The Very Low Carbohydrate Ketogenic Diet: Effective, but safe?

The very low carbohydrate ketogenic diet (VLCKD) is not a new concept to diabetes care and education specialists (DCESs), and most may also be familiar with its origins in treating children and adults with epilepsy. But within the past 5 years, this diet has exploded into popular culture, promising results of weight loss and management of both type 2 and type 1 diabetes. Its popularity has grown exponentially, and many people with diabetes wonder if this approach will help their blood sugars or their weight. Typing “ketogenic diet” into an online search, innumerable articles appear—peer reviewed and otherwise—regarding the ketogenic diet’s efficacy and benefits, but there is a considerable lack of data on the safety of this diet over the medium or long term. Can we as DCESs say that this diet is safe for everyone with diabetes?