The Ketogenic Diet For Diabetes Management
For several reasons, the keto diet for diabetes management is becoming more and more popular in the health and wellness communities. The diet was initially created in the 1920s to treat severe paediatric epilepsy, but it has since been discovered to support health and aid in weight loss (in the short term).
In addition to aiding weight loss, blood sugar control, and improving insulin resistance, it has also been utilised by the vast diabetes community to improve overall health. This article outlines the general guidelines and factors to consider while creating a keto diabetic meal plan for comprehensive diabetes management.
Many of the keto diabetic recipes can be made ahead of time and stored (frozen or refrigerated) for later use.
Components of Diabetic Ketogenic Diet
– Ease of Preparation and Versatility
All diabetic keto recipes take 30 minutes or less to prepare, excluding cooking/baking time. Most of the keto diet recipes lend themselves to “tweaking” for personal taste or to add more nutrients. You can, for example, add protein powder or collagen to instant hot chocolate, pancakes, muffins, mug brownies, and biscuit recipes, as well as nuts/seeds to many of these recipes.
– Adequate Macronutrient Composition
In addition to having a low carbohydrate content, which is important for managing diabetes and improving overall health, each recipe closely resembles the keto diet’s recommended macronutrient (“macro”) profile: Carbohydrates account for 5-10% of total calories, fat accounts for 70-80%, and protein accounts for 15-20%.
– Low-Calorie Intake Per Day
The calorie content of each meal plan day is on the low side of what ‘Keto Diabetics’ typically recommend for our diabetic patients, but each day allows for some flexibility in terms of either a larger portion at meals or additional snacks. Low carbohydrate diets usually contain high-fat/low-carb snack recipes that would be ideal for increasing calorie content.
– Low Carb & High Fat Mode
This is advisable for anyone beginning a keto diet, so it’s fantastic that all of the recipes on low carb fall into this category. The keto diet’s high-fat content has built-in hunger suppressing effect, and one of the first things those who start on Keto notice is a sharp drop in their food cravings.
In addition to healthy oils like extra virgin olive oil and avocado oil, many of the recipes include nuts, seeds, and avocado, which are not only high in healthy fat and fibre, but also high in vitamins, minerals, and other plant compounds that have numerous health benefits for weight and blood sugar management.
What to Include in Diabetic Keto Diet?
– Protein Intake
One of the many advantages of protein is its high satiety factor, which allows you to fill up faster and stay fuller for longer. Protein at meals also helps to reduce the blood sugar spike that occurs after eating. This is especially critical for diabetics. On the ketogenic diet, these spikes almost completely disappear.
– Fish and Seafood
At Keto Diabetics, we actively seek out recipes that include fish and seafood whenever possible. Although they both contain omega-3 fatty acids, the concentration of omega-3 in fatty fish such as salmon, tuna, and sardines is higher.
The health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids go far beyond their reputation as heart-healthy. People who consume a diet high in omega-3 fats have a healthier mix of gut bacteria. These bacteria were discovered to lower the risk of type 2 diabetes and obesity. For these and other reasons, we strongly advise consuming at least three servings of fish/seafood per week.
– Whole Fat Dairy Products
Foods containing whole-fat dairy can make it much easier to meet your fat quota (without going over on carbs). Dairy saturated fat should not be a cause for concern. Milk fat is no longer on the confirmed list of unhealthy fats, according to a growing consensus among medical professionals. A recent study even found that consuming whole fat dairy products is associated with a lower risk of major cardiovascular disease. As a result, the primary concern for the majority of type 2 diabetics should be alleviated.
– Low-Carb Vegetables
Regardless of your health goals, prioritising vegetable intake should be the primary goal of any eating style. A well-formulated Keto Diet for Diabetics should include 3-5+ servings of nutrient-dense, higher fibre, low-carbohydrate vegetables.
– Dark Chocolate
Unsweetened dark chocolate is a nutritional powerhouse that should be consumed whenever possible. It can be consumed at the start of the day in the form of homemade instant hot chocolate. Alternatively, serve it as a rich and delectable ending to your day with a chocolate brownie mug cake. This superfood improves blood sugar levels, which is especially important for type 2 diabetics.
Craving to know more about the ketogenic diet for diabetes management and healthy-yummy diabetic keto recipes?
Check out the one and truly customised Keto Diet experts for Diabetics & Pre-diabetics at ‘Keto Diabetics’ today for a life-changing decision!