CHICAGO — Compared with a low-fat, calorie-restricted diet, a low-carbohydrate diet reduced HbA1c and resulted in twice as much weight loss in patients with diabetes, study results presented at the ADA Scientific Sessions suggest.
Participants were randomly assigned a low-fat, calorie-restricted diet in which caloric intake was 500 calories below the estimated need for weight maintenance (n=18) or a low-carbohydrate diet that restricted intake of carbohydrates to 50 gm per day excluding fiber (n=16). Carbohydrates comprised 45% to 50% and fat comprised 25% to 35% of the low-fat, low-calorie diet. Both groups were taught psychological skills to assist in behavior change and maintenance during 13 sessions over 3 months. Patients receiving insulin were excluded from the trial, and 74% were receiving oral medication.
Overall, mean HbA1c decreased –0.02% in the low-fat, low-calorie group and –0.59% in the low-carbohydrate group (P=.04 comparing groups). Thirteen percent of participants in the low-carbohydrate diet group reached an HbA1c of less than 5.7% vs. none in the low-fat, low-calorie group, according to the study abstract. The use of oral diabetes medication was reduced or discontinued by 11% of participants in the low-fat, low-calorie diet group vs. 47% in the low-carbohydrate group. Although calories were not restricted, those on the low-carbohydrate diet lost twice as much weight compared with those on the low-fat, low-calorie diet. Researchers said that blood lipid levels did not worsen in the low-carbohydrate group, despite the high fat content of carbohydrates.
“Our results suggest that a lower carbohydrate diet coupled with skills that promote behavior change may improve glucose control in type 2 diabetes,” researchers wrote.
For more information:
Saslow L. #25-LB. Presented at: ADA Scientific Sessions; June 21-25, 2013; Chicago.
Graham
3 comments:
I always laugh when I read these scientific reports. Obviously, a low carb diet will result in better BGs and HbA1c. It's just stating the obvious. But, it's still good to have a research paper to show ignorant diabetes healthcare teams.
My child's "diabetic dietician" told me he "can eat whatever he wants, as there is no such thing as a diabetic diet now days. If you want to eat McDonalds, then go right ahead." That is literally what she said. It's almost too bizarre to be true.
I agree that it is preposterous when you low-carb and see what good control you can get but don't see any change in the general attitude to diabetes management, because it's 'anecdotal'.
This study is great news because there are so few of them; and that has allowed people to say 'well, there are no studies showing that low-carb isn't dangerous.' Now, when that tried and tested pro-carb argument comes up we can just link to that study.
Never listen to anything a dietician says; it verges on pseudo science, I'd be more interested in what a homeopath had to say (and I wouldn't be at all interested in that...)
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