If you frequent my site often or do a quick search, you can easily see I am type 1 diabetic and advocate the paleo diet. There are many reasons why I do, but in short, I never knew I could feel so good until I made the lifestyle and diet change.
However, it was and still can be a bumpy journey. Do I think it is worth it? Yes. Do I think everyone with type 1 diabetes, let alone an auto-immune disease should consume a paleolithic diet? Yes. It is not an easy transition; it very different to the Standard American Diet and meal prep, grocery shopping, happy hours, etc will all change. But once someone gets into it, results come quickly and the energy and better sleep you will begin to experience will keep you going.
Low carb eating can cause insulin resistance. What does this mean? If transitioning to a paleo diet, do not eat below 10% of calories coming from carbohydrates. If you need help understanding this, I am happy to help, but also use one of the many FitDay and the likes apps to assess your macro-nutrient intake. Bottom line, when changing the way you eat (assuming you have blood sugar variations) test your glucose levels often. At first I personally had to increase my insulin needs but after a month, my needs dropped below my initial dose.
On another topic that is slightly related, coffee and blood sugars. Since college, coffee became a norm of my daily living. And along the way, with varying endocrinologists, I would ask how much they suggest I bolus for coffee. Take insulin for coffee?
Do you drink it with a lot of cream or milk?
Me, “No. None.”
And your blood sugar goes up?
Me, “Yes, steadily for the next hour or so of drinking a mug.”
Well I don’t think I recommend you to bolus/take insulin for something that doesn’t have carbs in it.
Above is how the conversation usually went, yet, I always cover my black coffee or my long black with a small bolus. This took trial and error and the amount I include with my bolus varies depending on how the coffee is made. I advise testing often to see how coffee affects your blood sugar. Some more information on this topic, which is addressed with more depth can be found here.
Cheers to you and good health,
Kel
