Many claims that the keto diet is a game-changer for losing weight. However, new studies show that it can increase the chances of developing type 2 diabetes. The ketogenic diet is a high-fat, low-carb diet that causes the body to burn fat through ketosis, leading to weight loss.
There have been loads of evidence showing that a keto diet is very beneficial to patients with type 1 and 2 diabetes and prediabetes as well. Read on to learn about the side effects of a keto diet and how it may increase the chances of developing diabetes. But first, let’s learn how a keto diet works.
What Is The Science Behind A Keto Diet?
A keto diet allows you to eat foods high in fats, low in carbs, and moderate protein. There is varied information on the nutrient percentage goals of this diet, but the standard will ask 55% to 70% of your diet to come from fat, while 25% to 35% will come from protein and about 5% to 10 % to come from carbohydrates which include fruits and vegetables.
The ketogenic diet is very restrictive, especially if you are used to eating more carbs than fats. If you decide to go on a keto diet, your eating habits will have to shift significantly. The diet focuses on getting you into ketosis, a metabolic state where your body burns fats for energy rather than relying on carbohydrates.
You might be asking yourself how a diet full of fat will help your body focus on weight loss, especially for people with obesity. The keto diet asks us to reframe our understanding of fat because people have focused heavily on low-fat foods such as yogurt and milk for many years. This has been due to the thinking that fats, including obesity, cause many major health problems. However, the truth is much more complicated than that.
We all need some fat from our food to promote our health. Fat is an essential energy source; it builds the cell membranes, enables blood to clots and allows blood to absorb minerals and vitamins while helping reduce inflammation.
Can The Keto Diet Cause Diabetes?
Experts say it is too soon to establish the correlation between type 2 diabetes and the ketogenic diet. There is a need for more research to establish a pattern. However, recent research on mice shows that a keto diet can often lead to insulin resistance, thus leading to the development of type 2 diabetes.
However, whether these would be the same results in humans is unclear. Valid research on a ketogenic diet is minimal, and there is a need for more studies to understand its effect fully on the human body.
How Does A Keto Diet Affect People With Diabetes?
There have been short-term studies on low-carb diets, including a keto diet, and how they can help patients with type 2 diabetes control their blood sugar levels and lower the number of medications.
There isn’t enough data on the long-term effect of a keto diet on humans. Limiting carbs can also be challenging for type 2 diabetes patients with low blood sugar. Therefore, your healthcare provider must closely monitor any short use of a keto diet.
Doctors recommend taking carbohydrates in moderation and adding physical activity to their daily routine to manage type 2 diabetes better.
What Are The Benefits Of A Keto Diet To Patients With Diabetes?
The ADA (American Diabetes Association) does not recommend the ketogenic diet over other diets since this is not a silver bullet or a magic cure for diabetes. It is, however, essential to note that many ketogenic enthusiasts claim that it can reverse the impact of diabetes and help with weight loss.
There is limited information on the long-term effects of the keto diet, and every patient with diabetes should embrace the diet with an individualized approach as advised by their doctor. A diabetic patient is likely to experience weight loss which is a bonus when managing type 2 diabetes.
