Improvements in Glucose Metabolism and Insulin Sensitivity with a Low-Carbohydrate Diet in Obese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Sep 11, 2013Journal of the American College of Nutrition

Better blood sugar use and insulin response with a low-carb diet in obese people with type 2 diabetes

AI simplified

Circadian Biology on OpenScience ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Abstract

Twelve participants lost a mean of 9.7 kg over 24 weeks on a low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet.

Glycemic control improved with a reduction in HbA1c by -1.1%.
Fasting glucose and glucose response showed significant reductions by week 12.
Insulin sensitivity improvements were not statistically significant at 12 or 24 weeks.
Systolic blood pressure decreased by a mean of 10.0 mmHg over the study period.
Cholesterol levels increased, but the ratio of total to HDL cholesterol and triglycerides decreased.

AI simplified

OBJECTIVE: The optimal diet for weight loss in type 2 diabetes remains controversial. This study examined a low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet with detailed physiological assessments of insulin sensitivity, glycemic control, and risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

METHODS: Fourteen obese patients (body mass index [BMI] 40.6 ± 4.9 kg/m(2)) with type 2 diabetes were recruited for an "Atkins"-type low-carbohydrate diet. Measurements were made at 0, 12, and 24 weeks of weight, insulin sensitivity, HbA1c, lipids, and blood pressure.

RESULTS: Twelve completers lost a mean of 9.7 ± 1.8 kg over 24 weeks attributable to a major reduction in carbohydrates and resultant reduction in total energy intake. Glycemic control significantly improved (HbA1c -1.1 ± 0.25%) with reductions in hypoglycemic medication. Fasting glucose, homeostasis model assessment (HOMA), and area under the curve (AUC) glucose (intravenous glucose tolerance test [IVGTT]) were significantly reduced by week 12 ( p < 0.05). There were nonsignificant improvements in insulin sensitivity (SI) at week 12 ( p = 0.19) and week 24 ( p = 0.31). Systolic blood pressure was reduced (mean -10.0 mmHg between weeks 0 and 24, p = 0.13). Mean high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and total cholesterol all increased. The ratio of total: HDL cholesterol and triglycerides was reduced.

CONCLUSION: A low-carbohydrate diet was well tolerated and achieved weight loss over 24 weeks in subjects with diabetes. Glycemic control improved with a reduction in requirements for hypoglycemic agents.

Full Text

Full text is available at the source.

View full text ↗

Improvements in Glucose Metabolism and Insulin Sensitivity with a Low-Carbohydrate Diet in Obese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Abstract

Full Text

You found one interesting study. We’ll send the next 7.

what lands in your inbox each week:

Recent issues from the circadian biology brief

Abstract

Full Text

Related papers

You found one interesting study. We’ll send the next 7.

what lands in your inbox each week:

Recent issues from the circadian biology brief