Low-carb diets in type 1 diabetes
Increasingly, low-carbohydrate diets are being seen as an effective way to help improve T1D management. What should GPs know about this approach?
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an endocrine disorder characterised by autoimmune destruction of pancreatic islet cells and an inability to produce insulin.
The condition is typically diagnosed in childhood, although adult-onset T1D is becoming increasingly common.2
In T1D, insulin must be given exogenously multiple times a day to manually regulate blood glucose levels. However, matching insulin requirements to fluctuating blood glucose levels remains extremely challenging.3
Before the widespread availability of insulin as a treatment, T1D was managed with an animal-based diet that was heavily restricted in carbohydrates, including all starches and sugars.4
