Low carbing not just for type two diabetics !

The post below was shamelessly nicked from and old acquaintance. A long term type one diabetic with an HbA1c of 6.1. This is a great number for any diabetic, especially a type one. Most type ones never get close to 6.1 as the NHS data shows. Would 6.1 be achievable without low carbing ? Possible but highly unlikely.

NHS Statistics for 2008 2009:

Percentage of Type 1 diabetics with HbA1c greater than 7.5 per cent = 71.4 per cent.

Percentage of Type 2 diabetics with HbA1c greater than 7.5 per cent = 33.4 per cent.

Percentage of Type 1 diabetics with HbA1c greater than 10.0 per cent = 33.6 per cent.

Percentage of Type 2 diabetics with HbA1c greater than 10.0 per cent = 14.3 per cent.

These results are very similar to those found in 2006 – 2007 and 2007 – 2008.

The traditional advice from the NHS is that fat is the thing to be avoided; weight gain is a simple process of not using as many calories as you consume. The solution to being overweight then comes down to eating less and moving more. Fat has more calories than protein and carbs so is the key one to reduce in your diet. Simple really.

Except the above is a load of rubbish and doesn't take into account the reasons why we get fat. It is well known that there is only one hormone in our bodies responsible for creating fat and that is insulin. The more glucose in the blood we have the more insulin we need to deal with it; and the more insulin we have the more fat is laid down. Increasing your carbohydrate consumption means increasing the amount of fat you are creating. Insulin also inhibits fat from being metabolised by the body.

So, the alternative reality that so many of us promote is; forget about all the fat and protein worries you have, eat more of them and less of the carbs and you will need to inject less insulin if you are Type 1 and produce less insulin if you are Type 2. Less insulin means less fat creation and if you are eating a low enough amount of carbs then your body will naturally start to metabolise your fat reserves; hence weight loss.

It is this idea that the Atkins diet is based on and what a number of other popular diets; the South beach diet, the Paleo diet and so on.

Give it a try and see how you go. Lots of people just say 'eat in moderation' and that is fine, but the key thing is is to drop the carb content of your diet to such an extent that your insulin levels come down and your body can start shifting fat.

Eddie