{"id":52384,"date":"2020-06-15T09:46:14","date_gmt":"2020-06-15T13:46:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/?p=52384"},"modified":"2020-06-15T11:00:20","modified_gmt":"2020-06-15T15:00:20","slug":"no-carbs-are-not-necessary-for-kids-with-type-1-diabetes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/?p=52384","title":{"rendered":"No, Carbs Are Not Necessary for Kids with Type 1 Diabetes"},"content":{"rendered":"

Yesterday in the 2020 American Diabetes Association’s Scientific Sessions, Dr. Carmel Smart<\/a>, pediatric diabetes dietician, debated Dr. Belinda Lennerz<\/a>, pediatric endocrinologist, on the use of low carb diets in children with Type 1 diabetes. Dr. Smart advocates for including carbohydrates in the diets of children with Type 1 diabetes, an approach I do not agree with.\u00a0<\/p>\n

My experience growing up with Type 1 diabetes<\/a> has taught me that low carb diets are vital to achieving normal blood sugar. I\u00a0started a low carb diet in 2013 when I was 9 years old, a few months after my diagnosis.<\/p>\n

Like nearly all kids, upon my diagnosis I met with a dietitian and health care provider team that provided training and detailed instruction on implementing a high carb diet.\u00a0 This diet required me to eat carbohydrate-rich meals including grains, processed snacks, and high sugar content fruits, and so on. My blood sugars typically soared from very high and plunged to very low.\u00a0<\/p>\n

This went on for a short while, until my mother ordered Dr. Bernstein\u2019s book \u2018Diabetes Solution\u2019<\/a>. We read through the book as a family and realized that there was a better way to approach diabetes management. Within a few weeks the following happened:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. My blood sugars nearly immediately went from highly variable to well controlled.<\/li>\n
  2. My energy level, mood, and mental stamina improved.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    From there things only got better. We gradually began to implement important details from Dr. Bernstein\u2019s protocol. I began using Regular insulin (I use Humulin R<\/a>) to cover protein foods and split basal insulin dosing.<\/p>\n

    I\u2019m now 16 years old and have been following this strategy for 7 years. Some of my results are as follows:<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. My blood sugar average on my CGM has been below 90 mg\/dL for many, many years. My A1c results are typically around 5.0% or lower.<\/li>\n
    2. My glycemic variability is very low with a standard deviation under 20 mg\/dL.<\/li>\n
    3. I have never experienced severe hypoglycemia \u2013 this is probably one of the most important benefits of a low carb strategy, because when using large doses of rapid insulin to cover carbohydrate, even with constant monitoring, eventually you\u2019ll get a severe hypo.<\/li>\n
    4. Given point 3 above, I can be fully active \u2013 I play varsity level basketball and football \u2013 at normal or very close to normal blood sugars.<\/li>\n
    5. I continue to maintain a healthy diet, exercise regimen, and rigorous academic schedule \u2013 I attribute this to Dr. Bernstein\u2019s important advice to emphasize protein foods.<\/li>\n
    6. I am not fearful of long-term diabetes complications. My blood sugars are normal. I know that complications start as blood sugars elevate and I am committed to maintaining the same A1c as a healthy nondiabetic.<\/li>\n
    7. My blood sugar is very easy to manage and control, which allows me to focus on enjoying daily life as a junior in high school, without the fear of volatile blood sugars.<\/li>\n
    8. I am not alone \u2013 a growing number of children and teens are following this diet<\/a> and are thriving. On social media, there are countless stories of children and teenagers with similar success stories.<\/li>\n
    9. These stories of success have motivated me to continue to advocate and add my voice. As Dr. Bernstein says, \u2018type 1 diabetics are entitled to truly normal, healthy blood sugars.\u2019<\/li>\n
    10. I am eating delicious and diverse meals \u2013 my mom and dad have learned to make low carb versions of any food.<\/li>\n
    11. There has not been any negative social impact on my diet choices. I eat in the cafeteria or restaurants with my friends. I can always find something to eat. It might mean being creative. Yesterday when out with my friends, I had poke (raw fish) on a salad instead of rice. I feel no need or social pressure to eat a certain way. Many of my friends are athletes and eat very similarly to my food choices.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Overall, I am committed to maintaining my low carb\/high protein diet. The results in my own life are undeniable, as I have the sustained physical and mental energy to keep up with my sports and academics. I am energized by other Type 1 children following Dr. Bernstein\u2019s low carb approach and their success stories that I see on social media, which encouraged me to add my voice. If you\u2019re interested in normalizing your blood sugar look at Dr. Bernstein\u2019s YouTube channel \u2018Diabetes University\u2019<\/a>. He is the expert and I follow his protocol closely. It is possible for a person with Type 1 diabetes to be as healthy (or healthier<\/a>) as anyone without it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":480,"featured_media":51474,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"image","meta":{"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1587,1453,1430],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nNo, Carbs Are Not Necessary for Kids with Type 1 Diabetes | ASweetLife<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Yesterday in the 2020 ADA's Scientific Sessions, Dr. Carmel Smart, pediatric diabetes dietician, debated Dr. Belinda Lennerz, pediatric endocrinologist, on the use of low carb diets in children with Type 1 diabetes. 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