Eating a low-carbohydrate diet can help preserve beta-cell function in people with mild Type 2 diabetes (T2D), potentially allowing some to achieve target glucose levels without medication, new research suggests.
In a 12-week study of 57 people with T2D who were not using insulin, C-peptide levels were found to be significantly higher among those selected to receive a low-carbohydrate diet (about 9% of total calories) vs a higher-carbohydrate diet (about 55%).
“Our data suggests that a carbohydrate-restricted diet provides the opportunity to improve beta-cell function without the need for medication use or weight loss. This approach may be more appealing and effective for some persons with T2D, particularly in patients of African descent.” Said study author Marian L. Yurchishin, MS, Department of Nutrition Sciences, The University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama.
She then clarified, “Our research should not be interpreted to mean that a carbohydrate-restricted diet can replace medical therapy in those who need it, especially patients at risk of cardiovascular disease, heart failure, or chronic kidney disease…or when medications are needed to achieve HbA1c targets.”
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