Low-Carb Diets and Cycling

[Triskeliongirl]

Yes, blood tests revealed that while I do make insulin, my fasting levels are low, and my response to a high carb meal is both low and slow (I seem to lack a phase I insulin response). My insulin sensitivity is fine. So, while taking insulin or other meds is an option, the disadvantage of taking insulin is that its easy to overshoot and go hypoglycemic which is very dangerous. Hence, I am choosing to control it by diet. Of course a type I must take insulin. I was heavily influenced by what I read in Dr. Bernstein's Diabetes Solution, and recommend it to any diabetics reading this thread (he also recommends this diet for type 1's, which lets them take lower doses of insulin w fewer complications). While carbs *can* be a useful source of energy on the bike, substantial amounts of carbs are not an *essential* fuel. One can cycle on a mix of fat and glucose, and even train to run on a higher ratio of fat to glucose. By eating a diet not only low in carbs, but high in protein, one can convert the excess amino acids to glucose by gluconeogenesis and store them as glycogen, or use them directly as fuel. I never would have believed this could work as well as it does, until I did a hilly metric century on nothing more than turkey sausage for breakfast, hard boiled eggs on the bike, and a grilled chicken salad w iced coffee and cream at the rest stop. And my blood glucose measurements for the day were in the 70-120 range. Eating this way my A1C is 5, my cholesterol is low, in fact my endo said I have a healthier blood chemistry profile than most of his non-diabetic patients. And, I feel great too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!