Do you know of Type 1 diabetics who have tried the Atkins diet?
Answer:
Answer from Joyce Mosiman, diabetes dietitian:
The Atkins diet drastically limits carbohydrates and depends on the body to
burn fats, thus producing ketones. I have not given the blood
sugar/extra insulin question much thought through the years since I deal
with children exclusively. My main concern with people with diabetes increasing protein and fat in their
diets is of course the overload of protein on the kidneys and the
increase in heart disease risk with higher fat. I don't think children
or people on insulin should be using it at all just to level out blood
sugars since the whole formula is based on the natural production of
insulin as a response to carbohydrate ingestion.
I usually don't recommend this diet as it may produce ketones in the urine
due to the breakdown of fat with severe carbohydrate restriction. These ketones do
not correlate to the blood sugar and can cause confusion in diabetes
management. Ketones with normal (or low blood sugar) do not require
extra insulin administration. Ketones with high blood sugar do
require extra insulin administration.
Last Updated: Sun Jan 15 12:01:34 2006
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