Beneficial effects of low carbohydrate diet and sports in patients with type 1 diabetes

Abstract

To reduce obesity and cardiovascular risk, a combination of low carbohydrate diet and sport is a good choice in otherwise healthy individuals. However, among patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), consuming a minimum of 130 g carbohydrates per day is recommended, and the desire to exercise decreased as well. We wanted to demonstrate that a low carbohydrate diet during physical activity in T1DM patients is safe with the right choice of insulin dosing and reduces the development of both short- and long-term complications. To this end, we collected data from T1DM patients on a normal and low carbohydrate diet using a questionnaire as well as measured blood glucose levels while exercising in healthy and T1DM patients. The main benefit of the diet was that it provided a safe exercise option with more stable blood glucose levels and lower bolus insulin requirements. Our data support that the emergence of new types of insulins, tissue glucose sensors, and pumps has provided the conditions for a freer, less complicated life for patients with T1DM, for which the combined use of a normal and low carbohydrate diet can be an important tool.

Keywords

• diabetes
• T1DM
• low carb diet
• physical activity
• blood glucose level