Do you follow a low carb diet?
- Yes
- No
- Sometimes
0 voters
We have been receiving some questions about low carb diets and would love for our low carbers to share their experiences.
3 Likes
Unfortunately, everyone’s definition of low carb is different, depending on what you think Normal is.
In general, I think each person’s goal is to find meal choices that work with their situation.
Lower carb generally equals less insulin, and in theory less “mistakes” (spikes and crashes).
5 Likes
Define “low carb”.
Exactly !
Maybe limited carb, rather than low carb.
Or are we looking for the more strict Bernstein followers ?
3 Likes
I follow a “the less insulin I have to take the easer it is to deal with” diet.
4 Likes
I agree with the others. We need a definition of low carb. Maybe you could give ranges, like under 30, 31-100, etc. Or maybe just let us enter the number. That gives us more useful information, I think. Thanks.
2 Likes
Precisely that’s why I would never suggest a specific amount of carbs. Everyone does it differently!
For me low carb can something completely different, the one thing in common is carb limitation
1 Like
I normally have diet soda or sugar free candy as opposed to regular soda or high sugar candy, but as long as I know how many carbs I am having, I usually do not use carbs as a component as to what I can include in my diet. I consider this to be one of the biggest changes that insulin pumps has made on my life, it gives me the freedom to eat (for the most part) the same stuff as everyone else. I may not be able to grab a bar of chocolate any time I want like everyone else, but I can have a small amount as long as I do a bolus for it. If I were not an insulin pump user and had to do injections (therefore needing to know beforehand my approximate expected carbs), I would obviously not have the freedom I do with the insulin pump, but that doesn’t mean low carb, it just means consistent carbs. But that may be easier said than done, and everybody is different, so I can’t say for sure.
According to some experts, diet sodas are going to kill us. SMH. 
1 Like
If by low carb you mean counting, sure…? I have a sister who was on the low carb diet and had success.
I follow a very low carb diet. I eat approx 20g carbs per day - not counting glucose for corrections. Going low carb was a great decision and the results were immediate (I have been eating this way for 2 years now). After the initial 2 weeks of weakness, dizziness and general misery (keto flu), I have only experienced upsides. My weight is better, my muscle tone is better, I can go for hours (all day) without eating and experiencing debilitating hunger, and as I am active in high intensity competitive sport I rarely have to eat glucose during a game and my stamina is improved dramatically. My A1C has come down from approx 6.7 to 4.8 and my SD is approx 1.3 (this varies and it is my main area of focus).
But low carb is not the diabetic panacea it may sound like. It takes work and nutritional re-schooling. I now have to bolus for protein which can be tricky. I am very also sensitive to body changes and I have to adjust my basal dose frequently. In other words I have to be vigilant. But I very rarely have lows and when i do they come on so slowly it is never an issue. I also rarely have crazy highs - I have reached 200 (11), 2 or 3 times in the last year and that was through forgetting to bolus for a meal. So the work load is the same as with a high carb diet but it feels different. It feels as if I am controlling things as opposed to always chasing. Within a couple of weeks of going low carb a huge weight I didn’t know I had been carrying around for 30 years was lifted off my shoulders. I still have bad days but my bad days now are like my good days before. I am lucky in the sense that I do not miss high carb food in the slightest. I used to be a complete bread and fruit fanatic and buttery croissants were my achilles heel. Now they mean nothing and I am never tempted, so i never ever cheat. 3 years ago I came across the Dr Bernstein book by chance. I had always distrusted my doctors and dieticians but finally I was reading something that made total sense. I slapped my forehead for not having intuitively understood this before - it is the carbs, stupid! It took me a year to fully implement but now I will never go back because I feel great. My family of non-t1’s are also coming aboard and most of the food and meals are fully low carb.
6 Likes
For the 1st time in my years I want to loose 30-40 lbs. My plan is to reduce the amount I eat and lower the carbs. For several years I was a strict low carber, and my weight was lowered and controlled. My insulin use also was significantly lower. I have been on a pump and CGM for several months and my weight is going up, as well as my age and insulin usage. I change my injector when my pump runs out of insulin, 2-3 days. I would like it to be no more than every 3 days, and predictable.
Ask me this question in a month from now and I will say a definitely, “sometimes”. Leaving room for deviance.
Mark
1 Like
I did a physician-supervised ultra low carb (15g/day) for ~1 week before screaming “uncle!” My wife and I did the Whole 30 (I did a “Whole 27”, to be honest) and found it to be more tolerable on a day-to-day basis. I still try to do 2 no carb meals/day, like eggs & kale or salads with protein. I fall off the wagon occasionally, but tight pants and high insulin requirements get me back on track!
2 Likes
That’s a good description! “Aspirational low-carber” here!
are you on an insulin pump or mdi? my impression was that Dr Bernstein doesn’t like pumps ? How do you calculate the bolus’ for protein?
Hi Aime,
I am in MDI. Dr Bernstein doesn’t like pumps but lots of people who follow his regimen are. Whatever works, right? Pumps have their issues but in conjunction with a low carb diet they can work well it seems.
Basically I calculate my protein bolus by doing 1/2u R per oz of protein food. A little less in fact except for beef. For beef I often need a second shot after a two hours or so. For me it varies a lot because of the exercise I do. Sometimes it affects me a lot other times less. I wish there was a fixed ratio but alas. Some people have it down a lot better than I.
1 Like
I eat around 15-20 carbs per meal, lunch and dinner. No carbs in the am.
I’ve done Atkins and South Beach. And cannot stick with them. I find I really never get over the keto flu.
I’m foggy, head in a barrel, super hungry, can’t concentrate, weak. Basically it feels worse than a mild low for weeks. But I do limit carbs to try to avoid highs. I also pre-bolus, and that works well for me.
I follow a low-carb diet, but I don’t have any good way of measuring just how low. My blood glucose measurements are now usually so low that I’m relaxing it somewhat.
Kinda depends. I do find it easier to stay in range when my meals contain fewer carbs. I also try to be careful with the types of carbs. Whole wheat pasta instead of white. Same with bread. Limit milk. No pure sugar unless treating a low or rapidly approaching low.
Greg
1 Like
Thanks. I was hoping you were a pumper. Because the insulin in the pump is not regular it’s much harder to match to the protein. I often usually can’t get it right unless I have some carb together with the protein.