and have struggled with what I thought were counter-regulatory responses driving up my BG despite no carbs. Today my endo said it was protein that is being converted slowly to glucose and I get a BG rise much later (hours later). So now I have to bolus for protein?

PS @Vectian thanks for the reference - very interesting.

 

[Vectian]

I'm type I, low carb high protein and fat and have struggled with what I thought were counter-regulatory responses driving up my BG despite no carbs. Today my endo said it was protein that is being converted slowly to glucose and I get a BG rise much later (hours later). So now I have to bolus for protein?

PS @Vectian thanks for the reference - very interesting.

Either that or the fat delays digestion and it outlasts the effect of the pre meal bolus. And if the fat increases IR then the effectiveness of the insulin you are taking could also be reduced. There is another article linked at the bottom about how they advise to deal with it.

 

[hyponilla]

I'm type I, low carb high protein and fat and have struggled with what I thought were counter-regulatory responses driving up my BG despite no carbs. Today my endo said it was protein that is being converted slowly to glucose and I get a BG rise much later (hours later). So now I have to bolus for protein?

PS @Vectian thanks for the reference - very interesting.

The answer to your question is probably yes. It depends how low-carb you go, but as a type 1 who never eats more than 30g of carbs in one meal, I always have to dose for protein. Many cells are glucose-dependent, so if they don't get their fuel from carbs the body reverts to gluconeogenesis where glucose is synthesized from protein instead. The best manual for how to dose insulin for protein is Dr Bernstein's Diabetes Solution. It's a bit of a finicky process at first and takes trial and error, especially the timing when you eat meals high in fat, but I find dosing insulin for protein offers very stable blood sugars and is far easier than dosing for large amounts of carbs.

 

[Jasmin2000]

The answer to your question is probably yes. It depends how low-carb you go, but as a type 1 who never eats more than 30g of carbs in one meal, I always have to dose for protein. Many cells are glucose-dependent, so if they don't get their fuel from carbs the body reverts to gluconeogenesis where glucose is synthesized from protein instead. The best manual for how to dose insulin for protein is Dr Bernstein's Diabetes Solution. It's a bit of a finicky process at first and takes trial and error, especially the timing when you eat meals high in fat, but I find dosing insulin for protein offers very stable blood sugars and is far easier than dosing for large amounts of carbs.

Many thanks @hyponilla, I'm doing about 50-60g carbs a day and have never thought about insulin for protein as no GP or colleague has ever suggested it - only heard about it on here.

I'll have a look at Dr. Bernstein's site and honestly, I'd be happy with finicky right now, it has to be better than the world of randomness I have. And thanks for the details at the end - these are the practical steps I need.

 

[Lainie71]

I am type 2 and if have too much protein from meat during the day/week my sugars will run high the next day/days. I avoid and just have beef/chicken on the days I work out. The rest of the days I will have fish. Its not the fats for me, they fill me up but the fats from dairy will give me a migraine so I have had to cut my dairy down. No more butter, cream or cheese which is a shame as I love them.

 

[Vectian]

Its not the fats for me, they fill me up but the fats from dairy will give me a migraine so I have had to cut my dairy down. No more butter, cream or cheese which is a shame as I love them.

Are you sure that isn't lactose intolerance?

 

[Lainie71]

Are you sure that isn't lactose intolerance?

Well I think it is and I also think I have an issue with gluten. GP said they wouldnt test, just cut the offending items out. The dairy plays my sinuses up and I end up with congestion and a banger of a headache. Same with coffee, cannot drink it not even decaff and chocolate milk, dark its a no.

 

[Vectian]

Well I think it is and I also think I have an issue with gluten. GP said they wouldnt test, just cut the offending items out. The dairy plays my sinuses up and I end up with congestion and a banger of a headache. Same with coffee, cannot drink it not even decaff and chocolate milk, dark its a no.

You can get lactose free milk in many supermarkets and I think cheese as well, or you could always use vegan cheese which has no milk at all.

 

[hyponilla]

Many thanks @hyponilla, I'm doing about 50-60g carbs a day and have never thought about insulin for protein as no GP or colleague has ever suggested it - only heard about it on here.

I'll have a look at Dr. Bernstein's site and honestly, I'd be happy with finicky right now, it has to be better than the world of randomness I have. And thanks for the details at the end - these are the practical steps I need.

You're welcome, I recommend Bernstein's book because it's a good starting point and I don't want to information bombard you The rise in blood glucose is slower from protein than carbs so his method includes using regular insulin which doesn't peak quite as fast so it's something you might want to discuss with your endocrinologist. You can dose for protein with fast-acting insulins like novorapid but it's a little bit more difficult. They're not that different but because the peak is slightly sharper you need to inject at the right time. It helps a lot to have a CGM when you figure this out because you can intercept the rise from protein while you're tuning the timing for meals with different fat content. I find that when I eat lean meat like chicken breast I can inject just after eating, whereas with something fatty like pork belly I take insulin an hour after eating. Good luck and give me a shout if you have any specific questions, I'm happy to help. I also eat about 50-60g of carbs a day so it is what I would call a Bernstein hack diet.