A New Diet Therapy Protocol to Manage Type 1 Diabetes Mellit us in Adults

Abstract

Type 1 diabetes mellit us (T1DM) is an autoimmune disease characterized by the destruction of beta cells and absolute insulin deficiency. T1DM usually appears in childhood and adolescence, but it can also be diagnosed in adulthood. For decades, American Diabetes Association (ADA) guidelines recommended consuming 50-60% of a diabetic's daily calories as carbohydrates. With these guidelines, the average number of patients with T1DM in the therapeutic goal (less than 7%) of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in the world is no more than 10-15%, that is, we are not being effective in the treatment, either due to inadequate guidance, such as poor adherence due to difficulty in following the diet proposed by the ADA. Since 2019, the ADA recognized, albeit timidly, the low-carbohydrate diet (low-carb diet) as an acceptable approach, being the most studied, safe and effective strategy for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellit us (T2DM). We recognize these advances, but we know that much remains to be elucidated, especially with regard to the treatment of T1DM. With that in mind, we developed a protocol [1], which aim a reduction in glycemic levels, a longer time on target with less hypoglycemia, a reduction in glycated hemoglobin and insulin doses, thus promoting an improvement in the patient's health and quality of life.