Emma was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (insulin dependent) almost 20 years ago, during her final year of school.

Since then, she has overhauled her diet, become a cookery author, spoken at diabetes events across the UK, and worked in partnership with numerous medical specialists.

Emma has been an advocate for Robert Andrew low-carb sourdough since it launched at the end of 2024, and we have also supported her Low Carb Kitchen cookery classes.

As a specialist low-carb bakery, we’ve found many of our customers have been looking for new low-carb options for health reasons, some of which due to diabetes. Emma has kindly taken the time to share her own experience with our growing community.

Being diagnosed with diabetes – whether it’s T1, T2, gestational, or being pre diabetic or insulin resistant, can feel so challenging and also quite lonely as you navigate a new normal. There may be medicines, insulin, blood tests, blood sugar meters, and more, to deal with – and the impact of suddenly having to think of absolutely every single thing you are eating can feel overwhelming.

I turned 18 a few months after I was diagnosed, and at the time, I didn’t have any real interest in cooking. I saw a dietitian but didn’t get on the right dietary path for nearly a decade. I was constantly having high blood sugars and despite following the advice, I never felt in control of my diabetes.

I became very overweight, my hba1c (a measure of blood glucose control over 3 months) had been consistently high for 8 years and I was constantly low in energy. Then I started going to the gym and got chatting to a personal trainer who said he’d heard great things from other people living with diabetes who followed a low carb diet and suggested I try it.

A lot of the positive effects of following a lower carb lifestyle were almost immediate. Within a few days I had cut my insulin intake by 60% and had far fewer highs and lows. I felt less hungry, and full of energy. I took more control over what was going into my body and in doing so, I felt like I was finally in control of my diabetes – something I’d never, until that moment, felt in control of.

I genuinely don’t find it difficult to follow now. However, running my cooking workshops and coaching people, I do know and appreciate why others can find it hard and that’s why I enjoy helping and inspiring others.

Being able to still enjoy food, without the fear of what it might be doing to your blood sugars is incredibly empowering – and having the convenience of eating something as simple as bread, can make a real difference.

The bread is a gamechanger. I just wish it had been around when I was first diagnosed 20 years ago. It means that I can have a sandwich or piece of toast without worrying. It’s so versatile and you wouldn’t know that it has lower in carbs.

It’s a bread that my whole family enjoy too.

I have been so fortunate to be able to gift those who come to my cooking classes with the low-carb sourdough – and the feedback has been incredible.

Useful information about diabetes can be found at:

UK diabetes charity, Diabetes UK https://www.diabetes.org.uk/

Emma Porter’s Low Carb Kitchen website https://thelowcarbkitchen.co.uk/

You can also follow Emma on Instagram and TikTok.