Can a low carb diet improve glucose levels for Type 1 Diabetics?

A low carbohydrate diet typically means a diet which is less than 30% of carbohydrates. A typical Asian diet usually consists of more than 60% carbohydrate.

For patients with type 1 diabetes, certainly, taking less sugars will improve glucose levels per se.

However, it is important to realise that people with type 1 diabetes do not have any insulin in the system and therefore, must continue to take insulin to keep themselves healthy.

Though the low carbohydrate diet will result in less insulin required for the individual, it is still important that insulin continues to be injected but at lower doses.

This is not the same situation for people with type 2 diabetes mellitus, where the body is able to actually lower sugar in the blood although in a much slower and more ineffective fashion.

Taking a low carbohydrate diet in this case, will improve blood sugar levels and give the body more time to adjust and metabolise the sugar levels. I would encourage patients to discuss this in greater detail with your doctors as low carbohydrate diets may not be healthy or suitable for all individuals.

Your question is certainly an interesting one. As Dr Marilyn mentions, insulin injections are important in type 1 DM as you are deficient in insulin. Your glucose control needs to be achieved through a balance between insulin doses and food intake.

Of course it is mindful to note the different types of foods and the types of carbohydrates contained. On this point, in addition to seeing an endocrine physician, it might be worth consulting a dietician.

One area of interest is diabetes and exercise. Often, there can be significant variations in blood glucose depending on the

1. Type - cardio vs resistance

2. Duration

3. Intensity

4. Timing

Again, it might be worth consulting an Sports Physician with experience in exercise prescription or an exercise physiologist. There have been a number of elite athletes with type 1 diabetes, who have had successful careers in sport.

Some safety points to consider are:

1. Exercising with someone else in case of a hypo

2. Informing someone where you will be exercising and for how long

3. Keeping your phone handy and some sweets in case of a hypo

Good luck with your diabetes control and please do contact again if you have any questions.

Bw

Dr Dinesh