The Atkins diet is a low-carb/high-protein diet designed for weight loss. Controlling your carbohydrate intake can help stabilize glucose and insulin levels, preventing low blood sugar. Losing weight can also increase insulin sensitivity for people with type 2 diabetes and reverse insulin resistance for those with prediabetes. High-protein diets aren't recommended for people with impaired kidney function; always consult your doctor before beginning any weight-loss program.
Atkins Diet and Carbohydrates
Your body's preferred energy source is glucose, easily made from carbohydrates. The Atkins diet restricts sugar and starch, two types of carbohydrates, to force your body to burn stored fat instead of glucose for energy. Not only does the Atkins program promote weight loss, but controlling carb intake stops the cycle of high and low blood sugar. When you eat simple carbs like sugar and starch, your blood sugar level rises very fast. Your pancreas responds by releasing insulin to move glucose into your cells. But if too much insulin is in your bloodstream, you'll have low blood sugar and your body thinks more glucose is needed. This triggers a craving for more carbohydrates. Restricting carbohydrates can help break this negative cycle.
The Dangers of Low Blood Sugar
Low blood sugar, also called hypoglycemia, occurs when there is too much insulin in your bloodstream. Low blood sugar usually only affects diabetics. It can happen suddenly, leaving you feeling hungry, weak, tired, confused, dizzy, shaky, anxious or irritable. Treating hypoglycemia is relatively easy -- it requires that you eat something your body can quickly convert to glucose, such as sugar. It doesn't take much -- often just 15 g of simple carbohydrates will work. Low blood sugar is particularly dangerous if you're driving, as it can cause a lack of concentration and lower your reaction time.
Choosing the "Right" Carbs
Many people mistakenly believe that the Atkins diet eliminates carbohydrates. Although during the first two-week phase of the diet, carbs are severely restricted, later phases of the diet allow for more carbohydrates. The Atkins diet encourages you to choose high-fiber whole food carbs such as vegetables, fruits, legumes and limited whole grains. The Atkins program uses the glycemic index as a tool for choosing carbs that have little impact of glucose levels. The glycemic index ranks carbs on a scale of 1 to 100 based on how quickly they cause blood sugar to rise. Foods that score below 55 are considered low-GI foods, recommended by the Atkins program.
Low Blood Sugar and the Atkins Diet
Once you've broken the high and low blood sugar cycle caused by eating too many simple carbohydrates, you shouldn't experience any episodes of hypoglycemia. However, it's common during the first two-weeks of the diet, called "induction," that you may experience low blood sugar as your body adjusts to your new eating plan. You may have cravings for sweets and sugar, but it's important to snack on the right carbs instead, to break the cycle. Staying hydrated will help reduce cravings.
References
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney DIseases: Hypoglycemia
- "Diabetes Health"; Blood Glucose Imbalances and Atkins Induction; Jacqueline A. Eberstein, RN; Apr 1, 2006
- Med PAge Today; Atkins-Style Ketogenic Diet Shines in Blood Sugar Control for Obese Diabetics; Todd Neale; Jan. 2009
- Atkins: How and Why Atkins Works
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