On The Paleo Diet And Diabetes
The Paleo Diet, otherwise known as the “Caveman Diet,” is hugely popular at the moment. And lots of folks want to know how it plays with diabetes... The DiabetesMine Team has taken a deep dive here into what this eating plan entails, and what nutrition experts and research have to say about it. What is Paleo? The basic idea of the Paleo Diet is returning to our dietary roots. That is, the name is short for “Paleolithic” referring to the Stone Age, when humans had a very simple diet of whole, unprocessed foods. The theory here is that if we go back to eating that way, we’ll all be healthier and toxin-free. This diet is super-trendy at the moment as almost a modern “cure-all,” but the premise is based on scientific evidence about what early humans ate. Established by health scholar Loren Cordrain, Paleo assumes that humans were genetically and evolutionarily designed to eat foods that were available during the Paleolithic era, versus the agriculturally-based diet that was only developed in the last 10,000 years -- and even more so the processed and chemically-based diet of the last hundred years. The diet consists of lean meats, vegetables, fruits, and nuts. What’s missing are all processed foods, grains, dairy, and legumes, along with simple sugars and artificial sweeteners. Because, you know... cavemen didn’t eat that stuff. According experts, the Paleo Diet is high in protein, fiber and healthy fats; high in potassium salt intake and low in sodium salt (healthier option); and provides dietary acid and alkaline balance as well as high intake of vitamins, minerals, plant phytochemicals and antioxidants. It’s also quite low-carb -- a plus for those of us with diabetes, to be sure! But for many people, it is difficult to make a long-term commitment to s Continue reading >>
Success Story – The Paleo Diet And Type 1 Diabetes
Dear Readers, The following post is a testimonial from a mother who’s child was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes last year, and who has seen a significant improvement in her condition after adopting the Paleo Diet. We encourage all our readers to share their success stories using the Paleo Diet with us. I have a most remarkable story! On September 10, 2009, I took my six year old daughter to the pediatrician for what I thought was a urinary tract infection. She had been very thirsty and going to the bathroom excessively. Little did I know that these were symptoms of hyperglycemia! Her BG was tested a 542 in the doctor’s office, and she spent 2 days in the hospital. During that time she was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. Her A1c was 10.8. Her IA-2 Ab was strongly positive, with borderline positive insulin Ab, but she had negative GAD-65 and ICA. This is consistent with Type 1 Diabetes. They sent us home to begin a regimen of insulin injections; one basal in the evening, and one before each meal. We did what any parent would do which is: what the doctors told us. However, after a week or so, we realized we were counting carbohydrates in things like pop tarts. It seems absurd. We decided that all of us needed to clean up our diets. Since we worked out in a Crossfit gym, the diet that came to mind was the Paleo Diet. What happened next is amazing! My daughter’s insulin needs PLUMMETED. Over the next week we made numerous calls to the Endocrinologist to adjust her dosages downward. After about two weeks, she was completely off of insulin! That was roughly October 1st, 2009. She has continued with BG testing, endocrinologist visits, and the Paleo Diet, and as of this day (January 31, 2010) she has close to normal BG and requires no insulin. At her last Doctor visit (late Continue reading >>
Reversing Type 1 Diabetes With Diet – Another Case Study
It’s supposed to be impossible to reverse Type 1 diabetes, which is a form of diabetes where the Beta cells in the pancreas, which produce insulin, are basically stressed to death or at least, into paralysis. All this means a Type 1 diabetic loses the ability to produce life-giving insulin. A Type 1 diabetic must survive by injecting insulin for the rest of his/her life. At least, that’s the conventional view. And while it MIGHT be true, what about exceptions? Michelle is a college student who was first diagnosed as a Type 1 Diabetic in May 2008. She tracked changes in her Type 1 Diabetes symptoms after switching to a diet that’s much different from how most Americans eat, and also a huge change from how the American Diabetes Association tells diabetics to eat. For roughly 2 years, Michelle said it was still touch-and-go, how she’s doing, but overall, she’s much, much better than when she was first diagnosed. Naysayers would say that Michelle is in a honeymoon period, where things get better for a Type 1 diabetic before they get worse. But that “honeymoon” period usually lasts less than a year, and it’s nearly 2 years since Michelle was first diagnosed. However, in March 2010, she posted a blog report that she was back on insulin, with this report: I’m back… Sorry everyone for the lack of blogging, but this is probably my last one. I’m back on insulin and I quit the paleo diet. In that blog post, she explains that for her, compliance was too challenging, and while it may have helped extend her honeymoon period away from insulin, she didn’t think that in the long run, paleo worked successfully for her . . . although she does still try to keep her diet lower in carbs than the average American, it seems . . . In Michelle’s case, she cut back enorm Continue reading >>
