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Why Keto Works for Diabetes: The Simple Logic

5 min read

Understanding the mechanism behind the results

Table of Contents

The Fundamental Logic

Think of diabetes as a food intolerance:

  • Lactose intolerant? Remove lactose
  • Gluten intolerant? Remove gluten
  • Glucose intolerant (diabetes)? Remove glucose

It's that simple.

Understanding Your Energy Sources

Your body can get energy from three sources:

  • Carbohydrates: Bread, pasta, rice, sugar, fruits - quickly converted to glucose
  • Protein: Meat, fish, eggs, dairy - used for building and repair, can become glucose if needed
  • Fat: Oils, butter, nuts, meat fat - efficient, long-lasting energy source

Important fact: Your body has no nutritional requirement for carbohydrates. It can create the small amount of glucose it needs from protein and fat.

Want to learn more about nutrition basics? nutrition-fundamentalsSorry this page is not ready yet.

What Diabetes Really Is

Type 1 Diabetes

  • Your pancreas can't make insulin (autoimmune destruction)
  • Without insulin, glucose can't enter cells
  • Solution: Replace insulin + minimize glucose load

Type 2 Diabetes

  • Your cells resist insulin's effects
  • Your pancreas works overtime trying to compensate
  • Eventually insulin-producing cells may "burn out"
  • Solution: Improve insulin sensitivity + reduce insulin demand

The Type 2 Explosion

Type 2 diabetes is growing explosively due to:

  • Overconsumption of junk food and ultra-processed foods
  • Misguided food guidelines promoting high-carb diets
  • Sedentary lifestyles compounding the problem

The tragedy: This epidemic is largely preventable through better nutrition.

The Hidden Risk for Type 1s

Nothing prevents someone with Type 1 from developing Type 2. The common advice that "Type 1s can eat anything and just take insulin to match" puts them at the same risk as the general population.

When Type 1s develop insulin resistance:

  • They need even more insulin to control blood sugars
  • Blood sugar becomes harder to predict and manage
  • They face the combined challenges of both conditions

When Type 2 Becomes "Type 1-like"

If Type 2 diabetics don't reduce the load on their overworked pancreas:

  • Insulin-producing cells may eventually burn out
  • They become insulin-dependent like Type 1s
  • But with added insulin resistance making management even harder

While not technically Type 1 (which is autoimmune), they now need insulin for every meal with the added challenge of insulin resistance.

Other Types of Diabetes

MODY (Maturity-Onset Diabetes of the Young): Genetic forms of diabetes, often respond well to low-carb approaches

Gestational Diabetes: Diabetes during pregnancy, usually resolves after birth but indicates future Type 2 risk

Secondary Diabetes: Caused by other conditions or medications

The common thread: All involve problems with glucose handling and insulin function.

The Carbohydrate Problem

What Happens When You Eat Carbs

  1. All carbs become glucose in your bloodstream
  2. Glucose triggers insulin release (or requires injected insulin)
  3. High glucose + insufficient insulin action = high blood sugar
  4. High blood glucose is harmful to the body - it damages blood vessels, nerves, and organs
  5. The cycle repeats with every meal

Normal blood glucose is around 5 mmol/L - equivalent to just 1 single teaspoon of sugar in your entire bloodstream!

See how much sugar is in common foods: dr-unwin-sugar-graphicsSorry this page is not ready yet.

The Official Recommendation Paradox

Standard diabetes diet: 45-60% carbohydrates (200-300g daily)
Translation: 50-75 teaspoons of sugar-equivalent hitting your bloodstream daily

For someone whose main problem is handling glucose
It's like recommending peanuts to someone with a peanut allergy.

The Universal Solution

In All Cases, Address the Core Problem

The way out is the same regardless of diabetes type:

  • Reduce carbohydrate overconsumption
  • Minimize glucose load on the system
  • Preferably to ketogenic levels for maximum benefit

Learn about keto: What is a Ketogenic Diet?Sorry this page is not ready yet.

How Keto Changes Everything

The Math is Simple

Fewer carbs => Less glucose => Less insulin needed => Better blood sugar control

For Type 1 Diabetes

  • Dramatically reduced insulin needs (often over 50% reduction)
  • Smaller mistakes have smaller consequences (Law of Small Numbers)
  • More predictable blood sugars with less variability
  • Reduced hypoglycemia from insulin errors
  • Protection against developing Type 2 insulin resistance
  • Easier exercise management - much more stable blood sugars during activity with little or no need to supplement with carbs

Real example: My Personal Results: 30+ Years of Type 1 Diabetes

For Type 2 Diabetes

  • Reduced insulin demand allows cells to regain sensitivity
  • Lower insulin levels enable fat burning instead of storage
  • Improved metabolism can lead to complete remission
  • Medications often reduced or eliminated
  • Protection of remaining pancreatic function

Key insight: Insulin is the hormone that controls whether your body burns glucose or fat for fuel. Chronically high insulin levels prevent fat loss and make fat gain easier.

For "Burned-Out" Type 2

  • Reduced insulin requirements despite insulin dependence
  • Better insulin sensitivity makes dosing more predictable
  • Potential for some pancreatic recovery with reduced demand

The "Law of Small Numbers"

Dr. Bernstein's principle: Small inputs lead to small mistakes.

High-Carb Scenario

100g carbs → 10 units insulin → 25% error = 2.5 units off → 5 mmol/L swing (1 unit = 2 mmol/L change)

Low-Carb Scenario

10g carbs → 1 unit insulin → 25% error = 0.25 units off → 0.5 mmol/L swing

Same margin of error, vastly different consequences.

Why It Works So Well

Metabolic Advantages

  • Ketones are cleaner fuel than glucose
  • Stable energy levels without blood sugar spikes
  • Natural appetite suppression reduces overeating
  • Improved insulin sensitivity across all types

Practical Advantages

  • Simplified meal planning - protein and vegetables
  • Reduced medication complexity
  • Better blood sugar predictability
  • Freedom from constant carb counting stress
  • Easier exercise management

Beyond Blood Sugar

Additional Benefits

  • Weight normalization without calorie counting
  • Reduced inflammation throughout the body
  • Better cardiovascular markers despite higher fat intake
  • Improved mental clarity and stable mood
  • Better sleep quality
  • Reduced diabetes complications risk

Common Concerns Addressed

Is it safe?

For most people, yes - when done with medical supervision.
Important Safety Information: Starting Keto with Medications

Is it sustainable?

Many find it easier than calorie-restricted diets because hunger naturally decreases.

What about nutrients?

Well-planned keto emphasizes nutrient-dense foods like meat, fish, eggs, and vegetables.

Address more concerns: Myths DebunkedSorry this page is not ready yet.

The Bottom Line

Keto works for all types of diabetes because it addresses the fundamental problem - glucose intolerance and carbohydrate overconsumption - rather than just managing symptoms.

  • For Type 1: Dramatically simplifies management and protects against insulin resistance
  • For Type 2: Can potentially reverse the condition entirely and preserve pancreatic function
  • For all types: Reduces complications risk and improves quality of life

It's not magic - it's basic physiology. Remove the thing causing the problem, and the problem often resolves.

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