How to get the blood sugar benefits of the keto diet without giving up carbs

Some people just aren’t cut out for keto…

You can’t eat fruit. Legumes are off the menu. So are all grains (even whole ones). It’s hard to eat out or even buy prepared foods, so you have to do a ton of cooking. Basically, it requires massive amounts of willpower and dedication… more than a lot of us have.

Unfortunately, those of us who can’t commit to keto, miss out on some impressive benefits. And if you have prediabetes or diabetes, there’s one keto benefit that’s too impressive to ignore — better blood sugar control.

Research shows that people with type 2 diabetes who follow keto have lower blood sugar and need less insulin. The keto diet also reduces the risk of diabetes for people who don’t already have it.

Is that enough to make you throw away your bread and fill your refrigerator with grass-fed beef and kale? Maybe. Maybe not. But if not, I have good news…

There may be a way to eat your cake (or bread) and get the blood sugar benefits of the keto diet too…

Ketone drinks trigger better blood sugar control

A study from the University of British Columbia shows there may be a shortcut to getting the blood sugar benefits of the keto diet — ketone drinks.

As you may know, the benefits of the keto diet come primarily from chemicals known as ketones.

When you significantly cut carbs, your body starts producing more ketones. If you cut carbs enough, your body will eventually stop burning sugar as fuel and start burning ketones. This is called ketosis. But the keto diet isn’t the only way to boost ketone levels. There are also ketone supplements… and some companies are putting these supplements in drink-form.

Related: 4 health conditions keto could help conquer

In this new study, researchers asked 15 people with type 2 diabetes to fast overnight then drink a ketone drink. Thirty minutes later, they drank a beverage that contained 75 grams of sugar.

That ketone-infused drink put them into a state of pseudo-ketosis. As a result, they had better blood sugar control… no extra insulin necessary.

It’s not all good news, though. There hasn’t been enough research to say with certainty that taking ketone supplements long term is safe. Plus, researchers say that ketone drinks taste terrible. Still, they may be less terrible than giving up all carbs!

One last thing about ketones…

Just to clarify, dietary ketosis is different from diabetic ketoacidosis, a dangerous condition that can cause a coma or death. Diabetic ketoacidosis happens when blood sugar is extremely high, and insulin is very low. This causes ketones to accumulate too much. Diabetic ketoacidosis typically only happens to people with Type 1 diabetes, because their bodies can’t produce insulin. But it can happen to people with Type 2 diabetes too.

Although ketoacidosis is rare in people with type 2 diabetes, it’s still something you’ll want to be aware of if you ever decide to take ketone supplements… or try the keto diet for that matter. You’ll want to keep a close eye on your blood sugar and ketone levels, especially as your body adjusts.

You already know how to test your blood sugar. And you can buy ketone test strips online. But if you have type 2 diabetes and you’re making a dramatic change to your diet, you may want to visit your doctor every couple of weeks to have your blood sugar and ketone levels tested. After all, if the keto diet or keto supplements work the magic they’re supposed to, you may need to reduce your diabetes medication. So, keep in close contact with your doc and hope for good news!

Editor’s note: Most people with type 2 diabetes can reduce the severity of symptoms or even eliminate them altogether by making simple lifestyle changes, including natural solutions. You can find them in Forbidden Secrets From Nature’s Pharmacy to Reverse Diabetes and Blood Sugar Problems! For a preview, click here!

Sources:

1. Need to control blood sugar? There’s a drink for that — MedicalXpress
2. A ketone monoester drink reduces the glycemic response to an oral glucose challenge in individuals with obesity: a randomized trial — The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
3. How the Ketogenic Diet Works for Type 2 Diabetes — Healthline
4. Does the ketogenic diet work for type 2 diabetes? — Medical News Today