The Science Behind Low-Carb and Keto Diets for Blood Sugar Control
Low-carb and ketogenic diets are not just weight-loss trends - they are backed by a growing body of clinical evidence, particularly for their benefits in managing blood sugar levels and improving outcomes for people with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.
Here is a plain-language explanation of the science behind these diets and how they can be a genuine game-changer for blood sugar control.
How Carbohydrates Affect Blood Sugar
When you eat carbohydrates, your body breaks them down into glucose, which enters the bloodstream. In response, the pancreas releases insulin to move glucose into the body's cells for energy. For people without diabetes, this process works smoothly. For diabetics, it is impaired - either because the pancreas produces insufficient insulin (Type 1) or because the body's cells have become resistant to insulin (Type 2), resulting in elevated blood sugar.
Left unmanaged, chronically elevated blood sugar causes progressive damage to blood vessels, nerves, kidneys and the eyes - which is why managing blood sugar is so central to diabetes care.
How Low-Carb and Keto Diets Help
The logic is straightforward - if carbohydrates are the primary source of glucose, eating fewer carbohydrates means less glucose enters the bloodstream. This reduces insulin demand, prevents blood sugar spikes and makes blood sugar levels more stable and predictable.
✔ Reduced blood sugar spikes - fewer and smaller glucose peaks after meals
✔ Lower insulin requirements - less insulin needed, reducing the risk of hypoglycaemia in Type 1 diabetics
✔ Improved insulin sensitivity - reduced insulin demand can improve insulin resistance over time in Type 2 diabetics
✔ Weight loss - particularly abdominal fat, which directly drives insulin resistance
✔ Improved cardiovascular markers - lower triglycerides, higher HDL cholesterol and reduced blood pressure
What Happens in Ketosis
On a ketogenic diet, carbohydrate intake is reduced to around 20-50g nett carbs per day. At this level, the body depletes its glycogen (stored glucose) reserves and begins producing ketones from fat as an alternative fuel source - a metabolic state called ketosis.
In ketosis, blood sugar levels drop significantly, insulin levels fall and insulin sensitivity improves. For many Type 2 diabetics, this can result in dramatic reductions in blood sugar medication requirements - always under medical supervision.
What the Clinical Evidence Shows
Several well-designed clinical trials have demonstrated the benefits of low-carb and ketogenic diets for blood sugar control:
✔ A 2017 study in Diabetes Therapy found that a ketogenic diet significantly reduced HbA1c and led to medication reductions in Type 2 diabetics
✔ A 2019 study in Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice found that low-carb diets outperformed standard diabetes diets for blood sugar reduction and weight loss
✔ A 2018 study in Nutrition found reduced HbA1c, body weight and cardiovascular risk markers in Type 2 diabetics following a low-carb diet over 12 months
✔ A landmark 2019 study published in BMJ Open Diabetes Research and Care found that 60% of participants following a low-carb diet achieved diabetes remission after one year - defined as HbA1c below the diabetic threshold without medication
✔ A 2020 review in Nutrients analysing 23 randomised controlled trials concluded that low-carb diets consistently reduced HbA1c, fasting glucose and triglycerides in people with Type 2 diabetes
✔ Virta Health, a large real-world clinical study running since 2015, has shown sustained improvements in blood sugar control and significant medication reductions in Type 2 diabetics following a ketogenic diet over multiple years
The body of evidence consistently supports low-carb eating as one of the most effective dietary interventions for blood sugar management - with some of the most exciting findings suggesting that Type 2 diabetes remission is achievable for some people through diet alone.
Is a Low-Carb Diet Safe for Diabetics?
For most people with Type 2 diabetes, a low-carb diet is safe and highly beneficial. For people with Type 1 diabetes, it can also be very effective but requires careful management of insulin doses in close consultation with a doctor or endocrinologist.
For a detailed breakdown of how low-carb eating benefits each type of diabetes specifically, read our post: How a Low-Carb Diet Can Help Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetics.
Please note: Always consult your doctor or dietitian before making significant dietary changes, especially if you are on diabetes medication. Medication doses may need to be adjusted as blood sugar levels improve.
Diabetic and Keto-Friendly Products at Caring Candies
At Caring Candies we have been making sugar-free and no added sugar treats for diabetics and low-carb lifestyle followers since 2003. All our own-branded products are made with natural low-GI sweeteners, no artificial additives, and are Kosher and Halaal certified - made in Cape Town and delivered nationwide across South Africa.
Shop diabetic friendly: caringcandies.com/collections/diabetic
Shop keto friendly: caringcandies.com/collections/keto