Diabetes UK, the UK's leading charity for people with diabetes, has released their position statement on low carbohydrate diets for people with Type 2 diabetes. This was needed as they have not previously given specific recommendations on this topic, and low carbohydrate diets continue to be a very popular method of weight loss.
Previous dietary recommendations have focused on the type of carbohydrate in the diet of people with diabetes said that meals should be based on starchy foods. People with type 2 diabetes are often told that they need to lose weight but struggle to do so on traditional high carbohydrate, low fat diets.
This new statement makes it clear that the priority for people with Type 2 diabetes wanting to lose weight should be reducing overall energy intake whilst ensuring that the diet still provides all essential nutrients. A number of different diets can achieve this aim, and Diabetes UK recommend that a range of approaches should be considered, because the most appropriate method is different for different people. This statement does not say that low carbohydrate diets are best for all people with Type 2 diabetes, but that it may be suitable for some.
The evidence that they reviewed suggests that low-carbohydrate diets can reduce weight and lead to improvements in blood glucose control. They only found convincing evidence that this was effective for up to 1 year, and point out that there is currently insufficient evidence to support the safety and benefit of low-carbohydrate diets in the longer term.
Diabetes UK recommend that a person wanting to lose weight on a low carbohydrate diet discuss this with their dietitian and that they are aware of the possible side effects. They stress that blood glucose levels should be closely monitored and medications adjusted where necessary.
There are many different reasons why people become overweight and it makes sense that there are also different ways to lose weight. Whilst wholegrain starchy foods are healthy inclusions to the diet, few people today are basing their diets on these foods. A sedentary lifestyle and eating too much refined carbohydrate from heavily processed foods is
undoubtedly a major cause of weight gain for many people. Reducing these foods that provide excess calories but little quality nutrition is an easy way to lose weight. Carbohydrate foods mainly provide energy for physical activity, so it is sensible to tailor the amount of the foods to how much exercise you do. Few people today get recommended daily minimum amount of physical activity, so it is little wonder that the old advice to eat more starchy foods would lead to weight gain for many.
This represents a change in that it takes the emphasis away from eating more starchy foods, and less fat. However it is important to realise that this statement does not change the advice that a healthy diet for people with and without diabetes is one that is low in saturated fats and salt, and rich in vegetables and fruits and includes wholegrains and oily fish.
This is a balanced statement from a trusted charity. I expect that many people with diabetes who are struggling to lose weight will be glad to know that they can safely try a reduced carbohydrate diet and are likely to see the benefits that their peers on similar diets have experienced. This is a relatively new area of research and the relationships between human health and diet takes a long time to study. I expect that as more evidence accumulates showing the safety and benefits of low carbohydrate diets, and we have more long term studies, dietary advice from Diabetes UK and other organisations will be further modified to take this into account.
Disclaimer: The views expressed here are the views of All About Weight. All About Weight supports the work of Diabetes UK. Diabetes UK does not specifically endorse All About Weight plans.
Reference
Diabetes UK (2011). Position statement on low carbohydrate diets for people with Type 2 Diabetes. Available here on [24/4/11]
Source:
Diabetes UK
Previous dietary recommendations have focused on the type of carbohydrate in the diet of people with diabetes said that meals should be based on starchy foods. People with type 2 diabetes are often told that they need to lose weight but struggle to do so on traditional high carbohydrate, low fat diets.
This new statement makes it clear that the priority for people with Type 2 diabetes wanting to lose weight should be reducing overall energy intake whilst ensuring that the diet still provides all essential nutrients. A number of different diets can achieve this aim, and Diabetes UK recommend that a range of approaches should be considered, because the most appropriate method is different for different people. This statement does not say that low carbohydrate diets are best for all people with Type 2 diabetes, but that it may be suitable for some.
The evidence that they reviewed suggests that low-carbohydrate diets can reduce weight and lead to improvements in blood glucose control. They only found convincing evidence that this was effective for up to 1 year, and point out that there is currently insufficient evidence to support the safety and benefit of low-carbohydrate diets in the longer term.
Diabetes UK recommend that a person wanting to lose weight on a low carbohydrate diet discuss this with their dietitian and that they are aware of the possible side effects. They stress that blood glucose levels should be closely monitored and medications adjusted where necessary.
There are many different reasons why people become overweight and it makes sense that there are also different ways to lose weight. Whilst wholegrain starchy foods are healthy inclusions to the diet, few people today are basing their diets on these foods. A sedentary lifestyle and eating too much refined carbohydrate from heavily processed foods is
undoubtedly a major cause of weight gain for many people. Reducing these foods that provide excess calories but little quality nutrition is an easy way to lose weight. Carbohydrate foods mainly provide energy for physical activity, so it is sensible to tailor the amount of the foods to how much exercise you do. Few people today get recommended daily minimum amount of physical activity, so it is little wonder that the old advice to eat more starchy foods would lead to weight gain for many.
This represents a change in that it takes the emphasis away from eating more starchy foods, and less fat. However it is important to realise that this statement does not change the advice that a healthy diet for people with and without diabetes is one that is low in saturated fats and salt, and rich in vegetables and fruits and includes wholegrains and oily fish.
This is a balanced statement from a trusted charity. I expect that many people with diabetes who are struggling to lose weight will be glad to know that they can safely try a reduced carbohydrate diet and are likely to see the benefits that their peers on similar diets have experienced. This is a relatively new area of research and the relationships between human health and diet takes a long time to study. I expect that as more evidence accumulates showing the safety and benefits of low carbohydrate diets, and we have more long term studies, dietary advice from Diabetes UK and other organisations will be further modified to take this into account.
Disclaimer: The views expressed here are the views of All About Weight. All About Weight supports the work of Diabetes UK. Diabetes UK does not specifically endorse All About Weight plans.
Reference
Diabetes UK (2011). Position statement on low carbohydrate diets for people with Type 2 Diabetes. Available here on [24/4/11]
Source:
Diabetes UK
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