To Keto or Not To Keto...

To Keto or Not To Keto … That is the Question.

Or at least it is a question that I get a lot as a Diabetes Provider. The pressure, guilt and shame that comes with a carb when you have diabetes can be enough to make you … want to binge on carbs, right?

Well let me help you take a deep breath, and put down the knife (too many carb/bread puns?). The whole goal for every single person, and yes, that includes those people living with diabetes, is to find a healthy way to eat, that works for you, that you can actually do… and do for your lifetime.

So when I am in the exam room, working with a patient, and they say to me “I think I need to do keto,” I always respond exactly the same way, every time. I just ask, “do you like carbs?” If your answer is “Yes,” then you probably shouldn’t do keto. It is really hard to completely eliminate carbs from your diet indefinitely, especially when you enjoy eating them. You don’t need to feel bad about this, you don’t need to add pressure by thinking this is the only way to treat diabetes… because 1. Diabetes is a problem of insulin, not a problem of carbs. And 2. You just have to find a healthy way to eat that works for you.

For some people – that might be Keto. For some people it is intermittent fasting, plant-based, modified atkins, paleo, whole foods. Truly – you just have to find what works for you. More to come on this later, as to how to do that (it’s mostly just trial and error) … and yes, you can pick and choose different components from different diet and food plans to find what works for you. And double yes… I have Type 1s who successfully do keto, I have Type 2s who successfully do keto, I have a Type 1 who told me she would never, ever, ever give up her candy, so we found an insulin dosing plan to meet her lifestyle – because again, it’s not a one size fits all, you don’t have to do what everyone else is doing – you just have to find a healthy way to eat that works for you.