I have found success on Keto and I wanted to get my dad to try it too. He is diabetic so I wonder what extra considerations he may have to take that I dont.
One of my questions is: What happens when his blood sugar drops while eating keto? Is he still allowed to take a sugar tab to level out? How does a diabetic handle blood sugars when they first start?
Sweet of you to be watching out for your Dad.
I am by NO means an authority on the subject, although I am T2D on oral meds and have been Keto for 4 months.
My diabetes caused me to have hypoglycemic BG levels 2-3 times a week, usually in the hour preceding dinner. Iād resolve it by eating something sweet.
Since I started keto, Iāve cut ALL sugars and simple carbs and havenāt had a single episode of hypoglycemia. Iāve even done fasts of 36-54 hours 3 times with no ill effects. Also, oddly, ive seen morning BG readings in the low 60s a few times, but felt fineā¦ No shakes or lightheadedness. My doc is thrilled.
Thats good to hear! I think if he did try keto, his mindset is so firm in the whole āI need sugar and insulin to regulate my diabetesā that any other suggestions might seem very insane to him.
Again, Iām not an authority on the subject, but my T2D has felt FAR better managed once I cut pastas, breads, rice, potatoes, sugars, etc.
Iām not ready to cut meds yet, and when I do itāll be with my docs approval, but NONE of my daily (3-5) BG readings (yeah, Iām a little obsessive) has been higher than 140 or lower than 60 in almost 2 months.
Tell him that this does work for many of us. Just be watchful.
While I would continue to monitor blood glucose, I would say the odds of a low blood glucose reading are, well, low.
This is speaking as someone who has been largely low carb for more than a year and a Type 2 Diabetic.
My lowest after a 4-day fast was a 65 mg/dL.
Gluconeogenesis should take care of your glucose needs.
Hi, Is your Dad injecting insulin? If so then he needs to reduce his bolus insulin(short acting which deals with the carbohydrates being eaten) if he is reducing carbs ie going keto. As a T1D Iāve managed to reduce bolus insulin by about 80% now but I do stress that I did this gradually. My basal (background insulin/long acting) has only needed to be reduced slightly. Be aware that in the absence of carbs he will still need to inject for protein but at 50% less than for carbs. Of course heās allowed something sugary if he has a hypo. I still carry wine gums, but rarely need them. The great thing about eating the keto way is that even for diabetics it levels out your BGs so less peaks and troughs. Heāll feel much better. I wish him luck in his journey. A 
I agree with @buffy
It all depends on what type of D he has and what medication he is on. And reducing those meds when switching to keto can take v careful management and regular testing, above and beyond his previous testing regime.
I would suggest that he steps his carbs down over time rather than leaping into keto (unless he is v confident about adjusting his meds). Slower diet chance allows better medication adjustment, less chance of keto āfluā, less chance of hypos and false hypos.
And if in doubt, check with his health care professional, who will hopefully be sympathetic to low carb/keto.
Im not sure exactly the specifics of his insulin injection, but he does inject. Id have to ask him to get more info. Thank you guys for the support!!!
Though my T2 certainly has caused problems and my insulin use was on the rise I have found that eating Keto has resulted in my glucose going not much higher than 110. I guess Iām lucky in that regard. I have not taken any insulin since doing keto in earnest. I cook for the family so the food has been keto for a while for them but I was still prepping some carbs for me. It doesnt make sense now but I was feeling deprived. Even like that things were noticibly better and I became motivated to further educate myself and try keto in earnest. I would just keep an eye on things and see his MD and talk it over. I cannot see how any MD could argue with cutting carbs as long as you get proper nutrition. There is nothing but an upside to this.