L-carnitine: okay for diabetics?

MicaelaKathlyn wrote: »

Hey guys! I've tried googling this question and all I have really been getting is information related to type 2 diabetes, whereas I am type one.

I lift 5-7 days a week and have only just now begun to look into supplements. I've seen several recommendations to take L-carnitine for fat loss/burning benefits since it transfers fat to the correct place where it will be more efficiently burned during/post workout. I ordered some on impulse because I've been having s terrible body image issue for a while and a little of stubborn fat that won't budge and was hoping this would help (not solve all of my problems, don't worry I'm not that gullible).

Would this be dangerous for type 2 diabetics though due to its effect on insulin/lowering of blood sugar? I just don't want to take something that would literally make me just pass right out obviously - I'm just not see how much it would be dropped.

I'd greatly appreciate any feedback on this since I'm totally in the dark about it! Thank you!

That supplement won't increase fat loss or fat burning. The only supplements that do are illegal. .


If you have stubborn fat it's because you are not at a low enough body fat % (which is achieve through a small to moderate deficit) and heavy lifting or you do not have adequate body mass (poor body composition) which would be achieve through bulk/cut cycles or a recomp.

Since you are diabetic, you will have to get your diet under control, and more specifically, your carbs.


Also, out of curiousity, why do you lift so frequently? You make gains through rest. Also, which program do you follow?

MicaelaKathlyn wrote: »

I know it doesn't target fat zones, I want to try it to see if it enhances my workout performance but am scared the side effects will somehow mess with my blood sugar in a bad way.

I used to do 7 days a week of 1-2 high intensity cardio for YEARS because I was stupid and thought that was how to lose weight only to find out at the end of 2014 that it in fact is definitely not hah so I've been tracking macros and lifting since because my coach told me she wanted to slowly but entirely ween me off of cardio. I just usually workout that many days a week because I feel guilty and gross for not and just sitting around. I'm not lifting hundreds of pounds though so I don't think it matters much.

I stopped taking insulin for two years and became a skeleton but once I started again, regardless of the daily workouts, I have gained 30+ pounds and it's killing me that I have worked so hard and GAINED weight because of insulin. I'm 157lb and am having 160p, 52f, and 185c. Around 1800 calories.

I have never heard of a reaction but then again i am not diabetic. So I would probably ask a doctor prior to using it. If you want examine.com is a very good source for all things supplements in terms of science.

I am cool with working out 6 days a week, do it myself but there should be balance between cardio and weight training. If you want to maximize strength gains, i would look at a 3 or 4 day structured lifting program like strong curves, or NROL4W, and then do a few cardio days and if you want a flexibility day. This way you round out your fitness and you are not over training. I will say there may not be anything wrong with your program but unless you are focusing on compound lifts and hitting muscle groupa roughly everyone 48 to 72 hours, it wont be optimal.

If you do want to enhance performance, i would look at caffeine. Its one of the most effective and proven stimulants out there, unfortunately, it doesnt work on everyone.

Second, diet will be your biggest component, especially as a diabetic and your current set up doesnt follow a typical diabetics. While the calories might be ok, your average weekly weight loss will determine that. If you are losing very slowly, its possible your goal is too high or you are miscalculating calories like the average person (the latter is common if you aren using a food scale). Your current macro seems a bit odd for a diabetic. Typically, you want moderate protein (1g per lb of lean body mass not weight: for you that would be around 110 to 120g) and your fat is low and carbs are high. Most diabetics i know are around 120g of carbs or lower and get the majority of their calories from fat, low gi fruits and fibrous veggies. As a result it will help stabalize insulin.

MicaelaKathlyn wrote: »

I also have one high carb day a week on a leg day (Saturdays) which is 245 carbs. Gotta shock the system!

Did you say that you are Type I? So you take more insulin in order to eat so many carbs? I really know so little about Type I, but I thought y'all were supposed to watch carbs, too. You really don't need that many carbs for performance or anything. Those bodybuilding or other diets that encourage high carbs for performance basically aren't for any diabetics.

You might need a snack before exercise, but it's not really many carbs. I read something like 15-30g on different sites. And that's because you could get hypo, being a Type I.

But I don't know anything about L-carnitine at all.

Fittreelol wrote: »

psulemon wrote: »

Second, diet will be your biggest component, especially as a diabetic and your current set up doesnt follow a typical diabetics. While the calories might be ok, your average weekly weight loss will determine that. If you are losing very slowly, its possible your goal is too high or you are miscalculating calories like the average person (the latter is common if you aren using a food scale). Your current macro seems a bit odd for a diabetic. Typically, you want moderate protein (1g per lb of lean body mass not weight: for you that would be around 110 to 120g) and your fat is low and carbs are high. Most diabetics i know are around 120g of carbs or lower and get the majority of their calories from fat, low gi fruits and fibrous veggies. As a result it will help stabalize insulin.

How would that help stabilize insulin in an individual that can't produce it?

Sorry, i meant blood sugars.