Table of contents:
- About the keto diet at a glance
- Is it true that the keto diet can help lower blood sugar levels?
- Be careful with the side effects of the keto diet
The keto diet helps you limit your intake of carbohydrates and sugar to lose weight fast. In addition, some parties who support this method also say the keto diet can help lower blood sugar at the same time. Is it true that the keto diet benefits on this one?
About the keto diet at a glance
The keto diet is a low-carbohydrate and high-fat diet. The allowed carbohydrate intake during this diet is no more than 30 grams of total daily calories, while fat intake must be increased by 60-70%, which is about 3-4 grams per 1 gram of carbohydrates and protein consumed.
Some foods high in fat and protein that are recommended when on a keto diet are:
- Egg
- Fatty fish, such as salmon
- Avocado
- Cheese
- Olives and olive oil
- Nuts
- Whole grains
With the keto diet, the body will burn more fat as energy because it doesn't have enough carbohydrate stores, which are the main energy source. This is where the benefits of keto appear for weight loss.
Is it true that the keto diet can help lower blood sugar levels?
When you strictly limit the consumption of carbohydrates, the body will enter the stage of ketosis. Lack of carbohydrates makes glucose (blood sugar) levels fall so that the body will begin to break down ketone fats to be used as an energy source.
Ketosis is actually a mild form of ketoacidosis that usually affects people with type 1 diabetes, and is the leading cause of death in diabetics under 24 years of age.
However, some experts say that ketosis is not dangerous. It seems that the breakdown of ketones can actually help control insulin resistance. When the blood sugar levels in the body are more stable, it also helps reduce the need for extra insulin (a hormone that helps convert sugar into energy).
In addition, the ketogenic diet also causes the body to burn more fat, which can help reduce weight. Weight loss that is near normal is associated with a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes.
That's why the benefits of the keto diet are believed to help diabetics control their blood sugar levels. Some studies even say that the ketogenic diet is said to be safe for people with obesity or people who are overweight.
Be careful with the side effects of the keto diet
Although there are many benefits of the keto diet that you can get, you should also recognize and be aware of the various side effects that may arise afterward. The reason is that the keto diet was not intended specifically as a way to lose weight from the start, but as a special diet for people who have epilepsy disorders. People with epilepsy have difficulty digesting carbohydrates in the body, so their intake must be severely restricted to make epilepsy symptoms easier to manage.
For healthy people, the long-term keto diet will change how the body's metabolism uses energy which of course can bring side effects to the body. Some of the side effects that can appear at the start of a ketogenic diet are:
- Constipation or constipation.
- Urinating frequently.
- Cramps in the legs.
- Headache.
- Limp because you feel a lack of energy.
- Flu symptoms.
In addition, too many ketones are produced in the body during the keto diet, which can increase the risk of ketoacidosis, which is a dangerous medical condition.
If you experience the following symptoms of diabetes-ketoacidosis, you should immediately consult a doctor.
- High blood sugar
- Dry mouth.
- Urinating frequently.
- Nausea.
- The breath smells like the smell of fruit.
- Difficulty breathing.
For those of you who are on a keto diet, it is recommended that you test your blood sugar levels throughout the day to ensure they are still at normal levels.
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