Is the Keto Diet Safe for People With Diabetes?

If you have diabetes, you may be wondering if keto diet is right for you.But the answer to this question is more complex than it seems.

The ketogenic diet has become a popular trend for people to lose weight. Because this diet significantly limits carbohydrates (carbohydrates), it can have a significant impact on the way your body processes sugar and fat. The ketogenic diet may not be the best long-term strategy for improving diabetes. We will review this study and what it tells us about the positive and negative effects of this particular diet on people with diabetes.

What is the keto diet? 

The ketogenic diet is a low-carbohydrate diet designed to put your body into a state of “ketosis.” Ketosis is a “hunger pattern” that triggers your body to burn fat — not sugar — as fuel. So when your body is in a state of ketosis, fat reserves are depleted and blood sugar levels are kept low.

People who follow a ketogenic diet typically limit themselves to 50 grams of carbohydrates per day. In contrast, an average balanced diabetic diet typically contains 200 to 225 grams of carbohydrates.

Does the keto diet help diabetes? 

There is evidence that carbohydrate restriction can improve blood sugar control in people with type 2 diabetes. But it’s unclear whether a more rigorous ketogenic approach is beneficial or sustainable in the long term.

Studies have shown that a low-carb diet can improve blood sugar and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1C or A1C) – a blood test that shows your blood sugar control over the past 3 months. For example, one study found that a low-carbohydrate diet was more effective than a low-fat diet at controlling blood sugar and lowering glycosylated hemoglobin. Some study participants were also able to reduce their insulin doses. Another study showed similar results and observed that low-carb diets controlled blood sugar more effectively and reduced the need for diabetes medications compared to low-calorie diets alone.

But it’s important to note that these studies focused on low-carb diets, not ketogenic diets. It is well known that the ketogenic diet is difficult to adhere to for a long time. In fact, two large-scale analyses compared the stricter (ketogenic) diets and more moderate low-carb diets in people with type 2 diabetes. Both analyses found that stricter carbohydrate restrictions allowed for better control of blood sugar in the short term (3 months). However, these results are not sustained for long (12 months).

So, while a ketogenic diet may initially lead to weight loss and blood sugar improvement, it’s unclear whether there are any long-term benefits.

Can the keto diet reverse diabetes?

There is no conclusive evidence that a ketogenic diet can reverse diabetes.

A meta-analysis of a recent multi-study found that after 6 months, the ketogenic diet normalized glycosylated hemoglobin levels in people who continued to take diabetes medications. But this reversal effect did not occur in people who stopped taking the drug. So it’s hard to argue that a ketogenic diet alone can truly reverse diabetes. What’s more, the reversal effect was not maintained in both groups after 12 months.

Is it safe for someone with diabetes to do the keto diet? 

For those who are not used to eating a ketogenic diet, switching to a ketogenic diet may cause some symptoms. These symptoms include:

• Increased urination
• Dehydration
• Constipation
• Low blood sugar — or hypoglycemia — in people taking certain medications for their diabetes

If you are taking medication to treat diabetes, you should talk to your doctor before starting a ketogenic diet. They can help you make any medication adjustments to avoid dangerous drops in blood sugar.

Those who are at risk of severe side effects due to ketosis should treat this diet with caution. This is because the ketonic state puts extra stress on the body’s systems. People who are particularly sensitive to the ketogenic diet include:

• Are pregnant
• Have kidney disease
• Have Type 1 diabetes

If these conditions apply to you, talk to your doctor before attempting to transition to a ketogenic diet to make sure it is safe.

Why might the keto diet be bad for someone with diabetes?

In addition to the unpredictable drop in blood sugar, there are concerns that the ketogenic diet may not be optimal for our overall health in the long run. More research is needed to look at the long-term effects of the ketogenic diet over years or even decades. Experts need to study the effects of diabetes on other health conditions, such as heart disease.

Some studies have shown that a ketogenic diet can improve heart health indicators, such as cholesterol levels. But there are also studies that have shown the opposite effect. A meta-analysis showed that over time, the ketogenic diet may increase LDL cholesterol, a risk factor for heart disease. When people reduce their carbohydrate intake, this translates into increasing their fat and protein intake to keep the same calories in their diet. In general, a high-fat diet is not recommended for heart health.

Another thing to consider is that high-fat diets — like ketogenic diets — can have a negative impact on the way our bodies handle carbohydrates. A 1927 study compared people who ate a high-fat diet for only 2 days with people who ate a regular diet. They found that after 2 days, those on a high-fat diet had significantly higher blood sugar spikes when they ate carbohydrates. Other studies have also linked a high-fat diet to abnormal glucose processing in the body.

In conclusion, it is important to consider the long-term effects of the ketogenic diet. When people significantly reduce their carbohydrate intake, blood sugar certainly improves. But high blood sugar is one of the symptoms of diabetes. The root cause of diabetes is the body’s abnormal metabolism of carbohydrates. We also need more research to understand whether a ketogenic diet is beneficial or harmful to this process.

The bottom line

A ketogenic diet can help people with diabetes control blood sugar and lose weight. But studies have not consistently shown that these effects will last for a long time. There is still a lot we don’t understand about the long-term effects of the ketogenic diet. But changing your eating habits is a powerful tool to help control diabetes. Reducing carbohydrates in moderation may be just as beneficial, not to mention long-term sustainability. It’s a good idea to discuss any possible dietary changes with your doctor so they can help make it a safe part of your diabetes treatment plan.