A ketogenic diet involves a low daily intake of carbohydrates. Individuals following such a diet need to ensure that healthy fats account for most of their daily calorie consumption. Proteins also form an important part of this diet. A low-carb diet has been recommended to be followed by Type 1 diabetes patients as it helps lower their blood glucose levels and reduce the patient’s weight; both being desirable outcomes for diabetic patients.
A reduced intake of carbohydrates reduces the insulin requirements, which thereby reduces the number of insulin injections they need to take. This reduces the cost of treatment and contributes to less physical and emotional pain that the patients go through during the insulin therapies. It also helps limit the complications of diabetes on their bodies.
Advantages of a Ketogenic Diet for Type 1 Diabetes Patients
In a ketogenic diet, the body is forced to get its energy requirements from stored fats rather than carbohydrates. This produces an energy source known as ketones, which helps to regulate the acidity of the blood thereby preventing a complication known as ketoacidosis. Ketoacidosis is common among type 1 diabetes patients.
Also, a ketogenic diet leads to the production of 3-beta-hydroxybutyric acid (3-OHB). Some studies found 3-OHB to reverse some of the processes that are caused by diabetes. This reduces the dependency of the body on glucose and makes the metabolism of the body directed towards an alternative fuel source, which comes from burning fats. Research has proved that with this mechanism, a ketogenic diet can be used to reverse the damage to kidney tissues and possibly have a reversal effect on diabetic nephropathy.
References
https://www.diabetes.co.uk/keto/
http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0018604
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