Nine-year-old Boy With Type 1 Diabetes Comes Off Insulin By Eating Paleolithic Ketogenic Diet
Nine-year-old boy with type 1 diabetes comes off insulin by eating Paleolithic ketogenic diet Nine-year-old boy with type 1 diabetes comes off insulin by eating Paleolithic ketogenic diet Welsh analysis reveals kids with type 1 diabetes have fivefold risk of hospitalisation 25 November 2015 A Hungarian study reports that a nine-year-old boy who was newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes achieved normal blood sugar levels , and came off insulin by following the Paleolithic ketogenic diet. The child had been on insulin therapy for six weeks, alongside a high-carbohydrate diet. His blood glucose levels had fluctuated to a large degree, according to researchers at the University of Pcs. The researchers put the child on a modified version of the ketogenic diet known as the Paleolithic ketogenic diet. This consisted only of animal meat, fat, offals and eggs with a fat:protein ratio of roughly 2:1. The child had three meals a day and ketosis was regularly monitored using ketone strips. The researchers observed sustained ketosis - which is when the body has a high fat-burning rate - but the child had normal blood sugar levels before and after meals. His insulin therapy was discontinued. The child's blood glucose levels were significantly lower during the Paleolithic ketogenic diet compared to his six weeks of insulin therapy. The episodes of hypoglycemia he experienced on insulin therapy were not presented while on the diet. The child experienced a decrease in C-peptide levels during the diet, which is a well-known aspect of type 1 diabetes. Reduced C-peptide levels are often attributed to insulin-producing beta cells being destroyed, but the researchers hypothesised the low-carb intake may have led to this. After 19 months, the child is still on the Paleolithic ketogenic diet, and t Continue reading >>
A Child With Type 1 Diabetes Successfully Treated With The Paleolithic Ketogenic Diet
Here’s another remarkable success story. A 9-year-old child with type 1 diabetes was put on a very low-carb paleo diet. The result? He no longer needs insulin injections – his body still manages to produce enough insulin by itself – and his blood sugar stays normal. This of course means the child no longer has any episodes of low blood sugar. He has also improved his health in many ways, improved his fitness, reduced number of infections and improved his eczema. The child has now been followed for 19 months and is still doing great. IJCRI: A child with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) successfully treated with the Paleolithic ketogenic diet: A 19-month insulin freedom Obviously it’s still likely that the child will eventually need insulin injections, as his body’s number of insulin-producing beta cells may continue to go down. Most people who have had type 1 diabetes for a long time need insulin injections even on a strict low-carb diet. But they need far lower doses, and it becomes much easier for them to control their blood sugar. See stories below. More More on Type 1 diabetes Earlier “Low Carb vs. High Carb – My Surprising 24-Day Diabetes Diet Battle” Continue reading >>
Why I Took The Paleo Plunge To Manage My Type 1 Diabetes
As someone who has always loved the comfort foods like pizza and mac and cheese, being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when I was a college student hit me hard. I grew up in a healthy home and there was no history of this auto-immune disease in my family, so my diganosis was a complete suprise! Shortly after being diagnosed, I gained a lot of excess weight, felt sick all the time and was practically fainting at my internship multiple times throughout the day. To say it was a dark and difficult time in my life is an understatment. I knew there had to be a better way to live! After doing a considerable amount of research on the effects of carbohydrates and sugars on my body, I decided to adopt a grain-free, real-food and Paleo way of eating. Almost immediately my health improved. I felt so much better and it gave me much tighter control over my blood sugar levels. This feeling of stability and control was so exciting I jumped whole-heartedly into following the Paleo-centered lifestyle and I have never looked back! Of course, it wasn't easy at first since for me food has an emotional component to it. The elimination of grains, gluten and refined sugars left me longing for many of my favorite foods but when I reminded myself of the benefits of following the diet—and how fabulously I felt each day— it boosted my will power and made it easier to say no to foods like sandwiches and pasta. It also helped that I like experimenting in the kitchen and was prepared to clean up food creativity that got messy. There were definitely failures and yes, endless batches of completely flat cookies and batter spilled all over my oven, too. But I thoroughly enjoyed the process and began to slowly re-create all my favorite foods from classic butter biscuits made with cashews to spaghetti s Continue reading >>
British Man With Type 1 Diabetes To Receive Tests After Coming Off Insulin
