The Complete Guide to Healthy Low Carb Eating with Diabetes

Low-carb diets are all the rage these days, and they work really well for helping people with type 2 diabetes lose weight, but only if you do it right! This guide to healthy low carb eating with diabetes will walk you through exactly how to approach this diet in order to be healthy and successful in the long run. It’s not as complicated as it sounds!

How do you get started on a low carb diet?

If you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, it is important that you consult your doctor before starting a low carb diet. He or she will help you determine whether a low carb diet is appropriate for your condition. If it is and you need some help getting started, here are some tips. It’s also helpful to find support in an online community of people who are following low carb diets. You can learn from them, share recipes and ideas and find out what products may be helpful as you start on your journey. Just be sure to take advice from someone with similar health conditions—it wouldn’t do much good if someone without diabetes was telling you how best to manage your blood sugar levels!

What are carbs?

Carbs are molecules that your body can use for energy. They come in two main types: simple carbs (sugars) and complex carbs (starches). Carbs that are absorbed quickly and lead to higher blood sugar levels are called simple or bad carbs, while slower-burning or less processed carbohydrates like whole grains and fiber-rich fruits and vegetables are known as complex or good carbs. Your pancreas releases insulin to keep your blood sugar at a healthy level by enabling glucose from carbs you eat to enter cells. This makes you feel alert and productive—and keeps hunger away. However, if you consume too many sugars—especially fructose found in sugary drinks like sodas and sports drinks—your pancreas may not release enough insulin to match it all, which leads to high blood sugar (hyperglycemia), also known as hyperinsulinemia.

Why should you limit your carbs?

A carbohydrate-heavy diet increases your blood sugar and insulin levels, which can result in a host of health problems. If you’re diabetic or pre-diabetic, or if you have high blood pressure or elevated cholesterol levels, reducing carbs can help you lower your risk for certain conditions such as heart disease and diabetes. (1) A low-carb diet also helps reduce cravings, making it easier to stick to your weight loss goals.

Fats vs. Carbs - what’s better for you?

We’ve all heard that a low-carb diet is best for people with diabetes. But what does low carb mean? How low should you go, and how can you get there? How many grams of carbs per day should you eat? Is a low-carb diet always best for your health? The answers depend on your individual needs and goals. This guide will help you understand what a healthy low-carb diet looks like, plus provide ideas for meeting your carbohydrate goals.

What can you eat when eating low carb?

First and foremost, don’t buy into all of those myths about low carb diets being bad for you. It’s not true at all.

How much should you eat when eating low carb?

You may be wondering how many carbohydrates you should eat on a low-carb diet. This number is different for every person and depends on a variety of factors, including your gender, age, height, weight and activity level. When first starting out eating low carb, it’s recommended that you eat 25-30 grams of net carbs per day (or less) until you get used to eating at a lower carbohydrate level. Once your body adjusts to lower levels of carbs, then you can slowly increase your daily intake.

Are carbs in meat and dairy products bad?

When people say they’re trying to eat a low carb diet, what they really mean is that they want to cut down on carbohydrates. In most cases, when someone says they are eating a low carb diet, they actually mean a low glycemic index (GI) diet. While both can be important in managing diabetes and other blood sugar issues, they aren’t necessarily interchangeable terms.

Tips for Eating Out (even if it’s not low carb)

If you have type 1 diabetes and eat a low-carb diet, it can be tough to find safe food when eating out. Know how many carbs are in your dish—and that you may need to split an entree or ask for an extra portion of meat without potatoes or rice. Ask if your restaurant has a nutritionist on staff who can help create healthy meals tailored for diabetics, even those on low-carb diets.