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Skinny and Diabetic

By February 21, 2017February 5th, 2021Uncategorized

Skinny and Diabetic

I get really triggered when someone tells me they can eat a lot of carbs because they are thin, or their husband isn’t going to eat keto with them because he is skinny and eats whatever he wants.
 
I just did a radio interview on mytalkFM107.1 and once I was finished I continued to listen. She mentioned how everyone’s body is so different and her friend can eat HUGE roast beef sandwiches on a massive baguette and she is skinny as a rail. I was so upset I was already gone because I wanted to tell her I have SO many clients who are thin but have diabetes. It is considered the Asian Paradox….where Asians eat a lot of rice, stay thin, however, they also have Type 2 diabetes.
Skinny and Diabetic
One client of mine is 28 years old. She just had her first baby and desperately needed my help so I consulted with her numerous times while I was in Hawaii last year. I tried to not work so much but in this case we needed to get going asap! Her A1c was 11.4 and she was having strokes! She wanted to live to see her baby girl grow up so she knew she had to change.
 
Within 6 months, we got her A1c to 4.6!!!! Incredible! However, she contacted me again this past month. She told me she WISHED she gained weight when she cheated because it would help her stay on the diet! We are a vain society… and we change things when we don’t like the way we look.
 
Her inflammation was internal. No one saw her unhealthy body, no one judged her for what was in her shopping cart, no one judged her for taking up 2 seats on an airplane but you know what, she was just as unhealthy as an over-weight type 2 diabetic.
 
I work with clients who have Alzheimer’s all the time and they are often very thin. Alzheimer’s is known as Type 3 diabetes because glucose is no longer signaling to the brain properly.
 
Is keto the way to eat for everyone? I get this question a lot and I do believe so. After my radio interview the woman that was interviewed after me was a Paleo consultant and claimed she tried keto but now adds rice and some fruit because she feels better eating carbs. ARG! Again, I wish I was there to tell her she most likely was dehydrated causing lethargy and low moods. She needed more salt and electrolytes in the beginning stages because carbs were no longer retaining water for her.
 
Even my 6 and 7 year old eat this way. My son Kai was given sugary soda on the airplane while I ran to the bathroom. He told the flight attendant he was thirsty and he gave him a can of Sprite. Within minutes he threw up all over the place. His body had a serious reaction to the sugar he was unfamiliar with.
 
Please read this and understand that just because someone isn’t overweight they can benefit from all the wonderful benefits of keto. My whole family has and we will never ever go back!
I also get triggered when someone claims they are an athlete so they CAN and NEED carbs for fuel. I get triggered because I don’t like getting into such a deep conversation while on vacation or trying to relax on an airplane. So if you are someone who thinks that, please read this:

Myth: You need carbohydrates for fuel

Facts:

1. Our bodies store over 40,000 calories as fat, but we can only store 2,000 calories of carbs.

This is when “carb-burning” and why marathoners “hit-the-wall” and constantly need Gel Packs and Gatorade, yet still are low in performance at the end of races due to the depletion of carbs in their muscles/liver.

2. Carb-fueling tactics and sugar-based fuel sources create a body that fuels on carbs while simultaneously inhibiting fat burning. 

“This suppression of fat burning lasts for DAYS after carbs are consumed, not just the few hours following their digestion.” (pg. 7) Click HERE to find the blog post about this book.

3. You have only 2,000 calories of glucose storage for energy yet you have over 20,000 calories of fat for energy.

Even in athletes who have very little body fat are able to work out 20 times longer at their max level. Vigorous exercise fueled on carbs depletes the athlete in a few hours, but burning fat for fuel you can exercise for days.

Skinny and Diabetic

I love this chart; fat release plummets with a moderate increase in insulin; this is why I am so extreme… even a banana will cause fat burning to stop and you are no longer “keto-adapted.” Is a banana the “devil?” No, but for what we want to accomplish, it is going to stop your efforts.

