The case for low carbohydrate diets in diabetes management

[Lez]

If you have time read


http://www.nutritionandmetabolism.com/content/2/1/16

Be aware its long

lez

[Angeline]

It never ceases to amaze me when I see the following: "A low fat, high carbohydrate diet in combination with regular exercise is the traditional recommendation for treating diabetes.". It's akin to saying "A low-water high alcohol diet is the traditional recommendation for treating alcoholism". Can not the people who issue such recommendation see the absurdity in it??

Anyway, read on. This article is like the frigging voice of reason.

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<extracted from abstract>

A low fat, high carbohydrate diet in combination with regular exercise is the traditional recommendation for treating diabetes. Compliance with these lifestyle modifications is less than satisfactory, however, and a high carbohydrate diet raises postprandial plasma glucose and insulin secretion, thereby increasing risk of CVD, hypertension, dyslipidemia, obesity and diabetes. Moreover, the current epidemic of diabetes and obesity has been, over the past three decades, accompanied by a significant decrease in fat consumption and an increase in carbohydrate consumption. This apparent failure of the traditional diet, from a public health point of view, indicates that alternative dietary approaches are needed. Because carbohydrate is the major secretagogue of insulin, some form of carbohydrate restriction is a prima facie candidate for dietary control of diabetes. Evidence from various randomized controlled trials in recent years has convinced us that such diets are safe and effective, at least in short-term. These data show low carbohydrate diets to be comparable or better than traditional low fat high carbohydrate diets for weight reduction, improvement in the dyslipidemia of diabetes and metabolic syndrome as well as control of blood pressure, postprandial glycemia and insulin secretion. Furthermore, the ability of low carbohydrate diets to reduce triglycerides and to increase HDL is of particular importance. Resistance to such strategies has been due, in part, to equating it with the popular Atkins diet. However, there are many variations and room for individual physician planning. Some form of low carbohydrate diet, in combination with exercise, is a viable option for patients with diabetes. However, the extreme reduction of carbohydrate of popular diets (<30 g/day) cannot be recommended for a diabetic population at this time without further study. On the other hand, the dire objections continually raised in the literature appear to have very little scientific basis. Whereas it is traditional to say that more work needs to be done, the same is true of the assumed standard low fat diets which have an ambiguous record at best. We see current trends in the national dietary recommendations as a positive sign and an appropriate move in the right direction.

[Rachel1]

[QUOTE=Angeline]However, the extreme reduction of carbohydrate of popular diets (<30 g/day) cannot be recommended for a diabetic population at this time without further study. [QUOTE]

Repeat after me: After the first two week or so, Atkins is not under 30 grams of carbs a day ... Atkins is not under 30 grams of carbs a day ... Atkins is not under 30 grams of carbs a day ...

Rachel

[ProfGumby]

However, the extreme reduction of carbohydrate of popular diets (<30 g/day) cannot be recommended for a diabetic population at this time without further study.

I wonder if the author of the article would like to try and tell that to Dr. Bernstein!

[Angeline]

If you read what I bolded you will see that the author recognizes that statement for the party line that it is.

On the other hand, the dire objections continually raised in the literature appear to have very little scientific basis. Whereas it is traditional to say that more work needs to be done, the same is true of the assumed standard low fat diets which have an ambiguous record at best

[ProfGumby]

If you read what I bolded you will see that the author recognizes that statement for the party line that it is.

Ooop! My Bad! :cool: