A keto diet plan is a good choice for diabetics as it improves blood sugar levels. Keto may also be helpful in the case of gestational diabetes.

Is Keto Diet Safe For People With Diabetes?

The keto diet can be beneficial for some individuals with type 2 diabetes. By restricting carbohydrates and promoting the consumption of healthy fats, it may help lower blood sugar levels and improve insulin sensitivity. However, it is essential to consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new diet to ensure it aligns with individual needs and to receive proper guidance on managing diabetes effectively.

Introduction

In recent years, there has been a significant surge of interest in exploring different weight loss regimes, specifically following high-protein diets. One such high-protein diet is the <a href="https://www.merisehat.pk/article/what-is-the-ketogenic-diet">ketogenic diet</a>, or simply the keto diet, which is a diet rich in proteins and fats. Initially, the ketogenic diet was primarily proposed to reduce the frequency of epileptic seizures in children, but it has since gained popularity for weight loss. While there is evidence of short-term results with the keto diet, the verdict on its long-term benefits is still inconclusive. However, unlike other low-carb diets that center around protein, the ketogenic diet focuses mainly on fat.

&nbsp;

Understanding The Advantages Of Keto Diet In Diabetes

In 2008, researchers conducted a 24-week study to determine the effects of a low-carbohydrate diet on people with diabetes type 2 and obesity. The study concluded that people who followed the ketogenic diet saw a significant improvement in the glycemic index compared to those following a low-glycemic diet<a href="#accordion">[1]</a>. Patients following a ketogenic diet also saw a significant reduction in the use of medication. Another study conducted in 2013 reported that participants on a ketogenic diet showed improvements in their blood sugar levels and were also able to taper off insulin requirements compared to other diets<a href="#accordion">[2]</a>. Similarly, the ketogenic diet outperformed a low-fat diabetes diet, and the participants showed better weight loss and control of HbA1c in another study<a href="#accordion">[3]</a>.&nbsp;

Although it may seem unlikely that a high-fat diet focuses on weight loss, the ketogenic diet is different and can potentially change the way your body stores and uses energy. The ketogenic diet is high in fat and low in carbs. Instead of sugar, your body converts fat into energy in the keto diet. As mentioned earlier, the diet was initially considered for the treatment of epilepsy in the 1920s, but the effects were later also studied for type 2 diabetes<a href="#accordion">[4]</a>. The ketogenic diet improves blood sugar levels and reduces the need for insulin. However, as with any other diet, there are risks associated with the keto diet as well. Thus, it is important to discuss the possibility of starting the keto diet with your doctor before making any drastic changes to your current diet plan.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Diabetes is of 2 types: diabetes type 1 and diabetes type 2.&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>In type 1 diabetes, the body is incapable of producing insulin, and the patient has to rely on medication for life. This condition is less common and is typically diagnosed during childhood.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>In diabetes type 2, which has a more common presentation of the two, the body either does not produce enough insulin to meet the body&rsquo;s needs, or the insulin produced does not work effectively in lowering blood glucose levels.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Pre-diabetic people have higher than normal blood sugar levels&nbsp;and are at a higher risk of developing diabetes type 2 if they do not take precautionary lifestyle and dietary measures.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Gestational diabetes is described as diabetes that develops when you are pregnant. This type of diabetes generally resolves after giving birth. Though, it places you at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

&nbsp;

<h4>"Good diabetes control can increase your heart rate variability. Head on over to the <a href="https://www.merisehat.pk/page/sehat-scan/" target="_blank">sehat scan</a> and get your reading now!"</h4><h4> </h4>

Unlike other low-carb diets, the keto diet aims to force your body to use a different type of fuel. And instead of relying on sugar that comes from carbohydrates, for example, fruits, vegetables, legumes, and grains, the diet relies on ketone bodies. This is a type of fuel that the liver produces using stored fat. While burning fat sounds like an ideal way to lose weight, getting the liver to make ketone bodies is a tricky process.&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>The diet requires that you restrict your intake of carbohydrates to 20 to 25 grams per day.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Typically, reaching the state of ketosis takes a few days.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>If your diet is too high in protein, it can also interfere with ketosis.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

In many cases, people with type 2 diabetes are overweight and a high-fat diet may seem unhelpful. The goal of a ketogenic diet is to train the body into using fat instead of carbohydrates or glucose. On the ketogenic diet, most of the energy comes from fat and only a small amount comes from carbohydrates. However, there are some ground rules. A diet high in fats doesn&rsquo;t mean that you should load up on saturated fats. It is recommended that your diet is rich in heart-healthy fats to maintain overall health. Some healthy foods that you can eat on a ketogenic diet include:&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>Eggs&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Fish&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Cottage cheese&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Avocado&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Olives&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Nuts&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Seeds</li>
	<li>Olive oil&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Nut butter&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

&nbsp;

Foods To Be Eaten In Moderation

<ul>
	<li>Berries -&nbsp;1 cup or less</li>
	<li>Plain, Greek yogurt -&nbsp;1 cup or less</li>
	<li>Cottage cheese -&nbsp;1/2 cup or less</li>
	<li>Nuts and peanuts -&nbsp;1&ndash;2 ounces&nbsp;or 30&ndash;60 grams</li>
	<li>Flaxseeds or chia seeds -&nbsp;2 tablespoons</li>
	<li>Dark chocolate (at least 85% cocoa) -&nbsp;30 grams or less</li>
</ul>

&nbsp;

Foods To Avoid

<ul>
	<li>Bread&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Pasta&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Cereal&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Corn and other grains&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Potatoes, sweet potatoes</li>
	<li>Milk&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Fruits excluding berries&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Juices, sodas, and sweetened teas</li>
	<li>Desserts, candies, ice cream, and other baked goods</li>
</ul>

&nbsp;

When you eat carbs, your body&rsquo;s digestive system breaks down the carbohydrates and turns them into sugars that enter your bloodstream. The more sugar there is in your bloodstream, the more insulin your body needs to break down the sugar for energy. Insulin signals the cells to use the sugar for energy and energy storage. Moreover, the pancreas releases glucagon when the cells of your body begin to use the blood sugar. The two hormones, insulin, and glucagon work together to ensure that you have enough energy. If you have diabetes, then this means that your body is not using the insulin properly or cannot make or is not making enough insulin.

