hmmm... low carb diets... ATKINS, SBD, etc...
i'm not going to say anything against low carb diets because it is true that Carbs is the only macronutrient that directly corelates to blood glucose levels.. but it is true that the body needs around 130 - 140 grams of carbs each day for normal physiological processes... the brain lives mostly on glucose, it cannot use any other fuel or rather, energy source.
130-140 grams sounds a lot but if you think about it as being the allowance for the whole day, then it will come to something like this:
Breakfast
half cup oatmeal (15g Carb w/o milk and sugar) or 1/3 cup rice (15g Carb)
1 serving fruit (15g Carb)
AM snack
half an english muffin (15g Carb)
Lunch
half cup cooked pasta or 1/3 cup rice (15g Carb)
half cup vegetables (5g Carb)
1 serving Fruit (15g Carb)
that's just 80 grams carbs we still have 50-60 grams for two snacks and supper.
PM Snack
1oz bagel (15g Carb)
Dinner/Supper
half cup Mashed Potatoes or 1/3 cup rice (15g Carb)
half a cup of vegetables (5g Carb)
1 serving of Fruit (15g Carb)
Bedtime Snack
1 cup milk (12g Carbs)
for a total of 142 grams carbs. i just put in the carb rich foods to illustrate how much carbs per meal can be eaten on 130-140g carb allowance, meats and other proteins are not included because they don't have carbs but proteins are important too...
6 meals are recommended in order to avoid fluctuations in blood glucose levels.
a bedtime snack is also adviced to prevent the condition known as reactive hyperglycemia. reactive Hperglycemia happens when blood sugar dips to low levels during the night prompting our body to produce more glucose from the glycogen (human starch) stored in our liver and muscles. this process is done through the action of another hormone from the pancreas called glucagon, now the hormone that stops glucagon when enough glucose is in the blood is insulin. but insulin resistance inhibits the hormone from doing its job so blood glucose continues to rise.
45%-60% of calories from carbs is the usual recommendation because this "diet" provides enough glucose for our daily needs.. the 130-140g carbs is only for the basal metabolism. Do people only lie or sit all the time? well if you do, then go for the really low carb diet because you won't be using the glucose from the carbs anyway... but if you are an active person then you need the glucose from carbs..
the glycogen in our livers and muscles only give enough glucose for about an hour or less during fasting and physical activity.
Ketones... too much ketone bodies in the blood and urine leads to ketoacidosis. which can lead to coma and/or death. Diabetic KetoAcidosis or DKA occurs mostly on TYPE 1 Dm. but some cases of DKA on Dm TYPE2 are reported. People with DM Type 2 are also at risk of another acute complication called Hyperglycemic Hyperosmolar NonKetonic Coma.. Both occur when blood glucose levels are too high either because of too much carbs or reactive hyperglcemia.
BUT REMEMBER:
IT IS STILL YOUR CHOICE OF WHO AND WHAT TO FOLLOW
experiment with yourselves.. follow a restricted carb diet like Dr. Atkins' or the SBD... but please take note of what happens to you during the course of the diet... if you experience nausea or headaches or fatigue then please eat 15g carb immediately.. your brain is hungry and you have no more source of glucose..
-Lionel Ian Recolizado-
-Registered Nutritionist - Dietitian-
-Diabetes Educator-
