LOW CARBOHYDRATE, LOW LOW CARBOHYDRATE, LOW INSULIN, MODERATE PROTEIN, INSULIN, MODERATE PROTEIN,

HEALTHY FATSHEALTHY FATS

AS THE BASIS FOR BLOOD AS THE BASIS FOR BLOOD GLUCOSE NORMAIZATON IN GLUCOSE NORMAIZATON IN

DIABETESDIABETES

RON RAAB B.EC, PRESIDENT, INSULIN FOR LIFE AUSTRALIA

Much effort goes into refining

insulin doses and types.

But

little focus seems to be on

analysing the effect of that which

insulin acts on.....

the food we eat....

DON’T CONFUSE THE

LOW CHO / LOW GI DIET

WITH

“RADICAL” OR “FAD” DIETS

WHY IS THE LOW CHO DIET WHY IS THE LOW CHO DIET BETTER?BETTER?

SMALLER QUANTITY OF CHO

LESS INSULIN REQUIRED

MUCH MORE PREDICTABILITY

AND

MUCH LESS VARIATION

IN BLOOD GLUCOSE LEVELS

““HIGHHIGH”” CHO CHO DIET-one possible patternDIET-one possible pattern

RESULTS:

MORE ACTUAL AND POTENTIAL VARIATIONAND

LESS PREDICTABILITY IN BLOOD GLUCOSE LEVELS

WORSE OUTCOME

TIME

INSULIN ACTION

(AMOUNT OF GLUCOSELEAVING

THE BLOOD)

AMOUNT OF GLUCOSEENTERING THE BLOOD

““HIGHHIGH”” CHO CHO DIET-another possible DIET-another possible patternpattern

RESULTS:

MORE ACTUAL AND POTENTIAL VARIATIONAND

LESS PREDICTABILITY IN BLOOD GLUCOSE LEVELS

WORSE OUTCOME

TIME

INSULIN ACTION

(AMOUNT OF GLUCOSELEAVING

THE BLOOD)

AMOUNT OF GLUCOSEENTERING THE BLOOD

Usual recommended regimeUsual recommended regimeHigh Carb – High InsulinHigh Carb – High Insulin

One of many unpredictable results

Time (hours)

5

Food absorption– amount of glucose entering blood

Insulin absorption – amount of glucose leaving blood

Blood glucose level

Result Large and unpredictable variation in blood glucose levels

““LOWLOW”” CHO, LOW G.I DIET CHO, LOW G.I DIET

TIME

INSULIN ACTION

(AMOUNT OF GLUCOSELEAVING

THE BLOOD)

AMOUNTOF

GLUCOSEENTERING THE BLOOD

RESULTS:

LESS ACTUAL AND POTENTIAL VARIATIONAND

MORE PREDICTABILITY IN BLOOD GLUCOSE LEVELS

BETTER OUTCOME

The timing of CHO as it enters the blood as glucose is

“ significantly”

variable/unpredictable

Delayed stomach emptying (gastroparesis)

Variability

in the timing

of insulin absorption

Severity of hypos

Why did the high CHO diet advice

evolve as part of the

treatment of diabetes?

Example of a “low carb” meal:

healthy protein source (eg fish), low-carb vegetables, salads, small amounts of slowly

absorbed carb, etcIs low- carb, NOT no-carb...

Compared to “high carb” meals such as:

large amounts of pasta, bread, rice, fruit, high-carb vegetables, other carbs, etc.

R. Raab

CONCLUSION

THE LOW CHO DIET BETTER THE LOW CHO DIET BETTER BECAUSEBECAUSE

SMALLER QUANTITY OF CHO

LESS INSULIN REQUIRED

MUCH MORE PREDICTABILITY

AND

MUCH LESS VARIATION

IN BLOOD GLUCOSE LEVELS

Relationship between HbA1c and Relationship between HbA1c and average finger blood glucose average finger blood glucose

HbA1c of 9% = 260 mg/dl (14.4 mmol/l)HbA1c of 8% = 220 “ (12.2 “ )HbA1c of 7% = 180 “ (10.0 “ ) HbA1c of 6% = 140 “ (7.7 “ )HbA1c of 5% = 100 “ (5.5 “ )

One resource for further information

www.diabetes-low-carb.org