BUILDING MUSCLE IN KETOSIS

The chart below demonstrates why I LOVE weight lifting, not only for myself, but for my clients. For example, one man who was training for a triathlon started a very low carb diet. He was 57 years old, 180 pounds with a BMI of 25. After the first 2 weeks (which his training intensity was decreased) he had the best training and energy of his life! In only 12 weeks, he lost 23 pounds of FAT and gained 6 pounds of muscle!

Skinny and Diabetic

BENEFITS OF KETO-ADAPTATION 

1. It improves insulin sensitivity and speeds recovery time in-between training sessions.

Low carb diets are anti-inflammatory. This produces less oxidative stress while exercising, which speeds recovery time in between exercise sessions. This is why I was able to run every day while training for my marathons as well as lift weights.

Skinny and Diabetic

2. It spares protein from being oxidized, which preserves muscle.

Once you use up your glucose for fuel, your body steals from your muscle and bones for to turn protein into more glucose!!!

Branch chain amino acids are considered essential, because your body can’t make them, so you need to consume them for proper muscle building and repair (as well replenishing red blood cells). What I found so interesting is that BCAA oxidation rates usually rise with exercise, which means you need more if you are an athlete. BUT in keto-adapted athletes, ketones are burned in place of BCAA. Critics of low carb diets, claim that you NEED insulin to grow muscles; however, a well-designed ketogenic diet there is less protein oxidation and double the amount of fat oxidation, which leaves your muscles in place while all you burn is fat!

3. It decreases the build up of lactate, which helps control pH and respiratory function.

A myth of low carb diets is that it puts you in a state of acidosis.

This stems from the unfortunate fact that many doctors confuse nutritional ketosis (blood ketones at 1-3 millimolar) with keto-acidosis (blood ketones greater than 20 millimolar). In nutritional ketosis, blood pH at rest stays normal, plus sharp drops in pH due to CO2 and lactate buildup during exercise are restrained. By contrast, in keto-acidosis, blood pH is driven abnormally low by the 10-fold greater buildup of ketones. Suggesting these 2 states are similar is like equating a gentle rain with a flood because they both involve water.” (pg 35).

4. It improves cognition.

Ketones aren’t just fuel for our body, but they are also great for our brain. They provide substrates to help repair damaged neurons and membranes. This is why I really push a ketogenic diets for clients who suffer from Alzheimer’s (type 3 diabetes) and seizures.

5. It doesn’t damage our immune system and less free radical damage in our cells.

A woman in Hawaii asked me how do I get all the anti-oxidants from Sweet Potatoes if I don’t eat them! ARG! Another long conversation!

Free radicals are highly reactive molecules produced in the mitochondria that damage protein tissues and membranes of the cells. Free radicals happen as we exercise. But ketones are a ‘clean-burning fuel.’ When ketones are the fuel source, ROS (oxygen free radicals) is drastically reduced. Intense exercise on a high-carb diet overwhelms the antioxidant defenses and cell membranes which explains why extreme athletes have impaired immune systems and decreased gut (intestinal) health. A well-designed ketogenic diet, not only fights off these aging antioxidants, it also reduces inflammation of the gut and immune systems are stronger than ever. After reading this, I am no longer concerned about taking all the anti-oxidant supplements that I do! I also don’t worry about getting as many anti-oxidants in my food like with veggies and definitely not with fruit!

So spread this with those who tell you they are healthy and do not need to live a ketogenic life. Instead of having long debates with someone who doesn’t want to listen, send them to the facts!:)

Skinny and Diabetic

TESTIMONY OF THE DAY

I love getting tagged in messages like this!

Join our Platinum membership and join our live weekly webinars every Sunday and let us give you your personal macros and help you meal plan! Click HERE to check it out!

Skinny and Diabetic

Maria Emmerich

Maria is a wellness expert who has helped clients follow a Ketogenic lifestyle to heal and lose weight for over 20 years. She has helped thousands of clients get healthy, get off medications and heal their bodies; losing weight is just a bonus. She is the international best selling author of several books including "Keto: The Complete Guide to Success on the Ketogenic Diet.".

