An effective strategy for the management of diabetes may be to follow a reduced carbohydrate diet as it can help lower blood glucose levels is suggested by the researchers at London Metropolitan University and published in the Proceedings of the Nutrition Society.
A systematic review of previous intervention studies was conducted analysing changes to participant’s glycated haemoglobin levels following diet changes to lower carbohydrate diets. Glycated haemoglobin forms when haemoglobin combines with glucose and is used to measure long term blood glucose levels.
The study found that individual’s glycated haemoglobin levels appeared to fall after switch to and following a diet reduced in carbohydrates, with the greatest reduction of 2.2% being observed in the individuals who were consuming under 30g per day. This findings show that a carbohydrate reduced diet can be an effective way to be utilized for the management of diabetes, new guidelines promote lower carbohydrate intake for the general population. Additional long term studies are required to ensure that the results can be translated into clinical practice, but the science is so compelling that it should not be ignored at this point in time.
The participants that followed a carbohydrate reduced diet reported significant decreases in weight with the median loss being over 4.7kg over a 2 year time period as compared to 2.9kg loss by those that were consuming a low fat diet. Decreases in the psychological stress that is associated with diabetes and a decrease in the negative mood swings between meals was also found to be associated with a low carbohydrate diet.
It is important to take into consideration which food groups should be used to replace carbohydrates when altering diets, as diets high in fat carry risks for individuals with type 2 diabetes, particularly saturated fats.
Changes in diet for individuals with diabetes should be reviewed for consideration before undergoing with the consultation of a qualified dietitian or medical practitioner to take into account the individual’s needs to ensure the change is done safely.