Hence, for people with diabetes type 2, it is recommended to control carbohydrate intake because it turns to sugar, and having it in large quantities can cause spikes in blood sugar levels. However, the ketogenic diet has the potential to decrease the levels of blood glucose. Your doctor will determine the number of carbs you should have based on your needs, current BMI, etc. Studies have shown that some people experience reduced blood sugar by switching to a diet high in fat.

Diabetes affects about 10 percent of the American population. Whereas in Pakistan, 17.1% of the population is estimated to be living with diabetes. This makes a total of 19 million adults in Pakistan who are at risk of the life-threatening complications of diabetes making it a pertinent public health issue<a href="#accordion">[5]</a>.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Other than the standard keto diet, there are 3 other variations of the diet: the cyclical ketogenic diet, the targeted ketogenic diet, and the very low-carb diet.&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>On the cyclical ketogenic diet, you can eat 100 to 150 grams of clean carbs once or twice a week.</li>
	<li>With the targeted ketogenic diet, you can follow the same rules as a regular keto diet but the time you eat carbs is fixed. It is suggested to consume carbs before or after a workout.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>The very low-carb diet, as the name suggests, allows you to eat very small quantities of carbs, high fat, and moderate protein. However, compared to the standard keto diet that allows only 50 grams of carbs a day, this diet allows you to eat 100 to 150 grams of carbs daily. However, this may not help you reach a state of ketosis.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

&nbsp;

Conclusion

After reading this article, you may be wondering how a diet that focuses on fat makes it good for you. Especially, considering the fact that many people with diabetes also have obesity. While this question is completely reasonable, the keto diet is about redefining our understanding of fat. For years, people have focused on low-fat foods, milk, and yogurt thinking that fats are the root cause of all our health concerns, including obesity. However, the situation is more complex.&nbsp;

A recent study indicates that focusing on reducing total fats leads to harmful habits such as increased consumption of refined carbohydrates and added sugars. Moreover, it also leads to avoiding nutrient-dense foods, such as nuts, seeds, vegetable oils, and avocados. We all need fat to keep ourselves healthy and only recently researchers have started shifting from anti-fat foods to encouraging high-fat foods. In simpler words, fat is an important source of energy. It helps our bodies absorb essential vitamins and minerals, helps our muscles move, and enables blood to clot. Thus, science shows that a diet high in fat can be healthy, whereas eating low-fat diets can actually be harmful in the long run because of overconsumption of carbs and processed foods.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Key Points

<ul>
	<li>It is important that you speak with your doctor before you start a keto diet. Speaking with your doctor is a rule that should be followed before starting any diet.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>A keto diet can be helpful for diabetics who want to lose weight and lessen the need for medications. However, for others, it might even make diabetes worse. The diet isn&rsquo;t a magic weight loss pill, and there is currently limited information on the long-term effects of a keto diet.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Moreover, be cautious when transitioning from the keto diet to adding carbs back to your diet. Sudden high consumption of carbs can cause your blood sugar levels to spike, and cause you to gain weight.</li>
</ul>

&nbsp;

[1] Westman, E.C., Yancy, W.S., Mavropoulos, J.C., Marquart, M. and McDuffie, J.R., 2008. The effect of a low-carbohydrate, ketogenic diet versus a low-glycemic index diet on glycemic control in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Nutrition & metabolism, 5(1), pp.1-9.

[2] Paoli, A., Rubini, A., Volek, J.S. and Grimaldi, K.A., 2013. Beyond weight loss: a review of the therapeutic uses of very-low-carbohydrate (ketogenic) diets. European journal of clinical nutrition, 67(8), pp.789-796.

[3] Saslow, L.R., Mason, A.E., Kim, S., Goldman, V., Ploutz-Snyder, R., Bayandorian, H., Daubenmier, J., Hecht, F.M. and Moskowitz, J.T., 2017. An online intervention comparing a very low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet and lifestyle recommendations versus a plate method diet in overweight individuals with type 2 diabetes: a randomized controlled trial. Journal of medical Internet research, 19(2), p.e5806.

[4] Meira, I.A., Romão, T.T., do Prado, H.P., Krüger, L.T., Pires, M.E.P. and da Conceição, P.O., 2019. Ketogenic diet and epilepsy: What we know so far, Front. Neurosci-Switz.(13), 5.

[5] Akhtar, S., Nasir, J.A., Abbas, T. and Sarwar, A., 2019. Diabetes in Pakistan: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Pakistan journal of medical sciences, 35(4), p.1173.Akhtar, S., Nasir, J.A., Abbas, T. and Sarwar, A., 2019. Diabetes in Pakistan: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Pakistan journal of medical sciences, 35(4), p.1173.

Trusted By