Low Sugar & Carb Diet

Eating a diet that is low in sugar and carbohydrates may help control Type 2 diabetes and reduce weight. Studies support the efficacy of this type of diet for obesity, and some diets focused on patients with Type 2 diabetes also restrict carbohydrate and sugar intake. Some evidence also suggests that such diets may be an effective form of obesity and diabetes control.

Background

Atkins, Protein Power, Zone and the Diabetes Diet are all low-sugar, low-carbohydrate diets. Atkins was the first popular modern low-carbohydrate diet. In 1972, Dr. Robert Atkins wrote "Dr. Atkins' Diet Revolution," and many people lost weight while eating high-fat, high-protein, low-carbohydrate foods, such as bacon and cheese. Atkins re-released the diet in 1992 as "Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution," and low-carbohydrates grew in popularity. The popularity of the diets led to medical studies that evaluated the efficacy of the diets for both weight loss and Type 2 diabetes.

Definitions

Carbohydrate foods contain sugars. Simple carbohydrates have one or two sugars. Table sugar, syrup, candy, fruit and baked goods are all simple carbohydrate foods. Simple carbohydrates cause blood glucose levels to rise rapidly. Complex carbohydrates have a less dramatic impact on blood glucose, although they still cause an increase in glucose levels. Complex carbohydrates contain three or more sugars. Potatoes, pasta, rice, corn, whole grains and starchy vegetables are all complex-carbohydrate foods.

Theories/Speculation

A primary mechanism in both obesity and diabetes is insulin, explains Gary Taubes, who wrote about low-carbohydrate diets in a 2002 article for "The New York Times." Taubes examined the effect of conventional wisdom for weight loss, such as eating a high-carbohydrate, low-fat diet. He pointed out that both obesity and Type 2 diabetes rose significantly during the height of the low-fat diet's popularity, and suggested that the reasons why could be found in the field of endocrinology and the role that insulin plays in the body.

Insulin's primary role is to regulate blood glucose levels. It also regulates fat metabolism. Without insulin, your body is incapable of storing fat, and when insulin is depleted, your body burns fat as fuel. When insulin is low, you will burn stored fat. When it is high, you won't. Both simple and complex carbohydrates cause increases in blood glucose that forces your pancreas to release insulin, hindering your body's ability to use its own fat as fuel. By controlling insulin through limiting sugars and carbohydrates, your body will burn fat as fuel and weight loss will result. Controlling insulin release by limiting carbohydrates can also help to control Type 2 diabetes by increasing insulin sensitivity.

Research

In a 2008 study printed in "Nutrition and Metabolism," Jorgen V. Nielsen and Eva A. Joensson at Blekingesjukhuset, Karlshamn Department of Medicine examined the use of low-carbohydrate diets in Type 2 diabetes. The study found that obese patients with Type 2 diabetes following a 20 percent carbohydrate diet with caloric restriction lost weight and attained glycemic control. A 2008 study printed in "The New England Journal of Medicine," compared low-fat, low-carbohydrate and Mediterranean diets and found that all three were equally effective at generating weight loss. The study was conducted by Iris Shai, R.D., Ph.D., et al, at Ben Gurion University.

Criticism

In spite of anecdotal evidence and research studies that point to the efficacy of low-carbohydrate, low-sugar diets for weight control and Type 2 diabetes management, the diets have their critics. MayoClinic.com points out that the diets are low in fiber and high in saturated fat and cholesterol, which can increase the risk of certain cancers, heart disease and gastrointestinal problems. Always talk with your doctor before going on a low-carbohydrate diet to manage weight or Type 2 diabetes.