It’s quite difficult to know which diet to follow for controlling blood glucose and for weight loss in those with Type 2 diabetes. The most recent dietary guidelines for managing diabetes emphasise weight loss and preventing cardiovascular complications but make no specific recommendation about which weight loss diet to try or, indeed what level of carbohydrate is best for controlling blood sugars. So how do people know which the best diet is for them?
In December, a systematic review looking at ten years worth of studies, (randomised trials), into the dietary management of Type 2 diabetes was published. This study compared the effectiveness of twelve or more weeks of low carb diets versus low fat and low glycaemic index (GI) diets on weight reduction and blood sugar control (A1c) on type 2 patients.
The review showed no consistent differences in weight and blood sugar control over the long term between the three treatments – low carb diet, low fat and low GI.
So what does this tell us? It means that diets for Type 2 diabetes can be individualised according to preference and as long as there is weight loss and an improvement in blood sugar control, then that is the best diet to follow. Whichever diet is working for you is the best and all three methods over the long term will give similar results.
So which would you choose? I’d be interested to hear
References:
Castañeda-González LM, Bacardí Gascón M, Jiménez Cruz A. Effects of low carbohydrate diets on weight and glycemic control among type 2 diabetes individuals: a systemic review of RCT greater than 12 weeks. Nutr Hosp. 2011 Dec;26(6):1270-6.
Been Type 2 for a year now, following a low carb, low wheat diet, lost 3 stone so far and blood sugars steady.
That is excellent progress! Well done!