Thus we have the classic 1:4 ratio of carbohydrate to fat that defines the limits of ketosis, with the refinement that protein straddles the separation, with 58% of protein counting as carbohydrate (gluconeogenic) and the remainder as fat (ketogenic).
Note the epilogue; "we feel that adequate dietary control will remain the basis of treatment for many cases, especially those of the milder type".
As in this example from David Unwin's 2014 case series. This is the sort of paper I like best today; what it lacks in randomised, controlled rigour (ffs people, the point has already been proven) it makes up for in realism - these types of papers show what it takes to treat real people in clinical practice, it's hard work sometimes but the results are clearly worthwhile.
And here's a picture of Dr Unwin, getting the point across.
How does this fit with the glucagonocentric restructuring of diabetes by Roger Unger (the "father of glucagon" and 1975 Banting Medal recipient)?
When someone with deficient insulin response (like the woman in Dr Unwin's example - polydipsia is a sign of beta-cell failure) eats carbohydrate, these things happen:
1) Glucose enters the blood and glucagon is elevated as a result.
High glucagon concentrations stimulate the liver to break down glycogen, releasing glucose, and to make more glucose from protein (58%) and triglycerides (10%), as well as ketone bodies.
2) If the blood sugar concentration rises far enough - more likely after a carbohydrate meal - glucose enters the liver cells at an excessive rate. This glucotoxicity increases gluconeogenesis further. In fact I suspect this is the tipping point, and that this high blood glucose and its effect on the liver (and kidneys) is what separates the ketoacidosis of starvation from the lethal ketoacidosis of diabetes.
3) because extra carbohydrate has been consumed in the meal, the clearance by cellular oxidation of hepatic glucose and ketone body output is proportionately delayed, maintaining a higher level of glycaemia than would otherwise be the case.
In 1923 ketogenic diets (then known for the treatment of epilepsy and tested alongside diabetic diets) were not considered suitable for diabetics. At some point in the 70's or 80's they became acceptable (that the brain can run on ketones was discovered in 1967). The added benefit of a ketogenic diet is a further restriction of the glucagon curve, less competition from dietary glucose, less glucotoxicity, and, in animal experiments, a diminishing of pancreatic alpha cell to beta cell ratio.
In normal starvation metabolism a high level of ketone bodies stimulates the release of insulin from beta cells, just as a high level of glucose does, so that the action of glucagon is kept optimal, resources are not wasted, and toxicity is minimised.
A quick search shows that insulin is not universally available today, and not always affordable by everyone. In communities where this is the case the research of 1923 is still relevant for type 1 diabetics, in terms of survival until medicine is available and affordability (making a limited supply of insulin last longer). Safety is also an issue - the lower the dose of insulin required, the lower the risk of hypoglycaemia. It is certainly still relevant for type 2 diabetics. Low carbohydrate, high fat diets will probably become the norm again sooner than we think.
Even the Daily Mail has dispensed with the usual "experts warning about all that fat" add on when discussing LCHF therapeutic diets.