• Guest, the forum is undergoing some upgrades and so the usual themes will be unavailable for a few days. In the meantime, you can use the forum like normal. We'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

T1s Low Carbing?

V

vans

Well-Known Member
Hi All,
I am a T1 since 2004 on an insulin pump since 2010.

I'd be interested to hear from any T1s who are following a low carb diet. I've read up a little about this, including Dr Bernstein's book but most info seems to be about T2s using a low carb diet to control their diabetes.

I mentioned it to my DSN but she was very 'scoffy' and just said 'you need carbs for energy'. Now I know this isn't true as I have many (non-diabetic) friends following this diet and it's been very successful for them and they don't seem to suffer from a lack of energy! By the way, I'm less interested in losing weight and more interested in the benefits of using less insulin. What are the potential downfalls? Is it safe for me to go into ketosis (which is how low carb diets work) as a diabetic. I'm very confused... :)

As a side issue - it seems strange to me that when I have a DSN appointment, she focuses completely on any hypos I've had and not on the highs. I find this most bizarre as it's the highs that cause the problems? As long as I'm managing the hypos myself, and yes I know it would be better if I didn't have them, then what is the problem? Surely she should be noticing the high BGs, not the lows...?

Any advice would be gratefully received. Cheers
 
I think it's equally important to focus on both the high's and the low's when looking at diabetes management in type 1's. I don't low-carb (approx 130-150g a day) but there are a few on the forum that does so hopefully they'll be along shortly to offer you some advice.

Good luck!
 
Absolutely agree - which is why I find it so strange that she ignores the highs!
Thanks for your reply noblehead :)
 
vans said:
Absolutely agree - which is why I find it so strange that she ignores the highs!
Thanks for your reply noblehead :)
Click to expand...


As I said she should be focusing on both, the hypo's (if you are experiencing a lot) are cause for concern as it means you are at a heightened risk of endangering yourself and could also mean you would lose your driving licence, also the more hypo's you have the greater the chances that you will lose your hypo awareness...... or they will become less noticeable in time.
 
Hi Vans,

I'm Type 1 and have been for 30 odd years. Some very odd... :?

I limit my carb intake to about 30 grams a day; 6 grams for breakfast, 6 for lunch, 12 for dinner and the rest in milk for coffee.

I have found that blood sugar fluctuations have decreased a great deal; so less hypos not more. Also insulin requirements have come down.

One of the things that we hear again and again and again and again on this site is health care professionals, chiefly diabetic nurses and dietitians not knowing the difference between ketosis (a normal metabolic state where you are metabolising fat in the absence of glucose) and ketoacidosis (the dangerous condition where you are metabolising fats and protein in the absence of insulin). They are not the same. Ketosis is fine.

I find it surprising as well the number of diabetic 'experts' who do not know GCSE level information about diet in particular what 'essential nutrients' are. You will be told you 'need' carbohydrate - that is absolutely wrong. Certain processes in the body require glucose, but you don't need to eat it; your body is quite capable of manufacturing glucose through the process of gloconeogenesis (from breaking down protein).

An essential nutrient is one that our bodies cannot make themselves; so glucose (which makes up all carbohydrate) is not an essential nutrient and the amount you need to eat to live is zero grams.

Follow the Bernstein book and his dietary suggestions, keep testing, keep thinking about exactly how much insulin you need if you are drastically reducing your carbs and I bet you will find your control improves markedly!

Best

Dillinger
 
I absolutely agree with Dillinger. I was diagnosed T1 on the 26th Jan 2012' and took my first injulin injection on the same day. I had a fasting BG of 16.8 and ketones of 3.5. My diet up to this point had been 'loads of carbs'!

My A1c today is 33 (5 in old money). I have cut out 99% of all wheat, zero snacks, high protein and v.low carbs (avg less than 30 a day).

My highs haven't gone above a 10 and my lows a 4.1 for the last 8 weeks.

In addition to Reading Bernstein I would also recommend "Think like a Pancreas".

Low carb is a great way to go!
 
I low carb'd for sometime and have only recently introduced more carb due to exercise and to some extent lack of time to cook multiple meals..

Low carb is good for stable sugars... assuming you have your background insulin correct then things become a lot easier to control because you aren't eating anything that's going to quickly change your bg;s...

You may need to start to cover for protein (as this will be converted to glucose) and I found I had to increase my background insulin by around 10% to compensate..
 
Thanks so much for your replies - I'm definitely going to give it a go, with my wedding coming up in October I may even be able to lose a few pounds (rather than £!!!)

Yes Dillinger, it drives me crazy that the medical staff can be so ill informed - I hear so many times 'oh but you need carbs for energy' which is clearly just BS!

Think I'll check out Think Like A Pancreas and will try for under 50g of carbs daily to start off with. Has anyone experimented with no carbs for evening meal? I think this could be the way forward with losing some kilos. I have lots of (non diabetic) friends who have been very successful with low carbing and claim INCREASED energy, better skin, better sleep, lack of hunger and even one who says it's relieved her muscle/joint pain and IBS which she's suffered with since she was a child.

Will let you know how I get on and cheers again! :D
 
Van's

If you eating a non-carb meal, which is high in protein you are likely to need a some insulin to cover the protein, I know that I do when I'm eating a high protein no or very small amount of carb's within a meal!

I see you have a pump, which does makes it easier, as you can use your Extended Wave, to deliver the insulin slowly over a period of time... This is the one I find works best for me!

Have you thought about seeing if they have DAFNE course that you can go on! It's very good for helping you to learn dose adjusting for food, exercise etc...

And no they don't promote a 'eat carbs with every meal' nor do they demand you xxx amount of carbs per day.. In 5 days not once did a carb amount was mentioned unless it was being discussed how to use it in a calculation!

I don't follow a VLC diet... But my carb intake is however considered moderately low (>100) but this is because I have a small appetite
 
vans said:
Thanks so much for your replies - I'm definitely going to give it a go, with my wedding coming up in October I may even be able to lose a few pounds (rather than £!!!)

Has anyone experimented with no carbs for evening meal?
Click to expand...


Certainly give it a go Van if not to shift that weight for your wedding :)

As Jo said you'll probably find that you'll still need insulin with your food even though you have no carbs on the plate, just remember to test rigoursly in the early days and wait for a pattern to develop so that you know how much insulin to deliver.

Good luck!
 
Back
Top