We’re so excited to announce that an updated version of the award-winning Low Carb Solution for Diabetes has just been published! The Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Handbook.
With over 40 , 00 copies sold worldwide, this book is an invaluable resource for anyone with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, helping reduce or avoid the need for diabetes medication. We spoke to the authors: food editor Vickie de Beer and dietician Katherine Megaw.
Why did you decide to relaunch The Low Carb Solution for Diabetes? What’s new about The Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Handbook.?
The Low Carb Solution for Diabetes was already revised once before for the UK market as the Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Cookbook. The UK book included valuable information from Prof David Segal, and we always wanted to update the South African version with the info from the UK book.
Also, things have changed so much with diabetes management. The use of CGM and time in range and newer insulins have revolutionised diabetes care in the past 5 years and we wanted to keep the book relevant. The book was also very personal, with a focus on children, but throughout the years we have had amazing stories from Type 2 adults who changed their lifestyle with the book and reversed their diabetes symptoms.
Katherine Megaw
We wanted to make the book more adult-friendly to accommodate all people living with diabetes.
How did you decide what to include in this newer version, and what to leave out?
Some of the changes were already made for the UK version, some info was outdated and some new things had to be included. There was a lot more reorganizing than leaving out of things. We also added new info around Type 2 diabetes, prediabetes and insulin resistance.
Why do you (both) support a low carb diet, and how low carb are we talking?
When we first wrote this book, many doctors and medical professionals did not support this
way of eating for people with diabetes – especially Type 1 kids. It was quite controversial. I remember that Prof Segal said that we should rather write 70g to 90g of carbs per day in the book – because in his findings even that amount makes a huge difference in blood sugar control (compared to the normal 150g to 200g carb diet) and to avoid some controversy. (As a reminder: 15g carb is one portion).
Now we’ve updated the book to 50g to 60g carbs a day, which is how we have always eaten and the diet that we follow. I have seen first-hand on a day-to-day basis how a low carb diet keeps Lucca’s blood sugars stable – especially with the CGM.
I have been writing about and researching low carb diets for 7 years now and I can write a whole list of reasons to follow it but in the end, we do it for Lucca – because we want to limit diabetes complications.
Low carb, not no carb
Low carb , not no carb, makes a lot of sense for people who can’t make insulin or don’t have
enough insulin, or who are insulin resistant. It has become an area of great study and more
research is needed to determine exactly what amounts of carbs are safe for Type 1 vs Type 2 diabetes, but we are doing research around 60g a day at the moment.
Removing a whole food group from a diet should always be done under professional guidance as it has long-term implications if your body lives in a constant state of ketosis.
Katherine Megaw
The recipes and way of eating in this book are not intended to put people into ketosis, but to manage the needs of insulin in a body that either can’t make its own insulin or in someone who has become insulin resistant.
What would you say to encourage people who aren’t sure how to take the plunge to a new way of eating?
That it is such a big change for a happier, healthier life! You can make the change gradually and find your own favourite replacements. It has changed our lives and how diabetes influenced us.
Lucca can focus on living and being young because he doesn’t have to focus on his diabetes all of the time.
Vickie de Beer
Saying that – we are all realistic about diabetes, and although we have many days with 90% Time in Range, we also get days where Lucca’s sugar unexplainably rises. But then we know to look for the cause somewhere else, because it is not the food – maybe he is fighting a virus or the insulin is off, as you know things happen and diabetes is a moving target.
Changing lifestyle is always a process and I see in my practice, people will mourn the loss of
a previous seemingly carefree lifestyle. However it’s important to remember that making a
transition to a healthier lifestyle will offer amazing benefits in the future.
I always say to the people I work with: start with one goal and slowly add to those goals. As you accomplish each step, it will give you courage for the next step.
Katherine Megaw
What about cost, isn’t low carb more expensive?
Low carb tends to be more expensive , also a low carb diet focuses on good sources of protein and that can also make it more expensive. But you can go a long way with things like livers, minced beef, chicken, and eggs. And again, protein is nutritionally dense and so important for your immune system. In the end, your health is so important and the food you eat plays such an important part in your continued health and quality of life. You’ll also be saving on all the junk food you no longer buy!
As much as low carb diet tends to be expensive, the health benefits go beyond just insulin control and extend to a stronger immune system, less inflammation and thus potentially less doctor visits.
Katherine Megaw
Is it healthy to eat as much fat as a LCHF diet suggests?
We all know by now that eating good fats does not cause cholesterol, which in turn does not
cause heart disease. There is so much research that has debunked that myth and has proven unequivocally that it is diets filled with sugar and refined carbohydrates that cause vascular
diseases and high triglycerides which in turn causes heart disease.
The low carb diet in this book is also subtly different from the classical LCHF (Low Carb High Fat) diet – we eat more protein, because Lucca still needs insulin and protein is converted to glucose in the blood (although much slower than carbs). Fat does have a glucose response but much, much lower.
Our diet and the diet in the book are focused on fibrous greens and low carb vegetables, good sources of protein, and lastly healthy fats like olive oil and avocados.
What do you hope this book will offer people with diabetes?
I hope that it can be a valuable guide to managing diabetes on a day-to-day basis – with all
the pitfalls and life events in between. I hope it can be a great help for parents with Type 1
kids and that it can help those with Type 2 to reverse their symptoms and live a healthy, happy life!
I hope people will enjoy the recipes and that through the information they will feel empowered to manage their diabetes better.
Vickie de Beer
Follow the authors on social media:
Quivertree: Facebook and Instagram
Vickie de Beer: Vickie de Beer and @vickiefantastic
Kath Megaw RD(SA): @nutripaeds and @kath_megaw_paed_dietitian
Where to buy the Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Handbook:
The handbook is available at Takealot and Loot.
What to read next?
New diabetes cookbook! Low-Carb Express: Here’s all you need to know about Low-Carb Express by Vickie de Beer.
Living the low carb life: Author of The Low Carb Solution for Diabetics, Vickie de Beer, shares her story.
7 day low carb meal plans: If you want to eat low carb, these are exactly the meal plans you’re looking for.
Discover more from South Africans with Diabetes
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Very nice
This book is a must to have!