A recent study reveals that a low-carb diet can effectively lower blood sugar levels in individuals with unmedicated diabetes and those at risk for diabetes.
While low-carb diets are commonly recommended for individuals undergoing diabetes treatment, there has been limited evidence on whether reducing carbohydrate intake can impact the blood sugar levels of those with diabetes or prediabetes who are not taking medications.
In a study published in JAMA Network Open, researchers compared two groups: one following a low-carb diet and another continuing with their regular diet. After six months, the low-carb diet group experienced greater reductions in hemoglobin A1c, a marker for blood sugar levels, compared to the group maintaining their usual diet. Additionally, the low-carbohydrate diet group showed weight loss and lower fasting glucose levels.
Lead author Kirsten Dorans, assistant professor of epidemiology at Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, emphasizes that maintaining a low-carbohydrate diet could be a beneficial approach for preventing and treating type 2 diabetes, although further research is necessary.
Type 2 diabetes affects approximately 37 million Americans and can lead to various complications, including heart disease, vision loss, and kidney disease. The findings of this study are particularly relevant for individuals with prediabetes, who are at an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes or other cardiovascular issues.
The study involved participants with blood sugar levels ranging from prediabetic to diabetic who were not taking diabetes medication. Those following the low-carb diet experienced a modest yet clinically relevant decrease in A1c levels compared to the group following their usual diet.
Importantly, participants in the low-carb group consumed a diet where fats accounted for approximately half of their calorie intake, with a focus on healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats found in foods such as olive oil and nuts.
While the study does not conclusively prove that a low-carb diet prevents diabetes, it does pave the way for further investigation into dietary strategies for mitigating health risks in individuals with prediabetes and diabetes who are not undergoing medication treatment.
Dorans suggests that future research could explore whether a low-carbohydrate diet may serve as an alternative approach for preventing type 2 diabetes.
