This article is about diabetes and ketogenic. The weight loss diet that is recommended to improve the risks of many diseases such as epilepsy, cancer, weight loss, etc.
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects many people worldwide, and currently more than 400 million people worldwide have diabetes.
Although diabetes is a complex disease, maintaining blood sugar levels can greatly reduce the risk of complications.
One way to achieve better blood sugar levels is to follow a low-carb diet. This article provides a detailed review of the very low carbohydrate ketogenic diet for type 2 diabetes and the ketogenic effect on blood sugar.
Are there a good relationship between diabetes and ketogenic disease?
In type 1 diabetes, your body does not produce any insulin. This type is usually diagnosed in childhood and requires lifelong treatment; But type 2 diabetes is more common and is caused by unhealthy eating style and lack of exercise.
In this type of diabetes, the body does not make or use insulin properly. The keto diet significantly lowers blood sugar levels in people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
Diets for type 1 and type 2 diabetes often focus on weight loss, so it may seem silly to think that a high-fat diet is an option.
A ketogenic (keto) diet, high in fat and low in carbohydrates, can potentially change the way your body stores and uses energy and reduces diabetes symptoms because on a keto diet, your body uses fat for energy instead of glucose.
The diet was developed in 1920s as a treatment for epilepsy, but the effects of this dietary pattern are also being investigated for type 2 diabetes:
In 2008, researchers conducted a 24-week study to determine the effects of a low-carb diet on people with type 2 diabetes and obesity.
At the end of the study, participants following the ketogenic diet had greater improvements in blood sugar control and reduced medication compared to those following the low-glycemic diet.
A 2013 review reported that a ketogenic diet can lead to significant improvements in blood sugar control and weight loss compared to other diets.
A 2017 study also found that a ketogenic diet outperformed a conventional, low-fat diabetes diet for weight loss over 32 weeks.
Ketogenic diet doesn’t mean you have to eat saturated fat. Heart-healthy fats are key to overall health.
Some of the healthy foods that are commonly consumed on a ketogenic diet include:
- eggs,
- fish such as salmon,
- Parmesan cheese,
- avocado,
- olives and olive oil,
- some nuts and seeds
Carbohydrate consumption between 20 and 90 grams per day improves blood sugar management in people with diabetes.
However, it’s best to test your blood sugar before and after meals to find your personal carb limit.
What are the benefits of ketogenic for type 2 diabetes?
Diet is a suitable and safe option to reduce the problems caused by diabetes and has positive effects on the body of diabetics. Even for people with type 1 diabetes:
The effect on blood sugar levels
Ketogenic diet helps to improve people with type 2 diabetes because it allows the body to stabilize glucose levels at a low but healthy level.
Reducing the consumption of carbohydrates in the diet can eliminate the sharp increase in blood sugar and reduces the need for insulin.
Researches on ketogenic diet in 2018 showed that this diet can be useful in controlling HbA1c level. It refers to the amount of glucose that accompanies hemoglobin in the blood for 3 months.
Effects on medications
Ketogenic diet can help lower blood sugar levels. Some people with type 2 diabetes who also follow a ketogenic diet may reduce their need for medication.
However, the researchers cautioned that those following a ketogenic diet along with insulin are at greater risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).
Hypoglycemia occurs when blood sugar levels reach 70 milligrams per deciliter or less.
It is best to coordinate any changes with your doctor when you are using the drug.
When you are taking certain medications to treat diabetes, not eating enough carbohydrates can be dangerous.
The effect on weight loss
Ketogenic diet helps to burn fat in the body. This is great when one is trying to lose weight. This is very useful for overweight people who are at the risk of pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes.
Even a small amount of weight loss through diet and exercise can improve glycemic control, overall health, and energy distribution throughout the day in people with diabetes.
The results of the research showed that people who used the ketogenic diet saw an improvement in blood sugar and its control, and some experienced significant weight loss.
Other benefits of keto diet in diabetes are as follows:
- Improved glycemic or blood sugar control,
- reduced triglycerides,
- improved insulin resistance,
- reduced insulin requirements,
- increased HDL (or good) cholesterol levels for heart health,
- improved cognitive function,
- and an effect on individual blood glucose levels.
A diabetic will also experience weight loss on keto diet, which is an added bonus, as weight loss can improve insulin resistance.
Foods that should be consumed in moderation:
- Greek yogurt: one cup or less
- Cottage cheese: half cup
- Peanut: 30 to 60 grams
- Flaxseed or chai seeds: 2 tablespoon
- Dark chocolate: 30 grams or less
Legumes, such as peas, lentils and beans are healthy sources of protein, although they contain carbohydrates.
Be sure to include them in your daily carbohydrate intake. A drastic reduction in carbohydrates usually lowers insulin levels, which causes the kidneys to release sodium and water.
Try eating a cup of broth, some olives or some other salty, low-carb food to make up for lost sodium.
However, if you have congestive heart failure, kidney disease, or high blood pressure, talk to your doctor before increasing the amount of sodium in your diet.
Foods to avoid
These foods are rich in carbohydrates and can raise blood sugar levels significantly in people with diabetes:
- bread, pasta, cereal, and corn
- Starchy vegetables such as sweet potatoes and sweet potatoes
- Milk
- Fruits other than berries
- Fruit juice, Soft drinks, sweet tea, and…
- desserts, baked goods, candy, ice cream, and similar foods
- alcoholic beverages.
Stick to low-carb foods such as meat, fish, eggs, seafood, non-starchy vegetables, and healthy fats. Avoid foods that are high in carbohydrates.
Sample Keto Meals for Diabetics
Here’s a sample menu with 15 grams or less of digestible carbs per serving.
If your personal carb tolerance is lower, you can adjust the serving size.
Breakfast: eggs and spinach, which you can eat with a cup of blackberries and a cup of coffee and cream without sugar.
Lunch: parmesan cheese with bacon, an average avocado, lettuce and tomato
Dinner: Salmon with vegetables and half a cup of sliced strawberries with sugar-free cream
A diabetes management meal plan should spread carbohydrates evenly across three meals.
Each meal should contain a balance of protein, healthy fats, and a small amount of carbohydrates, mostly from vegetables.
Bottom line
In this article, we had a brief overview of the relationship between diabetes and ketogenic disease and what is the effect of ketogenic on blood sugar and to what extent it helps in improving the symptoms of this disease.
People with diabetes have insulin deficiency or resistance to its effects. When they eat carbohydrates, their blood sugar can rise dangerously high unless medication is taken.
Research has shown that people with diabetes experience long-term improvements in blood sugar management when they follow a low-carb diet, such as the ketogenic diet.
For this reason, the ketogenic diet is highly recommended for type 2 diabetes because it both controls blood sugar levels and causes faster weight loss for these people.
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