Diabetic Diet

What about Carbs on a Diabetic Diet?

Keto Diabetic Diet

For people with type 2 diabetes, contrary to common advice, most of us would be better off reducing even complex carbs in favour of fat and/or protein. Of course, check with your medical practitioner first, but most people are perfectly safe on a ketogenic diet, if properly followed.

Diabetes is a disease that happens when the body cannot properly
use food for energy. Insulin is a hormone that helps the body to get
energy from food. In people with diabetes, either the pancreas
doesn’t make insulin, or the body cannot use insulin properly. Insulin
is supposed to take sugar, which is the basic fuel for cells in the body,
from the blood and into the cells. Without insulin, the body’s main
energy source can’t get into its cells. Instead, that sugar builds up in
the blood.

Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes.
Approximately 90-95% of Americans with diabetes have type 2
diabetes. In type 2 diabetes, either the pancreas does not produce
enough insulin, or the cells ignore that insulin. If the cells are not
getting insulin or are “resisting” the insulin, then sugar will build up in
the blood. 

The Keto Diet for Diabetes

Many with type 2 diabetes are overweight andd a ketognic diet can help both diabetes and weight loss. The goal of the keto diet is to have the body use fat for energy instead of glucose (carbohydrates). On the keto diet, much of the body’s energy from fat and protein, with very little coming from carbohydrates.

Example Foods for the keto diet include:

• eggs
• fish such as salmon, tuna
• cottage cheese
• avocado
• olives and olive oil
• nuts and nut butters
• seeds
• meat with/without fat
• berry fruits
• salads

Effects on blood glucose

The ketogenic diet has the potential to decrease blood glucose levels. Managing carbohydrate intake is recommended for people with type 2 diabetes because carbohydrates turn to sugar and, in large quantities, can cause blood sugar spikes.