Does Keto Diet Help in Managing Diabetes?

The ketogenic diet, aka keto diet, is a diet which is very low in carbs and very high in fats. In a keto diet, a person eats less than 50g of carbs per day (do you know—a medium apple has around 10g of carbs).

What Is the Keto Diet?

1. The keto diet, short for ketogenic diet, is a way of eating that focuses on very low carbohydrate intake and higher fat consumption. 

2. The goal is to get your body into a state called “ketosis,” where it burns fat for energy instead of carbs. 

3. This diet typically involves foods like meats, fish, eggs, dairy, nuts, seeds, and healthy fats, while avoiding foods high in carbohydrates and sugars and such as grains.

In a keto diet, the breakdown of the total daily calories is as follows:

With such a limited intake of carbs, the body starts converting the fat into ketones to produce energy. This conversion of fat into ketones due to absence of dietary carbohydrates is called nutritional ketosis

In a couple of days or weeks, when on a keto diet, the body and brain become efficient at burning fat and ketones for fuel instead of carbs. Eventually, this leads to weight loss, lowers insulin levels, improves insulin sensitivity and lowers blood sugar levels.

Types of Keto-diet

There are several types of ketogenic diets, each with its own unique characteristics and benefits. Here are some of the most common types of keto diets:

1. Standard ketogenic diet (SKD)

This is the most traditional and widely researched form of the keto diet. It involves consuming a very low amount of carbohydrates, a moderate amount of protein, and a high amount of fat.

2. Cyclical ketogenic diet (CKD)

 This diet involves periods of higher carb refeeds, such as 5 ketogenic days followed by 2 high carb days.

3. Targeted ketogenic diet (TKD)

This diet allows you to add carbs around workouts to provide extra energy for exercise.

4. High protein ketogenic diet (HPKD)

 This is similar to the standard ketogenic diet, but includes more protein. The ratio is often 60% fat, 35% protein, and 5% carbs.

5. Modified Atkins diet

 This is a high-fat, low-carb diet that is similar to the standard ketogenic diet, but with less emphasis on fat intake and more emphasis on protein.

6. Mediterranean keto diet

This is a plant-based keto diet that emphasizes healthy fats, such as olive oil, and includes plenty of non-starchy vegetables.

Each type of keto diet has its own unique benefits and drawbacks. It is important to choose the one that is best suited to your individual needs and goals.

It is also important to speak with a doctor or dietitian before starting any new diet, especially if you have a medical condition or are taking medication.

Keto and Diabetes

For people with diabetes, the keto diet might help control blood sugar levels. With fewer carbs in the diet, the body produces less insulin, which can be beneficial for those with insulin resistance or Type 2 diabetes. 

However, it’s important to talk to a healthcare professional before making changes to your diet, as diabetes management can vary from person to person.

Keto Diet Impact on Diabetes Medication

If you’re taking diabetes medications, especially those that lower blood sugar, the keto diet might lead to low blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia).

It’s crucial to work with your healthcare provider to adjust your medication doses if needed, as you might need lower doses while on a keto diet to prevent dangerous low blood sugar levels.

How does a keto diet help people with diabetes?

The keto diet has been used effectively in patients with epilepsy as it prevents fluctuations in blood sugar levels that cause seizures.

Latest research has also shown that the keto diet may benefit people with diabetes as it helps the body to keep blood sugar at a low & healthy level.

Carbohydrates or carbs are a macronutrient that is present in the food you eat, and these raise blood glucose the most. In keto diet, by cutting down on the carb intake, the undesired episodes of blood sugar spikes are prevented.

How a keto diet helps in managing diabetes?

1. Reduces the risk of diabetes in those who don’t have it

2. Improves glycemic control

3. Reduces the need for medication

4. Helps in weight-loss

These benefits of the keto diet are seen for some patients, but still, it is not meant for all. Why? Because the response to this kind of diet varies from person-to-person.

In a few patients after following the keto diet for a year, diabetes medication reduced, HbA1c lowered, weight loss was achieved and many more benefits were seen.

While on the other hand, for a few patients, it caused side-effects like keto-flu that includes constipation, loss of energy, fatigue, leg cramps and brain fogging (symptoms of brain fogging are headache, difficulty in concentration and confusion.

The long-term side-effects were the increased risk of high cholesterol levels (dyslipidemia), hypoglycemia, kidney stones and bone fractures.

Keto diets are contraindicated for people on certain diabetes medication. Hence it is important to consult your doctor  before taking making any dietary changes.

Latest research has also shown that drastic reduction of carb from the diet increases the risk of mortality.

Another down-side of keto diet in the Indian populations is — the lack of data on what exactly happens to the blood cholesterol levels after consuming such a high-fat diet.

Sustainability is an important factor when it comes to any diet plan. Most of the people discontinue the keto diet as adhering to this diet plan in everyday life is a major challenge in itself. And, achieving ketosis among vegetarians is even tougher with limited food options, and also veg keto options are expensive.

Although the benefits are plentiful in type 2 diabetes, one cannot outweigh the dark side of the keto diet in a few individuals. Therefore, you should try the keto diet only after your doctor gives the go-ahead, and you should do it under the proper guidance and supervision of a Health Coach.

Benefits of Keto Diet in Diabetes

Some potential benefits of the keto diet for diabetes management include better blood sugar control and reduced need for diabetes medications. All people lost weight, some reported increase in energy level. 

Remember, the effects can vary, and not everyone will experience the same benefits.

How Ketogenic Diet Works for Weight Loss?

Ketogenic diet is imbalance eating, there are only 5 % carbs in the diet.

1. The ketogenic diet works by reducing carbohydrate intake and replacing it with fat, which forces the body to burn fat for energy instead of glucose. 

2. This results in a metabolic state called ketosis**, where the body produces ketones that are used for energy. 

3. The diet has many potential benefits, including weight loss, reducing blood sugar levels, and improving insulin sensitivity. 

It is important to weigh the pros and cons and talk with a doctor before starting the diet, especially for people with diabetes.

**Ketosis is a metabolic state characterized by elevated levels of ketone bodies in the blood or urine

Key takeaway message

With Fitterfly Diabetes Care Program for people with diabetes, we aim to provide the best solutions to manage your blood sugar levels.

Here are the main pointers from our diabetes management program:

1. The Keto diet is a trend that can be followed by people with diabetes to manage blood sugar levels but, for a short period and under strict supervision.
2. Always get a personalised keto diet plan based on your medical history, lifestyle, and meal preferences to prevent side effects.
3. Since the response to a keto diet can vary from person to person, it is best to do it under expert guidance by closely monitoring various health parameters.

Achieve both your goals together – weight loss & healthy blood sugar levels with a customised keto-diet plan that is according to your needs and wants.

FitterTake

The ketogenic diet has gained popularity as a potential tool for managing diabetes due to its ability to stabilize blood sugar levels and promote weight loss.

By significantly reducing carbohydrate intake, the keto diet can help prevent blood sugar spikes and improve glycemic control. It may also reduce the need for insulin and other diabetes medications while offering potential benefits for weight management.

With the Fitterfly Diabetes Care Program, we offer comprehensive solutions for managing blood sugar levels effectively. Our approach takes into account your medical history, lifestyle, and meal preferences to provide a customized balanced diet plan, maximizing both weight loss and healthy blood sugar levels.

To learn more, speak to one of our counselors by just giving us a missed call at 08069450746, and we will definitely get back to you.

You can also try our diabetes reversal calculator to learn more about your journey towards a healthier lifestyle.

Wish to know more? Sign up for our program.