Should Diabetics Go on a Low Carb Diet?

What’s the in thing when it comes to diets? Well it’s the low carb diets! Unless you live in another planet, you would certainly have heard of diet names such as South Beach, Atkins New Diet Revolution, Protein Power Diet and the Sugar Busters Diet. The low fat, low calories diets of the past have been replaced with low carb diets which seem to be the “in” thing right now when it comes to eating. These diets are quickly gaining popularity thanks partly to the media.

But another reason why they are popular is that some people actually swear that they work. And this in not only in losing weight but also to treat several diseases likes diabetes Since the nutrient that closely affects blood sugar level is carbohydrates, it is not surprising that some people link a high carbohydrate diet to diabetes.

The blood glucose after every meal is affected greatly by the amount of carbs in the diet and the amount of insulin secreted by the pancreas and how it acts on the tissues. The glucose level after every meal is affected both by the quantity and quality of carbohydrates in the diet. Unlike carbohydrates, other macronutrient like fat and protein do n o affect glucose level. On the contrary these two macronutrients slow down the absorption of glucose in the body.

One of the pioneers in the research of treating diabetes with a low carb diet and as well as one of its staunchest advocate is Dr. Richard Bernstein. Dr. Bernstein has been a type 1 diabetic since he was nine years old. In 1983 he opened a clinic that treats diabetics with a very low carbohydrate diet. The clinic soon became very controversial as other experts contested his method. He was even ridiculed by some members of the medical world. But still they weren’t able to stem the start of a revolution.

So is a low carb diet like the Atkins Diet, South Beach, Sugar Busters Diet and the likes beneficial for people with diabetes? If a recent study by California researchers that was published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition is to be believed, then people with type 2 diabetes can get some benefits from a low carbohydrate, calorie-restricted diet. Subjects in the study got their blood sugar under control after starting on a low carbohydrate diet. The diet has also help patients avoid having to take insulin to control their disease at last in the short run.

Individuals with type 2 diabetes had a significant improvement in blood sugar levels after eight weeks on a diet with one fourth of the calories from carbohydrates. This is significantly lower than those seen with a diet with more than half of calories from carbohydrates.

A third of all the subjects in the study were provided with a standard diet consisting of 55% carbohydrates. The rest of the subjects were given with sulfonylurea agents. The study reported that none of the subjects achieved favorable results from both therapies.

However, when the subjects where put on a diet consisting of only 25% carbohydrates, there was a drop in their hemoglobin A1c which is a marker for blood sugar control, after eight weeks on the said diet. When the subjects were put on a diet consisting of 55% carbohydrates, their hemoglobin A1c increased, which means worsening blood sugar control.