US doctors are conducting tests on a British man who no longer uses insulin to treat his type 1 diabetes. Daniel Darkes, from Daventy in Northamptonshire, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes seven years ago. But his recent tests have baffled doctors as his pancreas has shown signs of working properly again. Branded 'Miracle Dan' by his friends, the 30-year-old recently travelled to America so doctors could run tests to further understand what had happened to his body. Speaking to the Northampton Chronicle and Echo newspaper, he said: "I had numerous tests, about four or five, to confirm the main reason why my pancreas had started producing insulin again. "One of the tests involved me running on a treadmill. They starved me for a good six hours before, and I spent about 30 minutes running at a constant speed to see if my brain went into a kind of shock mode, or starvation mode, to see if it would send signals down to the organs, i.e. my pancreas, which it did." The doctors also inserted a microchip into his back to measure his protein levels and shone a UV light on his pancreas to detect cells. Doctors think the medical breakthrough might have been caused by a signal sent from his brain to his pancreas. He is also a long-distance runner, which could have contributed to his improved health. Mr Darkes was as surprised as anyone, adding: "You can reverse type 2 diabetes through dieting and exercise, [but type 1 reversal] is not something that happens every day. So, if the pancreas is able to recharge itself in some way then that is a big step." Mr Darkes says that doctors are now 80 per cent convinced he is cured of the condition, which has never before been reversed. The findings from Mr Darkes' test results are set to be published next week and it is hoped they will help f Continue reading >>
Do Paleo, Low Carb Or Ketogenic Diets Cure Type 1 Diabetes
Do Paleo, Low Carb or Ketogenic Diets Cure Type 1 Diabetes 6 weeks ago my 10 year old son was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. He has had all the tests including A1C, C-Peptide and autoimmune markers tested and he is positive in every way on every test. Due tomy own experiments with Paleo and Keto, Im very familiar with the function of insulin and have read multiple stories about how people have cured their diabetes with reduced carb diets and by eliminating gluten. Many, if not most of these stories are about Type 2 diabetics who have taxed their pancreases with a lifetime of high carb eating and have recovered pancreas function and more importantly insulin sensitivity by giving their bodies a break from carbs. This is NOT the story of Type 1 diabetes! Type 1 diabetics have either reduced pancreas Beta Cell numbers or virtually no Beta Cells. This is caused by an autoimmune response to something possibly gluten, possibly some other virus and in other cases some unknown factor or event. In my sons case, wesuspecta virus that went through our family that knocked us down for 6 or 7 days each with severe stomach upset, slight fever, etc. about 4 months before his early diagnosis. Once the bodies insulin-autoreactive T-Cells begin to attack the pancreas, they never seem to stop until the job is finished. Ok this is where we pick up the stories of Type 1 diabetes reversal. 1st let me quote Diane Sanfilippo from her book Practical Paleo , page 67: While most Type 1 Diabetics cannot regain any beta cell function, if detected early enough and a strictly grain-free diet is adopted, some may be able to reverse the condition. [bold mine] [NOTE: Dianes book Practical Paleo is otherwise an excellent book with a lot of good information on Paleo and some great recipes.] I contacted he Continue reading >>
Type 1 Diabetes . . . Cured?
Carrie posted this wonderfully thought-provoking comment about her diabetic son: My 13 yr old son was diagnosed over a year ago with Type 1 [diabetes]. Before his diagnosis, I was very ‘green’ — bought organic foods, bought meat from free-range, grass-fed local farms, cleaned my house with products I made myself from vinegar and natural products. But we did follow the low-fat, low-calorie, high-fiber, healthy whole grain diet. We were told “eat whatever you want” — just dose for it [with insulin] and be healthy (yep: low-fat, high-fiber, etc.) I didn’t think so: If he has a carb problem, then limit carbs! We immediately went low-carb, causing us to remove a lot of wheat products, but didn’t know about the damages of gluten then. His last two A1Cs [hemoglobin A1c’s, a 60-90 day reflection of blood sugar fluctuations] have been 5.3% [normal range]. He was taken off his basal insulin and his bolus, continuing to less and less. Today, he is OFF insulin! YES, he is a Type 1 diabetic: They double-checked for the antibodies in case he was misdiagnosed–they are there. Even without insulin, his blood sugars are better than me or his dad, or even sister (we all check now). And all this while growing over 5 inches in one year, going through puberty and the stomach flu with no problems (scary for Type 1 diabetics). His doctors are amazed. We all still did not know how he was this way, until someone shared with me Wheat Belly. We are all going completely gluten-free now and staying low-carb. Maybe my asthma will be gone and my daughter’s horrible itchy rash all over her arms will finally leave! Absolutely wonderful book, thank you! Wow. We know that consumption of modern wheat is associated with causing type 1 diabetes in children, average age of onset 4 years Continue reading >>
Guest Blog Post: Paleo And Type 1 Diabetes
