can the honeymoon period be prolonged thru following a low carb diet (16 yo newly diagnosed type 1)?

Hi,

I suggest you get Dr. Bernstein's book. He is a type 1 diabetic who keeps his blood glucose at a normal range by eating low carb. ( Check with your library, they probably have it) . I'm a type 2, 54 years old, and keep mine under control by following Atkins. Good luck on your journey!

yes.

Hi Karen,

Our Endocrinologist told us not to try to use carb control to prolong the honeymoon phase.  My 8 year old was diagnosed 2 days after Christmas last year with Type 1.  Children are still growing and need carbs to keep their weight up.  You definetly don't want your child to lose to much weight due to carb controlling.  My childs honeymoon phase ended last month.

I'm not in favor of a quick yes to this answer for you.  To begin you need to understand the honeymoon phase.  After initial diagnosis and treatment there is a period of recovery for the beta cells. As a result the remaining beta cells may be able to produce enough insulin to keep blood sugars relatively stable for weeks, months and even years.  Eventually beta cell function ceases and the insulin requirements go up.  So diet isn't the be all end all in stabilizing the beta cell function.  

There is a company called Macrogenics that is running trials for a protocol that looks to hold honeymoon periods and has reversed some cases of diabetes in very young children.  The best place for you, your parents  and your endocrinologist to decide what might be an option for you go to JDRF and scroll through research to clinical trials.  You could be a real candidate!  

Besides that exercise, eating well and understanding low carb dieting is very important information so you know how to take proper care of your whole body! 

Have you checked out diabeteens?  Lots of teens and college age kids talking about life with diabetes.  Ask your question to the expert: Dr. Cogan.  She's great, I know her very well and she would answer you with lots of information and honesty!

I'm very impressed!  You're asking all the right questions right from the start!

Keep us "posted" on how you are doing!

Best,

Ann Bartlett

I have a 16 yo, diagnosed 1year-5months ago. Since she was diagnosed she has been recieving chiropractic treatments, especially when her numbers seem to be climbing higher. Her endocrinology team says she is still in honeymoon period and are not sure why. They claim the older a person is at diagnosis, the shorter this period lasts. At her age in diagnosis, it is average 3-4 months of honeymoon. She is going on 17 months. I attribute this  to the chiropractic adjustments, which allow the nervous system to flow better, and possibly allow the pancreas to continue to produce some insulin still. Of course, this is only my opinion as a mom. So, I didn't answer your question at all-the girl loves carbs! Sorry

no. not for type 1 diabetes.

Yes. Sure worth a try. I have tried everything to control BG's over my 35 years of diabetes. Low carb (meaning no quickly digested carbs) is probably healthier than the current high carb diet most people without diabetes eat. Remember, diabetes is defined as a disease that has little to no ability to handle carbohydrates. Injecting or pumping insulin just ain't the same as making it yoursellf so the less you can get away with using the better the control. I have been able to reduce my HGA1 from 8 to 9 to 6.2 by just following a lower carb diet. Everytime I have tried to eat carbs and match it with insulin it just plain does not work (I make no insulin anymore) no matter how good you are at carb counting. Your son has nothing to lose by trying to extend his honeymoon period with the lower carb diet which is rich is in vegetables. Wish I had the chance to go back and try it when I was diagnosed 35 years ago. Perhaps I would still be producing some insulin on my own. Who knows.  Good luck.

Old Diabetic Guy