Bret Scher, MD FACC at Diet Doctor site writes:
"A new study getting headlines claims that low-carbohydrate, high-fat diets worsen diabetes.
European Journal of Nutrition: Lower carbohydrate and higher fat intakes are associated with higher hemoglobin A1c: findings from the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey 2008–2016
This is contrary to much of what we know from randomized controlled trials and nonrandomized intervention trials testing low-carb and ketogenic diets. Should these new results force us to question the prior studies showing LCHF is beneficial for type 2 diabetes?
Absolutely not. The new trial is an observational trial of individuals with a mean carbohydrate intake of 48%, with fat averaging 35%. The authors crunched the data and noted that for every 5% decrease in carbs or increase in fat, there was a 12-17% increased risk of diabetes.
Let’s think about that for a moment. Most reputable low-carb studies allow less than 50 grams of carbs per day, and keto diet studies typically allow less than 20 grams per day. That’s at most 10% of calories from carbs. But this study started at 48%, which would equate to about 240 grams of carbs each day!! These aren’t even on the same planet let alone in the same ball park.
In addition, when we have high-quality evidence from randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews of these trials, or even well-conducted non-randomized studies, why would we pay any attention to lower-quality observational studies? Poor data collection, healthy user bias, confounding variables and more make the observational data compromised and far less consequential than the higher quality evidence.
The answer is simple. We shouldn’t pay any attention to this study. If you want real evidence about how actual low-carb diets impacts type 2 diabetes, please see our science of low carb and keto page, and please disregard low-quality nutritional epidemiology studies.
Thanks for reading."
Related Posts:
Introduction to low-carb for beginners - see it here
What is LCHF Anyway - please read more and find out here
This blog brings a variety of articles, and recipe ideas, and it is important to note, not all may be suitable for you. If you may have any food allergies, or underlying health issues these must always be taken into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use a reliable meter.
Thank you for this...I would not believe the study because I monitor my own blood glucose and I know what happens when I consume very low carbs. My blood sugar improves so much! Who could have designed such a foolish study and why?
ReplyDeleteThe sponsors of these "studies" lead people down such dangerous paths. Thank you for reminding us to stay informed & be our own health advocates.
ReplyDeleteMy hubby follows the carb amount that his doctor prescribed.
ReplyDeleteHe went from five insulin shots a day to one pill a day.
We are very careful about his diet but he also walks everyday.
Thank you again for all of your info and tips 💮
It sounds like the pharmaceutical companies are getting worried. Valerie
ReplyDeleteI monitor mine as well - NOT TRUE. Carbs count.
ReplyDeleteIn complete agreement with your first commenter.
ReplyDeleteMy meter tells me everything and years on this low carb lifestyle suits me. Ted
It's pretty obvious that carbs elevate blood sugar numbers so anyone with half a brain would not believe something like this.
ReplyDelete...differing opinions seem to be a fact of life.
ReplyDeletestrange study
ReplyDeleteInteresting studies abound. I think it's important to be informed, thanks for the alternate studies...
ReplyDeleteinteresting article.
ReplyDeleteI wonder about those one type of diets.
ReplyDeleteCoffee is on
People are always contradicting each other in studies, it really makes you wonder who is right.
ReplyDeleteCutting back on carbs and sugar makes a big difference in life. My husband is type 2 diabetic, and it is a struggle to keep him on track.
ReplyDeleteGood post.
I know from my own body that carbs raises my blood sugar when I test.
ReplyDeleteUna información interesante. Un beso.
ReplyDeleteMy mother, who is 92, has type 2 diabetes. I am forever telling her she eats too much bread and potatoes,(you would not believe the amount of bread she gets though in a week!!) I have just managed to convince her that she needs to change form semi skimmed milk to whole milk but have yet to convince her that the low fat yogurts she eats are full of sugar and are not good for her. What to do, my sister prepares 3 or 4 dinners in the week for her and i know she puts a lot of potatoes on those even though I've told her not to. Apart from arthritis my mother, for her age, is not in bad health and i'm sure if she cut down the carbs she would not feel so tired all the time.
ReplyDeleteHmmm. I don't really know all that much about sugar levels and diabetes. This was an interesting read.
ReplyDeleteI assume whoever sponsored the study wanted to get the results in their favour so they upped the carbs to show it was a bad diet. What is sad is that these studies get out and people believe them!
ReplyDeleteThanks for these articles, Jan and Eddie.
ReplyDeleteI think the natural diet you describe would be healthy for most people.
It would be interesting to know who sponsored (funded) the study. A lot of times, results are skewed to favor the patron.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this great information. It's good to know.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the information.
ReplyDeleteThanks. I can't imagine eating 240 carbs a day!
ReplyDeleteLies, damned lies, and statistics! Know thy statistician and know thy methodology. Give me enough time and I will "show" you that eating carrots causes more deaths than smoking cigarettes.
ReplyDeleteI was talking to a specialist diabetes nurse the other week. I told her how KFC spikes my blood sugar (the potato and coleslaw with sugary dressing etc). She assured me it was the fat that was causing the blood sugar rise and that carbs were not the problem. !!!!
ReplyDeleteMy partner and I were pre-diabetic nearly ten years ago and after eating low to moderate low carb ever since we have both had absolutely normal HbA1c results.
thanks for the information eddie! i think we all know you can't believe everything you hear, but a published article gives people a false sense of security!!
ReplyDeleteThe only thing that keeps Neil's type 2 under any sort of control is low carbs and lots of excercise. His diabetic nurse however tells him that low fat is the way to go. The profesionals seem to be reading from a very old script x
ReplyDelete