14 Comments

  • Jane says:

    Love reading all your post and a trying to find if this way of eating can be used for me a type 1 diabetic. I would love to loose weight especially around my tummy. But my doctors in uk do not believe it is the way or have any knowedge to help
    Do any of you on ths program have type 1 and live keto please ?

  • Liz says:

    Hi Maria. Thank you for sharing all of your hard work and research with us. When you write “After reading this, I am no longer concerned about taking all the anti-oxidant supplements that I do! ” Does that mean my previous supplement plan has “unnecessaries” in it? What are you excluding now, or should I buy a new supplement plan from you?

    Thank you!
    Liz

    • Maria Emmerich says:

      The there main antioxidant supplements are beta-carotene, vitamin C, and vitamin E. So those would be less of an issue to get. 🙂

  • Grace DuVall says:

    Hi Maria, I’m a recently diagnosed Type 2 diabetic. Looking back, I think I had uncontrolled blood sugar issues since my 20’s (I’m 57). This explains a lot of “idiopathic” physical symptoms I’ve had through the years. Currently I’m suffering from severe leg cramps at night, arrhythmia, and tingling in my hands. I tried to do the ketogenic diet, briefly, but it upset my electrolyte balance even more. What to do?? I have no idea how to eat anymore and don’t want to go on any medication!. Also, I’m supplementing with cinnamon pills twice a day and chelated magnesium. Not sure how much magnesium I should be taking and when. Help!

    Thank you,
    Grace

  • Rachel says:

    Have you written about explosive diarrhea. I have had it a couple of times and it seems like I’m not the only one. I do not drink bulletproof coffee or add massive amounts of fats to foods. I just read on one of my Keto facebook pages about a lot of other people with this problem. Sometimes if my belly is feeling a little funny I don’t want to go anywhere. Any thoughts on this?

  • Donna says:

    Hi Maria,
    I’m diagnosed Meniere’s since I was 19 (now 54) and I went from 4.7 to 6.5 in 4 months. Doc has patients who are Alz/Dem and I don’t want to be one of them. Also have fibro. I’m in desperate need of your help to reduce the inflammation in my body, reduce my blood sugar levels and NOT end up with Alz/Dem. Highly motivated. Already successfully made your low carb bread but need your personal help. How do I get started with you?.

  • Jamie says:

    My friend sent me your link- I’m struggling as a breastpumping mama (I exclusively pump for my gtube fed baby). When I drop my carbs too low, I have a major decrease in milk out put (down to only 21 oz from a high of 40). Most babies need 24-36oz/day so this is a problem. I added sweet potato and carrots and saw an immediate increase in milk production- up to 26oz the next day. (I stay well hydrated and add salts.) I’m still losing weight and feeling better (my target maximum carbs are 70- 90 g/day and I don’t eat fruit except occasional apple or berries). Do you have any thoughts on keto and breastfeeding? I can’t risk losing my supply or not keeping up with baby’s needs…

    • Maria Emmerich says:

      Any major change in diet will effect milk production for a little bit until the body adjusts. Also fenugreek can help too. 🙂

  • Ceejay says:

    Hi Maria! Just want to thank you for your help & recipes. I’m 68 years old, have Fibromyalgia, Polyneuropathy, Arthritis, and more. In September, my doctor informed me that I had finally passed the tipping point to type II diabetes with an A1C of 6.8. She prescribed Metformin, but after seeing the side effects it can cause, I decided to change my diet to see if I could get my glucose levels under control without meds. I went low Carb and lost 16 lbs. in about 6 weeks (mostly water since I had been very swollen, but thankfully, it disappeared as soon as I ditched the carbs!). Also, my A1C dropped to 6.4.
    My doc was thrilled & told me to continue what I was doing. I just got new blood work back that showed my A1C has now dropped to 5.9. When I saw my doc a few days ago, she told me how excited she was that I had lost another 14 lbs. My Triglycerides have also dropped by 100 pts.! My one problem, though, is that I have plateaued in my weight loss. It has been over a month since I’ve lost even a lb. I can’t exercise – can barely walk, due to polyneuropathy that goes from my toes all the way into my lower spine – so that’s not an option. Any other suggestions?

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