Low carb diet may reduce type 2 diabetes risk, promote weight loss

General healthMay17

The link between carbs and type 2 diabetes (T2D) is well-established, but new research suggests that cutting carbs could help minimize risk for those who may be susceptible to developing the condition.

The study, a random clinical trial (RCT) recently published in JAMA Network Open Diabetes and EndocrinologyTrusted Source, found that a low carbohydrate diet promoted weight loss and improved fasting glucose levels in subjects who were at risk for developing T2D.

Lead author and epidemiologist Kirsten S. Dorans of Tulane University in New Orleans, LA, told Medical News Today: “While low carb diets are often recommended for those with type 2 diabetes, little evidence has existed for whether eating fewer carbs can impact the blood sugar of those with mild diabetes or prediabetes who aren’t treated by medications. This study was conducted in people with blood sugar that ranged from prediabetes to mild diabetes levels who were not on diabetes medications.”

· Researchers recently examined the effects of a low-carbohydrate diet in people with prediabetes and people who have mild, untreated type 2 diabetes (T2D).

· In the randomized clinical trial, participants who lowered their carbs saw a moderate reduction in their blood sugar, an indicator of diabetes.

· The study’s findings are somewhat tempered by a range of variables beyond the researchers’ control.

The link between carbs and type 2 diabetes (T2D) is well-established, but new research suggests that cutting carbs could help minimize risk for those who may be susceptible to developing the condition.

The study, a random clinical trial (RCT) recently published in JAMA Network Open Diabetes and EndocrinologyTrusted Source, found that a low carbohydrate diet promoted weight loss and improved fasting glucose levels in subjects who were at risk for developing T2D.

Lead author and epidemiologist Kirsten S. Dorans of Tulane University in New Orleans, LA, told Medical News Today: “While low carb diets are often recommended for those with type 2 diabetes, little evidence has existed for whether eating fewer carbs can impact the blood sugar of those with mild diabetes or prediabetes who aren’t treated by medications. This study was conducted in people with blood sugar that ranged from prediabetes to mild diabetes levels who were not on diabetes medications.”

Lowering blood sugar with a low carb diet

Hemoglobin A1C is a widely used clinical term to measure long-term blood sugar levels. According to the American Diabetes Foundation, a person who has prediabetes has A1C levels between 5.7 and less than 6.5%. Higher A1C levels may signify diabetes. Dr. Dorans explained that subjects enrolled in the study had a hemoglobin A1C range of 6.0 to 6.9%. “This range chosen as the lower bound aligns with the World Health Organization’sTrusted Source lower cutoff point for prediabetes and the upper bound with less than the 7.0% American Diabetes Association hemoglobin A1C target,” she said. For the study, 150 adults were recruited at a New Orleans academic center. The 6-month trial ran from September 2018 to June 2021. Participants ranged in age from 40 to 70 years old and were divided into two groups. The first group was tasked with reducing their daily carbohydrate intake to less than 40 grams for the first 3 months and less than 60 grams from month 3 to the end of the trial. “We found that nutritional counseling promoting a low-carbohydrate diet lowered hemoglobin A1C over 6 months,” Dr. Dorans said. “In line with prior work, the low-carbohydrate diet group also lost substantial weight compared with the group of people who stayed with their usual diet.” At the end of 6 months, Dr. Dorans and her research team found that A1C levels reduced by 0.23% more in the low carb group than the usual diet group.

Low carb diets and ketosis

Very low carb diets, such as the ketogenic diet, may triggers a metabolic process known as ketosis, which is when the body burns stored fats for energy instead of glucose. But ketosis does not typically occur with a low carb diet. According to the study authors, “few participants had detectable urinary ketones, suggesting ketosis was unlikely to account for the findings.” Still, Dr. Samuel Klein, a professor of cell biology and physiology at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, not involved in the study, expressed concerns about study’s participants meeting their carbohydrate targets.

He told MNT the data “shows that there is poor compliance with the diet.” “It doesn’t mean [study participants] didn’t reduce their carbohydrate intake, but they didn’t achieve the goals set out. If they were more compliant, [there] might have been a greater change. They must have changed their carbohydrate intake, which reduced their calorie intake. It doesn’t look like they were very ketogenic.” – Dr. Samuel Klein, professor of cell biology and physiology

Possible limitations and biases of the research

The authors note a limitation of the study: “There were significant decreases in caloric intake in the low-carbohydrate diet intervention group during follow-up, aligning with large observed weight loss. With this study design, we are unable to conduct an isocaloric comparison between the low-carbohydrate and usual diet groups or to determine effects on HbA1c [hemoglobin A1C] independently of weight loss,” the authors wrote. Dr. Klein pointed out the amount of contact the carb-reduction group had with study interventionists offering guidance versus the usual-diet group. Both groups were supplied with a handbook containing dietary guidelines and recipes at the start of the trial.

To help hit the goal of fewer than 40 grams of carbs, the carb-reduction group received individual sessions, along with four group sessions on alternate weeks and four telephone follow-ups. For the 60-gram goal, there were three monthly group meetings and three telephone calls. The usual-diet group was offered optional monthly sessions but did not otherwise receive guidance beyond the initial handouts. “There was a lot more contact in the treatment group than in the control group,” said Dr. Klein.

