Diabetes is a disease in which the body is unable to regulate its blood glucose levels properly. People with diabetes (Diabetes type 1 or 2) must monitor their blood glucose levels and make adjustments to their lifestyle and diet. Without the proper treatment, high blood glucose levels can cause a number of serious health problems.
What Causes High Blood Glucose?
Diabetes (the most general term for a group of metabolic disorders in which the body cannot regulate glucose) is split into two types: type 1, in which the pancreas does not produce insulin, and type 2, in which the pancreas does not produce enough insulin to regulate glucose.
Approximately 5% of people with diabetes have type 1 diabetes. In the case of these individuals, the pancreas produces little or no insulin to help the body process carbohydrates from meals due to the destruction of pancreatic tissue.
About 90 percent to 95 percent of people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes. Although they produce insulin early in the disease, their bodies do not respond well to it, due to insulin resistance. The pancreas tries to increase production of insulin, but after a while the pancreas can no longer make enough and diabetes develops.
Gestational diabetes: A uncommon form of diabetes seen pregnant women.
TYPE 1 DIABETES- Formerly known as “Juvenile onset”
Who is affected by the disease?
Children and teenagers, with a healthy body weight, but even adults, are diagnosed.
Do any other family members suffer from diabetes?
These individuals may be the only ones in their family that suffer from the condition.
Causes
The person’s immune system targets and destroys the pancreas’ insulin-producing (beta) cells by mistake. The pancreas can no longer synthesise insulin, a hormone necessary for blood glucose regulation.
Risk factors for Juvenile type 1 diabetes include
Age – Although it can occur at any age, more likely to develop type 1 diabetes before the age of 40, and usually before the age of 10
Family history – family member with type 1 diabetes (such as a sibling or parent), you’re more likely to develop it yourself. It’s estimated up to 10% of cases are caused by genetics
Ethnic background – people of white European descent are at higher risk than other ethnicities
Ketogenic Diet and Diabetes
Ketogenic diets have gained popularity in recent years as a strategy for weight loss and to treat a variety of diseases. For people with type 1 diabetes, the diet has also become popular, but its clinical impact remains unclear, Because there is a danger of producing ketoacidosis and hypoglycaemia in people who are already at high risk for these problems.
A ketogenic diet primarily consists of fat, protein, and minimal amounts of carbohydrates. This causes the body to use fat as its main source of fuel.
When people is on in ketogenic diet, they are often worried that they will have to eliminate their favorite foods and do not consume enough vegetables and fish. But, as you can see, you can maintain a low-carb diet by eating a variety of plant proteins and eating fish, cheese and Greek-style yogurt every day.
The diet also allows you to eat at least 4 or 5 servings of vegetables every day, which provide 20 to 30 grams of carbohydrate—a low amount but certainly enough for those who want to follow a ketogenic diet. Finally, the fat that you need should come from plants and fish, such as olive oil, nuts, seeds, avocados, tuna and salmon.
A long-term ketogenic diet should be designed to meet all nutritional needs with a low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet. Further, a dietitian can provide counseling on how to stay hydrated and make sure you’re getting enough sodium, potassium, and magnesium.
Close Monitoring
Monitoring ketones is critical for people with diabetes to detect and avoid life-threatening diabetic ketoacidosis. People who follow a strict low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet (Ketogenic) should keep blood ketone readings between 0.2 and 5.0 mmol/L, with the upper end (1.5−3.0 mmol/L) being optimal.
Although not at high enough levels to indicate ketoacidosis, high blood sugar levels can be a warning sign of the condition. As such, a careful clinical assessment by a doctor is necessary to determine whether the patient is experiencing ketoacidosis. This includes paying attention to symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and breathing difficulties.
Diabetics should monitor their blood glucose levels more often if they are on a ketogenic diet. Diabetic ketoacidosis may occur, but signs of it may be seen when blood glucose levels reach 250 mg/dL, which is a sign of potential ketoacidosis.
People on a low-carb diet can use a continuous glucose monitor to help prevent hypoglycemia. Clinical trials suggest that the device can be used to track blood glucose and to apply carbohydrate intake appropriately.
Adjusting Diabetic Treatment
Under the close supervision of Clinicians, Diabetic Medication or Therapies may be adjusted. Your Physicians might consider following
Insulin requirements change
Other diabetes medications
EFFECTIVENESS AND SAFETY
Until the discovery of insulin, the only therapy used to treat type 1 diabetes was diet. A low-calorie, low-carbohydrate diet was used experimentally in the early 1900s when the disease was first named and described. Although great strides have been made in preventing and treating type 1 diabetes, the existing literature on using the ketogenic diet as a treatment for this condition is limited.
Cardiac effects
The ketogenic diet has been known to cause certain side effects, including a deficiency of electrolytes, which may raise the risk of heart rhythm disturbances, and some studies have suggested that it may result in a prolonged QT interval and atrial fibrillation.
Conclusion
Further research is needed about the safety and effectiveness of the ketogenic diet for patients with type 1 diabetes. The diet may be appropriate for some people but only after a thorough discussion with doctor about the benefits and risks. A registered dietitian and specialists in diabetes care, education, endocrinology, and pharmacy should be part of discussion. For patients on the diet, extra monitoring is critical, preferably with a continuous glucose monitoring.