Guest post by Lindsay Swanson. This Guest Post includes information that does not conform to the Joslin nutritional guidelines. We have received a number of inquiries about the Paleo diet, and requests for examples of people who follow this diet, so we asked Lindsay to share her experiences. Her opinions are her own and not those of the Joslin Clinic. I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when I was 25 years old – a challenging and life changing experience. Looking back, I’m just thankful I survived the diagnosis. Now, I’m thriving with diabetes, and more so in recent years, as a result of transitioning to a paleo lifestyle. In addition to the technology and medical devices I use to manage my diabetes, I’ve worked diligently over the last three years to overhaul my lifestyle. Through an introduction from a close friend, I decided to try the paleo lifestyle not because of type 1 diabetes, but because of years of undiagnosed chronic GI issues. I didn’t know a lot about it, so the journey began with a lot of reading and research, and the more I read, the more that I realized I firmly believed in the foundation of what paleo is; nourishing my body and mind by eating the foods and nutrients I was intended to. Step-by-step, I started eliminating different groups of foods, a slow transition over time and I continued to feel increasingly better. I removed grains, then soy, then legumes, then corn, then rice, etc. I started trying different kinds of foods, experimenting in the kitchen, cooking with different methods, and became increasingly passionate about food. I admit, when I first decided to make this transition living with type 1 diabetes, I was terrified. I had long believed that I had to take at least a minimum amount of insulin to survive and not become ill, via Continue reading >>
Paleo And Type 1 Diabetes
When most people think of “diabetes,” they think of Type 2 Diabetes – that’s the kind that you (usually) get as an adult after a lifetime of eating junk food and sitting on the couch. Type 2 is the “diabetes” that goes along with the rest of the metabolic syndrome (obesity, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol). Type 1 Diabetes is a completely different problem. It’s related to diet (more on this below), but it’s not a “lifestyle disease” and it’s not caused by a poor diet the way Type 2 is. In Type 1, an autoimmune attack on the pancreas prevents them from producing the hormone insulin. Insulin is necessary for metabolizing carbs and protein (more on insulin here), so people with Type 1 Diabetes have to inject insulin every time they eat a meal. Type 1 Diabetes Type 2 Diabetes NOT part of the metabolic syndrome; patients with Type 1 Diabetes are often thin. Part of the metabolic syndrome; closely connected to obesity (although not all people with Type 2 are obese). Not enough (if any) insulin is produced, so your body can’t metabolize carbohydrates or protein on its own. Insulin is being produced (too much of it, actually), but your body is “deaf” to the insulin signal so it doesn’t work properly. Common in children Rare in children; usually develops in adults after a lifetime of bad eating. Not caused by eating junk food and not exercising. Can be caused by eating junk food and not exercising. Autoimmune disease May have an autoimmune component, but is not primarily an autoimmune disease. It’s easy to see how a Paleo approach to diet and lifestyle could be safe and effective for Type 2 Diabetes – if a disease is caused by eating too much junk food and not exercising, then eating real food and taking up a gym habit can only be hel Continue reading >>
Type 1 Diabetes: The Numbers Dont Lie
Editors Note: Paleo eating appears to benefit quite an array of health conditions. Many are autoimmune in nature, all appear to share characteristics of systemicinflammation. Type 1 diabetes is one of the most devilish conditions to addressbecauseof the dual activity ofautoimmunedisease andincreasedsystemic inflammationdueto glucose dysregualtion. Standard of Care dictates that one should eat ample carbohydrates and steer the boat with insulin. A perusal of the morbidity/mortality for Type 1 diabetes should raise a red flag or two as to the efficacy of this approach. There ARE better ways, but folks need to take accountability for theirsituationand be willing to tinker. Having a doctor who is supportive and curiouscansure as hell help! A HUGE thank-you goes out to Dave Wendel for sharing his story and results. There are several research projectsunderwaythat will help to prove thepowerof anevolutionarymedicine approach. In the mean time we have (I think) ample N=1 results which seem compelling to give an ancestral diet andlife-waya shot. Well, if you think your ass is worth saving I am the type of person who doesnt just buy into any old idea, thought or lifestyle. Even though I move fast and accomplish a lot, with an almost laser like focus, I have to believe 100% in what I am doing before I start. It took some time for me to even consider going Paleo. I have always been athletic, enjoying downhill skiing, biking and hiking. I have always had a lean body and the ability to eat anything I wanted without concern that I would gain weight. I received my undergraduate degree in History and Psychology and then headed off to the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York. Needless to say I love food and can often be heard saying butter makes it better!! Upon Graduati Continue reading >>
What About Type 1 Diabetes?
