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Type 1 - Keto Diet Advice

A

AG1990

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Hi,

I've been type 1 diabetic since I was 4 and I'm 30 this year so nearly 26 years. My blood sugar has always been relatively well controlled and I've just started keto diet, lowing my carb consumption to about 30 grams of carbs a day.

Insulin wise I take 26 units (cut down from 40 before diet) of background insulin each night before bed and during the day (on the new diet) about 3 to 4 units of fast acting - 1 unit for every 10 grams of carbs consumed.

my blood sugars have been very steady since being on the diet - a solid 5 to 7 throughout the day. Is there any dangers I should be aware even If my blood glucose levels are fine?

Its a slightly strange feeling as I'm used to giving around 15 units of fast acting a day and to cut that to 3 or 4 just seems unnatural, even though my blood sugar levels are fine.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
 
Hi @AG1990 ,

Wellcome to the forum.

Just keep a close eye BG wise for any slow creeping hypos..

What basal do you use. Have you a CGM set up?
 
Hi,

yes I've been testing every hour, sometimes more as its obviously a big change dietary wise. No hypos yet! on the second morning I woke up with a 3.9 but quickly sorted with a sugar in my morning coffee.

I use Lantus but I've cut this down by about 40%.

the thing I'm worried about is my body not having enough insulin in it but i guess if I'm consuming a lot less carbs i don't need it?
 
AG1990 said:
Hi,

yes I've been testing every hour, sometimes more as its obviously a big change dietary wise. No hypos yet! on the second morning I woke up with a 3.9 but quickly sorted with a sugar in my morning coffee.

I use Lantus but I've cut this down by about 40%.

the thing I'm worried about is my body not having enough insulin in it but i guess if I'm consuming a lot less carbs i don't need it?
Click to expand...

Hi,

I use Lantus. In my experience. Regardless of chosen diet, the dose is what it is for the indevidual. Once it's bang on..
In theory, it shouldn't need to be fed carbs & keep a stable fasting level BG with no fast action IOB..
However, in the real world. Sometimes it needs a little nudge up. :) Or coax down.... ;)

(Edit for dodgy typo.)
 
Last edited:
AG1990 said:
Hi,

yes I've been testing every hour, sometimes more as its obviously a big change dietary wise. No hypos yet! on the second morning I woke up with a 3.9 but quickly sorted with a sugar in my morning coffee.

I use Lantus but I've cut this down by about 40%.

the thing I'm worried about is my body not having enough insulin in it but i guess if I'm consuming a lot less carbs i don't need it?
Click to expand...
In my experience you'd expect your body to need less both because you are eating less carb but also because your body is going to get used to using fat for fuel so there may be some further adjustments needed if you lost fat or gained muscle for example. Your body is clever at finding the glucose it needs for the brain from the liver and what little you eat plus the protein. Low insulin levels are great given that a fair bit of what you were jabbing in before might have been getting spilled or causing lumps so this way is more efficient!
Sounds like you re doing brilliantly though provided you keep track of your basal needs which may vary as you adapt.
 
Hi. It's probable that before Keto you had some insulin resistance and that has now faded so you are using all the insulin efficiently. I can't imagine there is any problem with what you are doing.
 
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