Low carb diet for type 2 insulin dependent?

[Civettina27]

Hi, I was diagnosed with type 2 in 1996 and was put onto insulin after several months on tablets. Ever since have struggled to reduce my HbA1c to below 8.6 Also can't lose weight. I've read with interest the articles about the Low carb diet, and wonder if this is what I need.

 

[HOBIE]

Hi, I was diagnosed with type 2 in 1996 and was put onto insulin after several months on tablets. Ever since have struggled to reduce my HbA1c to below 8.6 Also can't lose weight. I've read with interest the articles about the Low carb diet, and wonder if this is what I need.

I would go for the Low Carb. Good luck & Welcome

 

[trophywench]

Well it probably wouldn't hurt but it depends on a number of things whether you'd need to reduce the dose(s) you take of it and also the type of insulin you use.

Have you discussed it with your medical team?

 

[Drummer]

Low carb was the only diet which ever allowed me to lose weight, and I feel so much better eating low carb that I would advise anyone to give it a go.
As it is the same diet which keeps my blood glucose normal without medication I'd advise any diabetic to see how it helps them - though you will need to watch the insulin quite closely as the type and dosage can alter really drastically - sometimes to the point where it has to be stopped to prevent hypos.

 

[SB2015]

Whatever carbs each of us eat they are changed into glucose, and require some insulin to enable us to process that glucose that has entered our blood stream. Eating less carbohydrates means less glucose in the system.

A greater level of activity also uses up mor of the glucose from the blood when the 8nsuoin ‘opens the door’ to a muscle. So this can also reduce the level of glucose in the blood stream.

With changes in diet and increased levels of activity it may be that it is possible to reduce medication whether it be insulin doses or other medications. It will be important to discuss this with your health care team.

I read the information on ‘low carb diets’ but knew that taking the amount I ate down to those levels would not be sustainable for me. We chose to simply half our carbs and aim for 30 g at each meal and avoid snacks between meals. This avoided the topping up of glucose levels during the day and allowed them to return to normal levels for some time before I ate the next meal. I also found that the spikes that I had been having after meals were a lot lower. I know that my situation is different as I have T1, but I know of others who have successfully reduced their HbA1c by eating less carbs. The important things is to find an approach that is manageable for you.