Since the publication of the Diabetes UK Guidelines in 2011, low carbohydrate diets have been seen as a safe and effective option for people with Type 2 diabetes. Low carbohydrate diets can help with weight loss and glucose management, and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. However, if you have Type 2 diabetes and taking insulin or other blood glucose lowering medication, you should talk to your GP before starting a low carbohydrate diet. Low carbohydrate diets have helped many people put their diabetes into remission and some have come off diabetes medication.
We know that most carbohydrate foods are broken down into glucose. Generally, the body aims to maintain tight control of glucose levels in the bloodstream, keeping a store of extra glucose in the liver and the muscles for times when fasting or when extra glucose is needed.
It is important to understand where carbohydrates are found in the diet:
Carbohydrate is the nutrient which has the greatest effect in terms of raising blood glucose levels and requires the most insulin to be taken or produced by the body.
Lowering blood sugar levels is clearly a benefit for people with diabetes. Lowering the need for insulin is also particularly useful as lowering insulin in the body can reduce insulin resistance. Insulin is also a fat storage hormone in the body, so reducing insulin in the body with a low-carb diet can help with losing weight.
There is currently no agreed universal definition regarding the amount of carbohydrate in low-carb diets. One consistent definition has been ‘less than 130g’ of carbohydrate per day but other definitions also exist. Reducing your carbohydrate portion to approximately one quarter of your meal is one way of reducing your carbohydrate intake. You may need to increase your portions of vegetables or salad to fill your plate and make sure there is a source of protein at your meal as this will help to keep you fuller for longer.
Low-carb is a flexible way of eating that allows you to choose a level of carbohydrate that works well for your diabetes and lifestyle.
– small handful of nuts
– small bag of popcorn
– berry fruits
– one/two squares of dark chocolate
– a boiled egg
– vegetable crudite
– olives
Michelle Hooper
Diabetes Specialist Dietitian
Hounslow & Richmond Community Healthcare NHS Trust
You can find out lots of info about having a healthy balanced diet on our Eat Well page
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