Welcome to our newest diabetes educator, Lucia Feito Allonca! Lucy is a lawyer in Health Law, Bioethics & Patient Rights, and is holds a Diabetes Educator Certificate through IDF. She’s also lived with type 1 diabetes for more than 30 years. Lucy is providing type 1 diabetes education for optimal blood sugar management in Spanish.
Lows are to be respected, not feared.
A great benefit of low-carb eating is that a diabetic will no longer experience crashing lows like they did when they were eating large amounts of carbohydrates and using large amounts of insulin. When eating low-carb, lows tend to be very gradual, and since you are following the Law of Small Numbers, your body only requires a very small correction to get to the ideal blood glucose level of 83 mg/dL.
The primary Diabetes management concept Dr. Bernstein recommends to achieve normal blood glucose numbers is "The Law of Small Numbers." Dr. B explains it like this:
"Big inputs make big mistakes; small inputs make small mistakes.” Dr. Bernstein's Diabetes Solution (p. 108)
So, what does this mean for your everyday eating plan and blood glucose control? What should you do?
Before the introduction of food science/food technology, before the development of 90% of the grocery items we have available today, we had food. Real food. There were whole foods that you had to prepare and cook at home.
There were few restaurants and fewer packaged goods, so everyone cooked: with meat, butter, lard, full-fat cream, and a ton of fresh vegetables, many grown at home.
With consistent commitment to better health, you WILL see results. The very first day eating low-carb, your insulin needs will decrease. As you refine your insulin needs (for a Type 1 Diabetic requiring insulin) and your food, you will see improved blood glucose numbers. You will no longer have to fear surprise high or low blood glucose levels.
Here are 10 tips that will help you achieve long-term success with the low-carb way of eating:
The path to self discovery and self improvement is often difficult and paved with boulders. We must persevere. We must keep going. There is help along the way, so don't give up. Your struggles are not unique. Help is nearby and is on the same path. They will catch you when you stumble and buoy you up when you need. They are your tribe....
PEOPLE OFTEN HAVE MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT WHAT TYPES OF FOODS THOSE OF US ON LOW-CARB DIETS CAN EAT. I want to share what I eat in a typical day and my insulin requirements. This will not be the same for everyone, but can serve as a guide if you are considering a low-carb diet for diabetes management.
