Posted on 10/27/2022 8:57:00 AM PDT by ConservativeMind
While low-carb diets are often recommended for those being treated for diabetes, little evidence exists on whether eating fewer carbs can impact the blood sugar of those with diabetes or prediabetes who aren't treated by medications.
According to new research, a low-carb diet can help those with unmedicated diabetes—and those at risk for diabetes—lower their blood sugar.
The study compared two groups: one assigned a low-carb diet and another that continued with their usual diet. After six months, the low-carb diet group had greater drops in hemoglobin A1c, a marker for blood sugar levels, when compared with the group who ate their usual diet. The low-carbohydrate diet group also lost weight and had lower fasting glucose levels.
Approximately 37 million Americans have diabetes, a condition that occurs when the body doesn't use insulin properly and can't regulate blood sugar levels. Type 2 diabetes comprises more than 90% of those cases.
The study's findings are especially important for those with prediabetes whose A1c levels are higher than normal but below levels that would be classified as diabetes. Approximately 96 million Americans have prediabetes and more than 80% of those with prediabetes are unaware, according to the CDC. Those with prediabetes are at increased risk for Type 2 diabetes, heart attacks or strokes and are usually not taking medications to lower blood sugar levels.
The study involved participants whose blood sugar ranged from prediabetic to diabetic levels and who were not on diabetes medication. Those in the low-carb group saw A1c levels drop 0.23% more than the usual diet group, an amount Dorans called "modest but clinically relevant." Importantly, fats made up around half of the calories eaten by those in the low-carb group, but the fats were mostly healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats found in foods like olive oil and nuts.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
Interesting. I recall reading a couple of decades ago a book - I can’t recall the name and seems the autors first name was Marie or Maria - that talked about watching TV affecting the brain and, among others, causing weight gain. She said much of the this information wasn’t promoted because of vested interests.
I’ll see if I can find it.
Anecdotally, I can say I think more clearly having eliminated tv(95%), reading more, and meditating twice daily.
I’m also less angry, though I’m still male and Irish genetically, but still somewhat angry. :)
“A low carb diet will definitely prevent or reverse Type 2 diabetes. I was able to reverse mine back in 2003 with much success. It is a tough diet to maintain long term however, as it’s easy to have the carbs sneak back into your diet and suddenly you are getting back where you started. I’ve had to “re-boot” my diet several times since then and I’m coming up on that cycle once again.”
My experience too...I am back on metformin and trying to control carbs...Seems to me metformin has made things worse...
You did but far too many people believe the two are the same but only about 1 in 10 diabetics are type 1 so I was just clarifying and meant no offence.
Thanks for the clarification, and I appreciate it.
I am not sure why this is even a question. Treating diabetes by reducing sugar and carb consumption can be found in medical textbooks from a century ago.
What blows my mind is diabetes patients being instructed to eat carbs and sweets in conjunction with the medication. I am a big believer in a low carb diet because of its effects on my own health. However, when I have talked to type 2 diabetics about reducing sugar and carb consumption, I am told their doctor instructs them to eats them. And then they wonder why the problem keeps getting worse.
Current pharmaceutical based, standard treatment puts people on an insulin treadmill they cannot escape, with their health suffering for it.
The thing is that you know what you need to do and can do it, even if you do fall off the wagon occasionally. People following the standard medical advice are given the easy path that just makes them sicker and sicker.
Well Duh, moment!
Old Fashioned Orange Slices candy was probably my worst desire. Atomic Fireballs in a 180 Piece Tub was the next, along with ice cream, cakes, and soft drinks full of sugar.
Maltodextrin has a higher Glycemic Index than White Sugar, by over 20%. It is death in a can, for my relative, and when I said this approach was the absolute worst possible thing to give a severe diabetic, the family was extremely uptight at me. It didn't matter that I told them this in a kind, reasoned way.
I have a cousin on the other side of the family who was pencil-thin as a teenager, then blew up into my largest relative, after becoming a registered dietitian. She is still the largest person in my family, to my knowledge.
Dietitians, in my limited experience, are absolutely terrible resources and are unable to understand simple science or read studies.
Oh, and after my other relatives saw terrible progression with the newly diabetic relative, they had the relative go lower carb and never apologized for their words or behavior.
I give myself a range. When I hit the top I go back to keto and intermittent fasting until I reach the bottom. All I really need to do is correct after special events where there is way too much garbage food. My regular diet is pretty low carb and keeps my weight stable.
I’m in about Day 80 of a low carb lifestyle. I was so tired and lethargic through the day and had to go take naps midday. Plus I was shaped like an uncooked loaf of bread.
I checked fasting glucose and got a wake up call. It is time, not for a little seasonal fit of self control, but for a rest-of-life new person.
Out every day walking fast. Eating a balance of fruit, protein and vegetation.
Down 9 lbs and staying awake all day long. It’s worth it.
Congratulations! It gets easier, from where you are.
You have bought yourself more healthy days of life, Lurk.
Quite a number of people tske the medications as a go ahead to continue eating as before. It doesn’t work that way.
Too much medical education seems to be rote repetition of conventions, not how to think about problems. Doctors get almost no nutritional education, and it seems like dietitians’ curricula has to meet the approval of Ancel Keys.
This bad advice has led to a population fatter and unhealthier year over year, decade over decade. I spent much of my life on this treadmill. From childhood, my family drank skim milk, avoided eggs and butter, bought lean meat and trimmed the fat. At the same time soft drinks, candies, baked goods were plentiful. I look at pictures of myself 20 years ago, a time when I thought of myself as healthy and a good weight and am stunned at how fat I was.
My mom and step-dad are struggling with diabetes, heart disease, autoimmune disorders. Sadly they will likely die younger than their parents, despite all the conventional medical advice they follow. They think I am crazy for suggesting their doctors could be wrong even while me, my wife and kids are leaner and healthier than anyone else of the same age in the extended family. They say we are just lucky and blessed with good genetics- ignoring that I used to be just like the rest of them.
A lot of them are given crap advice. My step dad is told to eat starches and fruit and that soda is OK as long it is sugar free. One guy at work insists he is told to eat one small candy bar in the evening based on the time he takes his medication.
My parents are worried about triglycerides and cholesterol and keep trying to cut their fat consumption lower and lower. They believe they can’t eat eggs or bacon for their health and are shocked when I visit when I will eat only that and avoid the bread, rice and potatoes. They won’t believe me when I tell them my triglycerides are in the 50s and cholesterol is fine.
There are three macronutrients: fat, protein and carbs. You cannot live on only one for long. If you insist on cutting fat, you have to eat carbs. When you are a diabetic carbs just make your condition worse.
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