I continue to do well on the atkins diet, high fat high protein/very low carb.
after having struggled with diabetes for 14 years with tablets and diet, I had got to the stage of being badly overweight and on the largest allowed dose of 3 diabetes tablets, with my bloodsugar still too high and the only alternative being to start injecting insulin.
I tried the atkins diet and rapidly lost weight, also my diabetes tablets were much reduced, the advantage is that I can eat as much as I like of the permitted foods, whereas on all previous diets I had to starve myself.

my diabetes specialist recently had many tests done on my blood and urine and couldnt find anything bad being caused by the atkins diet, even though he doesnt approve of it.

I need an occ asional enema for constipation caused by lack of fibre, and since I am in ketosis, my body odor is different, but this is a small price to pay

Atkins book answers complaints made about his diet by doctors

I am so glad that Atkins is working for you. I have been on it for over a month and I have only lost 8 pounds. I am even going to the gym every day and working with a trainer 2 days a week. I take two glucotrol tablets per day and my doctor just changed me from Lantus to Humulin in order to get my fasting sugars down. I am SO FRUSTRATED!!

Any suggestions since it is working for you?? I wonder what I am doing wrong?

I would love to hear back from anyone on why Atkins is recommended for Diabetics? I am fairly new to this illness, and have yet to meet with my RD, but everything I read says that diabetes responds best to a well balanced diet that includes healthy carbs. In fact the American Diabetes Association suggests that reducing fat and increasing good carbs (starchy veggies, grains, etc) is best for controlling Diabetes. Atkins is so high in protein and fat and reduces or eliminates carbs... so what's the theory here?

I am not sure Jdimassimo,

Apparently some people's body chemistry is such that this kind of diet does benefit them and create weight loss. I know from my almost zero carb lifestyle from 2000 to 2002 did nothing except help me gain weight and lead to a heart attack at age 35. Like you, I found the greatest benefit from a balanced diet with about 20% fat and minimized trans and sat fats. That kind of diet allowed me to drop 80 lbs and lose all my medications for hypertension, triglycerides, and diabetes The bottom line is that I made my diabetes essentially disappear, i.e. reversing diabetes. Yes, I am still considered diabetic, but my response is just as good as any non-diabetic. Granted, this is most likely due to weight loss + exercise and some of those on Atkins can probably get that same benefit. Carbs were never my problem, obviously, it was my super high fat diet.

If you are getting success with the "diet" you are on, keep going :) I do worry about the Atkins style diet; however, until there is definitive proof that it is detrimental, I won't bash it.

I dont think any diabetes organisation anywhere recommends atkins

the glycemic index diet is generally now recommended everywhere except in the USA

atkins has been around for over 20 years and if there was any proof of it doing harm, it would have shown up by now, IMO

I don't think Atkins, if followed correctly, would do harm to a healthy person... I just wonder about its affects on a diabetic.

My only objection to Atkins is that many people misuse it and maintain a diet of bacon cheeseburgers and sausage omelets. Not exactly good for your heart or basic health, and I don't think that's what Atkins had in mind.

I have always thought that Atkins could be effective for people who are moderately overweight (20 lbs)... not necessarily a good idea for obese or any people who have a tendancy toward unhealthy eating habits.

But my question is more about how a diabetic uses the food - protein/fat focused diet vs. carb/starch focused diet or a balanced diet.

What is the glycemic index diet? And why isn't it used in the US?

...atkins has been around for over 20 years and if there was any proof of it doing harm, it would have shown up by now, IMOIt is more like over 30 years. I have his first book published in 1972. I agree that if his diet caused harm, it would have been well publicized since he had so many detractors in the medical establishment. With the recent studies showing no negatives to his diet, the tide is slowly swinging in favor of diets lower in carbohydrate and higher in protein and natural fats as being considered healthy.