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Educational-Eye5076 OP t1_ixujbfc wrote

Reply to comment by tedead in ELI5: what actually is keto, acidosis and keto-acidosis..? by Educational-Eye5076

So keto ain't a viable option unless untill you're prepared for severe outcomes??

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Flock_with_me t1_ixvdv6i wrote

Don't confuse diet-induced ketosis (which simply results from a very low-carbohydrate diet) with ketoacidosis, which is a serious medical condition. They are totally different things that involve some of the same mechanisms even though they sound similar.

For normal, healthy people, a ketogenic diet (one which induces ketosis) is not harmful. More specifically, it does not cause ketoacidosis.

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eviade t1_ixuk0fb wrote

Generally it's fine, diabetic ketoacidosis normally happens due to a lack of insulin. Insulin can reduce ketone concentration in the blood/prevent liver from producing too much. In a healthy person ketoacidosis isn't a huge concern (though it is possible)

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tedead t1_ixulasu wrote

In a healthy person, is it because their body naturally regulates the insulin levels in their body?

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eviade t1_ixun6ed wrote

Yes. I'm not educated in the matter but as far as I know insulin is necessary for energy to enter cells so without it carbs, ketones etc just float around in the blood doing harm where they go. This causes both a buildup of energy sources (like ketones that are acidic) in the blood as well as signalling the body that it is not getting energy. When this happens your body continues to break down fat to give you energy, which can't pass into cells without insulin, so it adds to the buildup. This vicious cycle continues until you finally get some insulin or the ketones become too acidic for your body.

I'm diabetic and I've gone high many times in my lifetime but never had ketoacidosis because I've not gone without insulin long enough for ketones to build up, the highs were caused by too much sugar not a lack of insulin. I've also been on a keto diet and had no problems.

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tedead t1_ixuo6y9 wrote

I am also diabetic, and I've been pondering over going keto to help with insulin sensitivity and to simply cut down on carbs. I've read that keto diets for 'betics can be a good thing. Did you feel better on keto? Did you notice benefits?

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eviade t1_ixuq4i2 wrote

The first time I tried I felt incredible (for a week), I also have insomnia and for that first week I felt energy I hadn't felt since my early teens. It was also quite freeing, I have a physical job and drive a lot for work and my bloodsugar was very stable even if the energy didn't last. The main drawback is you have to eat a lot to keep up calories, I ended up stopping after a year because I couldn't keep my weight up. Talk to your specialist team about it if you decide to try but so long as you can stomach eating tonnes of nuts and meat (though you need to be careful with the amount of nuts as one too many and you've got yourself the runs) it's worthwhile I think.

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tedead t1_ixuqose wrote

Many thanks for the additional information. I think I will talk to my endo about this when I see her next.

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eviade t1_ixuumbz wrote

No worries, I could say more but in the end my experience will probably be much different to yours as is the nature of our beast. Good luck!

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tedead t1_ixuk1cx wrote

No, keto diets are generally safe. I would need someone else to explain the ketosis part. I'm diabetic and even I have thought about doing a keto diet.

I assume this is what you're asking, right? Can I do a keto diet?

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Educational-Eye5076 OP t1_ixumk3k wrote

No actually I'm more into intermittent fasting.. I'm just concerned if my weight loss is due to ketosis or merely because i have been low on calories.. I actually want to adopt IF as a lifestyle. So far I'm doing great

But once i reach my goal weight ill have to nake necessary changes to maintain it. And that's what concerns me.

Ive read, once into ketosis if you again change your diet with primary intake of carbs, you'll move into ketoacidosis.

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tedead t1_ixuk70h wrote

These are two different conditions, DKA is something T1 and some T2 diabetics can get.

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rebel1031 t1_ixvf8p9 wrote

Keto for a diet can lead to ketosis which is just your body burning fat instead of carbs (assuming you’re not eating many carbs with your keto diet). It’s not the same as keto acidosis.

Unless you have some underlying problem, one doesn’t lead to the other.

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