Is A Carb Restrictive Diet Safe For Diabetes Patients?

Carbohydrates or carbs are known to raise blood sugar levels more than any other foods. Therefore, reducing carbs is considered one of the best strategies to manage diabetes. However, a low-carb diet does not mean a no-carb diet. Not eating sufficient carbs can lead to the deficiency of minerals in the body and increase the risk of many diseases.      

In this article, you will find out the benefits and risks of a low-carb diet and learn how you may follow it.    

A Glimpse in the Relationship Between Carbs and Diabetes

When you consume foods rich in carbs, your body breaks down those carbs into glucose and raises the levels of blood glucose in the body. Your pancreas then releases insulin to help your cells absorb that glucose. 

However, if you have diabetes, this mechanism does not work very well. The pancreas in diabetes patients either does not produce enough insulin in the body, or the cells in these people do not effectively react to the insulin, leading to high levels of glucose in the blood. 

Carbs are not only associated with high blood sugar levels but also with low blood sugar levels. If you do not eat enough carbohydrates, your body may experience extremely low blood glucose levels, a condition known as hypoglycemia. Hence, you cannot cut carbs completely out of your diet. You can only strive for an optimum balance. 

Benefits Of Eating A Low Carb Diet In Diabetes

Eating too many carb-rich foods can elevate your blood sugar levels as discussed above. Therefore, a low-carb diet is considered one of the most effective strategies to manage diabetes. 

A low-carb diet has many benefits, such as:

• healthy blood sugar levels
• reduced food cravings
• low risk of hypoglycemia
• weight management
• reduced risk of diabetes complications, like heart diseases and obesity
• low levels of cholesterol 

Risks Of Eating A Low Carb Diet

Without proper planning, eating a low-carb diet can lead to the deficiency of specific nutrients and increase the risk of many health problems such as osteoporosis, clogged arteries, etc. When a person is on a low-carb diet, they may also increase their consumption of protein, raising the risk of kidney diseases. 

Furthermore, a low-carb diet can make people hungry and moody, making it difficult for them to follow this diet for long. 

What Is An Ideal Carb Intake?

There is no longer a standard carb intake for diabetes patients. 

Everyone has different activity levels, body weight, health goals and other diabetes complications. The carb intake depends on all these factors. Your doctor or dietitian will be the best person to decide on your ideal carb consumption. 

Foods To Eat And Avoid In A Low Carb Diet

You should derive most of your carbs from healthy and natural sources like vegetables, lean protein like eggs and fish, good fats like olives and avocados, and fruits. However, remember to eat all of these foods in moderation, keeping in mind the total amount of carbs you are consuming.   

Whole-grain bread, lentils, and beans also contain a high amount of carbs. However, they are rich in many essential nutrients, making them a vital part of a healthy diet. Hence, if you are following a low-carb diet, you should also eat these foods in moderation.

Additionally, people following a low-carb diet should also avoid or limit the consumption of processed and packaged foods, sugary foods like cakes and juices, white bread, alcoholic beverages, potatoes and potato chips, starchy vegetables, white pasta, etc.   

Consult Your Doctor

If you are managing your diabetes through insulin or other diabetes medications, a low-carb diet may put you at a higher risk of getting a hypo. Therefore, before you start your low-carb diet, consult your doctor and dietitian so that they can adjust your medications accordingly. They will also help design a meal plan that provides all the healthy nutrients to avoid nutrient deficiency in a low-carb diet.

In Summary

If you have diabetes, a low-carb diet can help manage your diabetes better. It can regulate blood sugar levels, aid in weight loss and reduce the risk of many diabetes complications. It is especially beneficial for people who have been recently diagnosed with diabetes. 

However, if you don’t follow a low-carb diet properly or eat unhealthy low-carb foods, you might put yourself at risk of many health conditions and even disrupt your diabetes management. Therefore, before trying a low-carb diet, consult your doctor and dietitian and only follow it if your healthcare team suggests it. 

References:

• https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0899900714003323
• https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/diet-eating-physical-activity?dkrd=/health-information/diabetes/overview/diet-eating-physical-activity/carbohydrate-counting
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4204795/
• https://www.jci.org/articles/view/142246
• https://journals.lww.com/co-endocrinology/Fulltext/2021/10000/Carbohydrate_restricted_diets_and_Type_1_diabetes.3.aspx
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8319397/
• https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/enjoy-food/eating-with-diabetes/meal-plans/low-carb
• https://www.diabetes.org/healthy-living/recipes-nutrition/understanding-carbs
• https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/325195
• https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/low-carb-diet-for-diabetes