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Atkins Diet for a Type 2 Diabetic

Dec 17, 2010 | By Adam Cloe

If you have Type 2 diabetes, your body does not respond efficiently to insulin, which is a hormone which causes muscle, fat and liver cells to pull glucose out of your blood. As a result, you may have chronically high blood glucose levels. One aspect of Type 2 diabetes involves watching your carbohydrate intake, which means you may be able to use such low-carb diet plans as the Atkins Diet, but you should be aware that they are advantages and disadvantages to this diet plan.

Carbohydrates and Diabetes

Carbohydrate intake has a powerful effect on diabetes. When digested, carbohydrates are converted into glucose, which in turn raises blood glucose levels. People with Type 2 diabetes can often help manage their blood glucose levels by consuming carbohydrates in moderation. If you have diabetes, the "US News and World Report" notes that some experts believe you should limit your carbohydrate intake to 60g each meal.

Atkins Diet and Carbohydrates

The Atkins Diet is a diet plan that focuses on carbohydrate restriction. The Atkins Diet requires participants to count net carbs, which is the carbohydrate content of food minus its fiber content. During the first phase of the Atkins Diet, you're limited to 20 net carbs or less each day, MayoClinic.com explains. From there, carbohydrate intake is increased to 40g each day, with gradual increases of net carbs allowed each day until you are able to achieve and maintain your ideal weight. The theory behind these diets is that carbohydrates cause insulin levels to rise, which is what leads to weight gain; by keeping your carbohydrate intake low, your insulin levels will remain low, helping you lose weight.

Controversy

There is some controversy about the appropriateness of the Atkins Diet for people with Type 2 diabetes, despite the fact that low carbohydrate diets and most diabetes diet plans emphasize a reduced carbohydrate intake. The controversy stems from differences in the amount of carbohydrates recommended: The American Diabetes Association recommends that diabetics get between 45 and 65 percent of their calories from carbohydrates, HealthCentral notes. Low-carb diets, such as the Atkins Diet, recommend far fewer carbohydrates in the diet. A 2004 book review in "Nutrition and Metabolism," titled "Review on 'Atkins Diabetes Revolution: The Groundbreaking Approach to Preventing and Controlling Type 2 Diabetes' by Mary C. Vernon and Jacqueline A. Eberstein," notes that many scientists are reluctant to recommend low-carbohydrate diets for diabetics, despite research which has shown that these diets can play a role in improving the health of diabetics.

American Diabetes Association Position

In 2008, the American Diabetes Association changed its stance on low-carbohydrate diets. The new stance of the American Diabetes Association is that low-carb diets, such as the Atkins Diet, may be appropriate for up to one year to help people with Type 2 diabetes lose weight. Weight loss can help people with Type 2 diabetes develop better control of their blood glucose levels, so diets, such as the Atkins Diet, which can help people lose weight may be an important part of treatment.

Limitations

One of the concerns behind the Atkins Diet, and similar low-carb diet plans, is the risk that by focusing on minimizing carbohydrate intake, patients may consume an unhealthy amount of fats, including saturated and trans fats, which could increase their risk of developing cardiovascular disease. As the Atkins Diet has evolved, it has begun to address these concerns and now also emphasizes consuming animal fats, which are often high in cholesterol and saturated fat, only in moderation. If you have diabetes and begin to follow the Atkins Diet, you should have your lipid levels measured regularly to ensure that you do not increase your risk of developing heart disease.

References

Article reviewed by Elizabeth Ahders Last updated on: Dec 17, 2010

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