You hear a lot about type 2 diabetes on this and other sites in the community. It’s easy to see why: type 2 diabetes is the “lifestyle” diabetes, the preventable one, the one that “doesn’t have to happen” and that you can “fix if you just dial in the food.” All true, for the most part. Whether you’re in the camp that thinks it’s red meat or egg yolks causing it, or fatty liver from excess PUFAs and fructose, the point is that people commonly accept the idea that T2D is preventable and manageable with the right diet and lifestyle. But what about type 1 diabetes? Why don’t we hear so much about it? First of all, it’s rarer than T2D. For better or for worse, there simply isn’t as large an audience for stuff about type 1 diabetes. Second, type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease. In T1D, the pancreatic beta cells that produce insulin in the body are destroyed by an autoimmune attack. Left untreated without exogenous infusions of insulin, T1D results in severely elevated blood sugar and, eventually, death. Autoimmune diseases are confusing, tricky, and hard to manage. I mean, your body is attacking itself and preventing a completely necessary physiological function – insulin release! It’s not something you want to mess around with. It’s not a subject you can tackle lightly. And I think that’s why people have steered clear of making any absolute recommendations regarding T1D and Primal or paleo. That said, we can make some general recommendations, I think, that won’t cause many problems and can even help solve some of them (with a doctor’s approval and assistance, of course). I find the standard issue protocol a little odd: let people eat all the carbs they want and supplement with, as Dr. Kurt Harris once put it, “massive doses o Continue reading >>
Caroline’s Story: Overcoming Type 1 Diabetes With Real Food
Today, Caroline Potter from Colorful Eats, has an amazing story of recovery for you. She’s worked with the same nutritionist that I have these last few years, and has been able to treat Type 1 diabetes with a nutrient-dense diet and natural supplements. It’s another encouraging story of how food can play a significant role in our fight against disease! Treating Diabetes with Real Food Life in your 20s seems pretty grand. You feel powerful, youthful and energized. Dreams seem within your reach and challenges seem conquerable. Then out of the blue, college bliss turns into doctors offices and waiting rooms. Countless tests of all forms, vague results and no answers as to what was wrong with me. As I came home from college that winter for Christmas break, I laid on the couch for most of my vacation. I was constantly starving, eating everything in sight but quickly loosing weight. Finally, one day while out to dinner with my family, I broke down in tears because my mouth was so dry, I could barely talk. I was experiencing dry mouth, one of the major symptoms of diabetes. Diabetes? I was 20, a seemingly healthy young girl, who grew up in a home where my mother fed us all organic food. I was the one in school with her carrot sticks and tuna salad sandwiches. I never drank soda or ate Oreos, so the thought of diabetes was never even on my radar. Barely able to walk up a flight of stairs, I checked myself into the ER to discover my blood sugar levels were in a diabetic coma range. Later the next morning, the doctor diagnosed me with type 1 diabetes. I was scared, hopeless and confused. The days that followed were difficult to say the least. I still felt sick all the time, gained over 20 pounds in 2 weeks and felt terribly alone. My legs turned black and blue from giving mys Continue reading >>
Why The Paleo Diet Is Good For Type 1 Diabetes
Note: By providing a place for the community to share real life experiences we hope you find inspiration and new ways of thinking about management. We encourage you to approach these offerings as you would a buffet — review the options, maybe try a few new things and come back for what works best for you. Bon Appetit! Check out our library of resources on Food. To me, the term “Paleo” is not a diet or a fad but rather a framework — a framework for building a healthy lifestyle centered around real food, food that is un-refined and un-processed, just as nature intended it to be. Eating real food doesn’t have to be complicated or flavorless, quite the opposite in fact! The basis of the Paleo diet eliminates grains, gluten (even corn and oats), hydrogenated oils, refined animal dairy products, refined sugars, soy and preservatives. Now, that may sound like a lot of foods and you are probably wondering well what do I even eat then?! I prefer to focus on the foods I can eat and enjoy rather than those that I can’t and trust me, there are endless foods, flavors, textures and colors that you can eat! Personally, I believe that everyone can benefit from the framework of the Paleo diet, but personalization is key. Some people will need more good quality sources of carbohydrates depending on their activity level and some people like me do really well incorporating high quality dairy items. Keep in mind that diet is a foundation but not everything when it comes to staying healthy with Type 1 diabetes and other lifestyle factors such as stress, sleep and emotions play a huge role in managing blood sugar. Paleo friendly foods are rich in nutrients, keeping you satisfied and your blood sugar stable. When we remove processed foods and refined carbohydrates we lower the amou Continue reading >>