Long-term low carb diets: What are the risks?

Dr. Jason Ng, clinical associate professor of medicine at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, not involved in the study, told MNT: “Improving sugar levels via less carb intake can be an effective type 2 diabetes lifestyle treatment. This may or may not influence weight loss, as weight loss has many variables to take into consideration. However, if you have prediabetes or mild type 2 diabetes, this intervention can lower your sugar levels even if one does not experience accompanying weight loss.”

Dr. Klein added that when you reduce carbohydrate intake and increase your intake of fat, “you tend to increase LDL cholesterol, which was not the case here, but you do decrease triglyceride and increase HDL cholesterol, which is a good thing.” But whether a low carb diet is hazardous to health may really be dependent on the individual.

“I would say we don’t have good evidence of long-term adverse effects. We know that a lot of people are on the Atkins diet, and we don’t see any real reports of problems,” he said. Many people may wonder how to control type 2 diabetes without medications. A healthy diet and lifestyle could help people manage type 2 diabetes and other aspects of their health.

To help people keep blood sugar — blood glucose — within a healthy range, the American Heart Association (AHA)Trusted Source recommends:

· engaging in weight management

· eating a nutritious diet

· getting regular exercise

· stopping smoking

· reducing stress

If making dietary and lifestyle changes do not help maintain a healthy blood sugar level, doctors may adviseTrusted Source a person to take medications. However, if someone receives a diabetes diagnosis as an older adult and their blood sugar is only mildly elevated, medications may not be necessary. In this article, we examine how to control type 2 diabetes without medication. We also look at the causes of type 2 diabetes and when people may need medication to manage their condition.

Ways to control blood sugar levels without medication

A 2020 study reports that healthy lifestyle practices could benefit people with type 2 diabetes or risk factors for the condition. Such measures may delay or prevent its development, as well as treat or potentially put it into remission. This method of controlling blood sugar can be so effective that the study’s authors call it lifestyle medicine. The following healthy lifestyle practices may help reduce blood sugar levels:

1. Pursue weight management

In people with overweight or obesity, significant weight loss may reduceTrusted Source blood sugar from the diabetic to the nondiabetic range. Two ways to manage weight are eating a healthy, balanced diet and engaging in regular exercise. The key to weight loss involves consuming fewer calories than the body uses for activities and physiological processes.

2. Eat a healthy diet

A healthy diet consists of eating nutritious foods in appropriate portion sizes while avoiding or limiting non-nutritious foods. Foods for people to eat may include:

· whole grains, such as oatmeal, brown rice, and whole grain bread

· fruits and vegetables

· non-fried fish that is high in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon and lake trout

· lean meat, such as sirloin and white meat from chicken or turkey

· nontropical vegetable oils, such as olive oil

· unsalted nuts and seeds

· legumes, such as beans and peas

· low fat dairy products

Foods and ingredients for people to limit may include:

· sugary foods and beverages, such as candy, cakes, jelly, honey, sodas, sweet tea, fruit drinks, and concentrated fruit juices

· sweet food additives, such as high fructose corn syrup, dextrose, maltose, fructose, and sucrose

· processed and fatty meats, such as bacon, hot dogs, and fatty cuts of beef and pork

· salty foods

· partially hydrogenated and trans fat foods, such as shortening, hard margarine, microwave popcorn, frozen pizzas, desserts, and coffee creamer

· saturated fat, such as foods containing palm oil or coconut oil

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends a diet similar to the Mediterranean diet, which focuses on:

· fruits

· vegetables

· whole grains

· nuts

· olive oil

· fatty fish

A 2020 review notes that following this eating plan improves blood sugar control

3. Get regular exercise

Exercise promotes blood sugar management and burns calories, which contributes to weight loss. Physical activity also increases insulin sensitivity, which helps blood sugar to enter the cells from the bloodstream. People should aim to get 30 minutes of moderate physical activity per day on most days, totaling at least 150 minutes each week. Experts classify a brisk walk as moderate exercise. Alternatively, 75 minutes per week of vigorous aerobic activity is equally beneficial.

4. Stop smoking

Doctors advise people to stop smoking to help blood sugar control for several reasons. Smokers have a 30–40% higher risk of developing diabetes than nonsmokers. Smoking also makes exercise more challenging. Smoking also raises blood sugar temporarily, which poses an additional challenge in maintaining nondiabetic blood sugar levels. This increases the likelihood of a person developing complications of diabetes, such as kidney disease and nerve damage.

5. Manage stress

Research in 2019 suggests that although stress does not cause type 2 diabetes, it can worsen it. Stress stimulates the release of hormones that interfere with the body’s blood sugar regulation. It also makes a person more likely to engage in practices that make it harder to manage blood sugar, such as overeating and smoking. One way to reduce stress involves. Trusted Source taking a break from electronics and spending time in nature.

Medical New Today

Any opinions, views and beliefs represented in this article are personal and belong solely to the author/s and do not necessarily reflect the opinion, views and beliefs of the organisation and employees of New Image™ International

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