Diabetes patients can’t process carbohydrates effectively, a dietician has said.
Carbs are broken down into small units of glucose when digested, which raises blood sugar.
The pancreas should produce insulin to help the blood sugar enter cells, providing the body with energy.
But, in diabetics, the pancreas fails to produce the correct amount of insulin, which can cause severe harm.
“Many studies support low-carb diets for the treatment of diabetes,” said Registered Dietitian, and Certified Diabetes Educator, Franziska Spritzler.
“In fact, prior to the discovery of insulin in 1921, very-low-carb diets were considered standard treatment for people with diabetes.
“What’s more, low-carb diets seem to work well in the long term, as long as patients adhere to the diet.
“The optimal amount of carbs may also vary by individual, since everyone has a unique response to carbs. To figure out your ideal amount, you may want to measure your blood glucose with a meter before a meal, and again one to two hours after eating,” Spritzler wrote on medical website Healthline.
Eating just 20 grams of carbs a day could provide “dramatic improvements in blood sugar levels”, some studies have claimed.
Two slices of wholewheat bread equates roughly to 200 calories, 44 g carbs, 0 g fat, 6 g protein.
Other research revealed that 70 to 90 grams of total carbohydrates daily would reduce diabetes symptoms.
It’s important to remember that the less carbs eaten, the less blood sugar will rise, Spritzler urged.
A healthy, low-carb diet should include nutrient-dense, high-fibre source of carbohydrates. That includes vegetables, berries, nuts and seeds.
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition, where the body mistakenly attacks the pancreatic cells responsible for making insulin.
In Type 2 diabetes, the pancreas loses its ability to produce insulin, said Spritzler.
Symptoms of diabetes include feeling very thirsty, passing more urine than normal, and feeling very tired.
Unexplained weight loss, episodes of thrush and blurred vision could all be signs of diabetes.
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