
Keto Diet better than high carb for Type 2 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is a common condition characterized by high levels of blood sugar, usually due to insulin resistance.
The treatment of type 2 diabetes involves medication, but lifestyle strategies are very important as well.
These include increased exercise, weight loss and diet management.
Although low-carb diets have become popular for managing type 2 diabetes, few high-quality studies have investigated their long-term effects on blood sugar control and risk factors for heart disease.
ARTICLE REVIEWED
A team of Australian researchers set out to compare the long-term health effects of a low-carb diet and a high-carb diet, focusing on differences in blood sugar control and risk factors for heart disease.
Tay et al. Comparison of Low- and High-Carbohydrate Diets for Type 2 Diabetes Management: A Randomized Trial. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2015.
STUDY DESIGN
This was a randomized trial that spanned one year, or 52 weeks total.
A total of 115 obese and overweight adults with type 2 diabetes participated. Their age ranged from 35 to 68 years.
The participants were randomly assigned to one of two diets that contained an equal amount of calories:
Low-carb diet (LC): Carbs, protein and fat comprised 14%, 28% and 58% of calories, respectively. The total carb content was under 50 grams per day.
High-carb diet (HC): Carbs, protein and fat comprised 53%, 17% and 30% of calories, respectively.
Both diets restricted calories in order to produce weight loss. Calories were restricted by 30%, which amounted to 500–1000 calories, depending on the individual.
The fat content o
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