Atkins Diet Misconceptions: Do ketogenic diets increase insulin resistance?

In a response to a message, I wanted to see if I could help others understand some of the research on ketogenic diets and insulin resistance. Vegans assert that the animals fats make insulin resistance worse, but the science is obviously not on their side. Most of my misconception videos, I try to detail the science, but for this topic, I made an analogy.

For this analogy, I used a cattle yard and the obnoxious smell as being analogous to the overwhelming refined carbs present in the Standard American Diet. Most people when assaulted by the smell immediately would have response to the smell. That response is the insulin release. Over time, the person eventually needs to be assaulted with new more horrible smells and might eventually not be bothered at all. It is at that point they become diabetic in the analogy.

Here's the research:
http://ccjm.org/content/69/11/849.full.pdf+html
"Do very-low-carbohydrate diets cause insulin resistance?
Despite concern that very-low-carbohydrate diets, especially if high in saturated fat, might lead to insulin resistance, the link between saturated fat and insulin resistance is tenuous. Further, data from three recent studies that used the insulin clamp technique indicate that very-low-carbohydrate diets do not have an adverse effect on glucose metabolism or insulin resistance.

Collectively, these studies indicate that very-low-carbohydrate diets alter the effects of insulin on oxidative and nonoxidative glucose disposal, favoring storage of glucose as glycogen in muscle. They also appear to prevent insulin-stimulated inhibition of lipid oxidation. Data from these studies do not support the notion that very-low-carbohydrate diets exacerbate the risk of type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance; rather, they actually show a potential favorable effect as evidenced by decreased basal endogenous glucose production and improved insulin-stimulated nonoxidative glucose disposal."

From the NEJM:
A Low-Carbohydrate as Compared with a Low-Fat Diet in Severe Obesity
Frederick F. Samaha, M.D., Nayyar Iqbal, M.D., Prakash Seshadri, M.D., Kathryn L. Chicano, C.R.N.P., Denise A. Daily, R.D., Joyce McGrory, C.R.N.P., Terrence Williams, B.S., Monica Williams, B.S., Edward J. Gracely, Ph.D., and Linda Stern, M.D.
http://bit.ly/a29HQ9
From the conclusions of the study:
" Insulin sensitivity, measured only in subjects without diabetes, also improved more among subjects on the low-carbohydrate diet. The amount of weight lost and assignment to the low-carbohydrate diet were independent predictors of improvement in triglyceride levels and insulin sensitivity."

Conclusions Severely obese subjects with a high prevalence of diabetes or the metabolic syndrome lost more weight during six months on a carbohydrate-restricted diet than on a calorie- and fat-restricted diet, with a relative improvement in insulin sensitivity and triglyceride levels, even after adjustment for the amount of weight lost."

One more New England Journal of Medicine study:
A Randomized Trial of a Low-Carbohydrate Diet for Obesity
http://bit.ly/azwkXC
"The increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations and the decrease in triglyceride concentrations were greater among subjects on the low-carbohydrate diet than among those on the conventional diet throughout most of the study. Both diets significantly decreased diastolic blood pressure and the insulin response (increased insulin sensitivity) to an oral glucose load."

Here are my first two diabetes video:
Atkins Diet Misconceptions: Low Carb and Diabetes (Part 1)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4uwyh48rEk

Atkins Diet Misconceptions: Low Carb and Diabetes (Part 2)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIQp9xqnilk

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Atkins Diet
• Low Carb
• Bowulf
• Diabetes
• Insulin Resistance

[xjun2001]

i am a recovering sugar addict im trying to get on atkins but whenever i go on the diet about a couple of days after, i start having low blood sugar symptoms, im mean really bad and i dont feel good unless i eat sugar and then i feel fine. is that insulin resistance or just my pancreas being used to really high sugar diet. have you heard of pancreas releasing insulin based on what youv been eating?

[bowulf]

@xjun2001 That is one of the reasons Dr. A recommended many smaller meals to alleviate the potential hypoglycemic events. It does signify a body that is potentially pre-diabetic pancreas. In this situation, you may want to limit certain foods that could also exacerbate the insulin release, like caffeine and artificial sweeteners, too.

[gina401965]

my guy is diabetic...and he is so afriad to go by the NET CARBS on packaging..worrying it will raise his numbers..since starting Atkins two weeks ago he has been able to not need insulin!!...what is your take on net carbs?

[bowulf]

@gina401965 First big congrats to your guy getting off his meds.

About net carbs, I have made a video on the topic, but the short answer is yes I believe in tracking net carbs ONLY if you mean total carbs minus ONLY grams of fiber. All the other net carb calculations that subtract glycerin, sugar alcohols, or "net impact carbs" are dubious, and likely to cause more bad that good.

[cathypiller]

I'm starting atkins tomorrow. I am a type 2 turned into a type 1 diabetic. I am extremely insulin resistant. I know it's hard to believe but I'm currently taking between 300 and 400 units of insulin a day. I take 110 units of lantus 2xdaily at least 1 unit for every 2 carbs I eat. I'm very concerned about how to change my insulin dosage with this diet. I know any advice I get is not from a dr. but I'd appreciate any opinions as I'm flying alone here . ty in advance

[bowulf]

@cathypiller There are a number of low carb friendly doctors out there especially those in the diabetes management field. Richard Bernstein would be the most notable example of one and has written a number of books on the topic. I would highly suggest his or the one Mary Ross Vernon co-wrote with Dr. Atkins. Those resources are going to provide you a better answer than I could in your specific example.

[mokugin81]

According to Ray Peat insuline problems are caused by the PUFAs in the diet!!

[BigJohnIsOn]

Sorry, YouTube will not let me post the URL's. The articles can be found at ajcn dot com, or let me know where I can send the URL's to you.

[BigJohnIsOn]

The bottom line is that (1) saturated fat is not bad for you (at least not for your cardiovascular system). (2) Polyunsaturated fat is a bit better for you than saturated fat. And (3) refined carbohydrates ARE bad for you, period.

[BigJohnIsOn]

Kent... Another great video.

More science you will like:

Below (next comment) are three articles from the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (which is a prestigious scientific/medical journal dating back to 1952). The articles are abstracts (summaries of studies) that date from 2004 to 2010. The third one is from March of this year and it is a bombshell: a study of 21+ prior studies.