The diet typically recommended to help diabetics improve blood sugar control consists of a low-fat diet, emphasizing carbohydrates at each meal, with a recommended intake of 45 to 60g of carbohydrates per meal, as suggested by the American Diabetes Association. However, the Metabolism Society describes diabetes as being a carbohydrate intolerance, either because of a deficiency of insulin secretion in Type 1 diabetes or an impaired response to insulin in Type 2 diabetes. If the traditional approach has failed for you, low-carb diets may be worth a try. Always discuss changes to your diet with your doctor.
Carbohydrates and Blood Sugar Levels
After eating food, it is mainly the carbohydrates you eat that are responsible for the rise in your blood sugar levels. Carbohydrates are present in a multitude of foods, including grains and foods made from flours, such as bread, rice, pasta, breakfast cereals, snack bars, crackers, muffins and other baked goods. Starchy vegetables, such as potatoes, fruits, milk, yogurt and sugar are also high in carbohydrates. During the digestion process, carbohydrates are converted into glucose, or sugar, which are absorbed into the bloodstream. With diabetes, this circulating sugar is unable to enter the body's cells, either because of an insulin deficiency or because of the inability of the cells to respond normally to the action of this hormone.
Low-Carb Diets and Blood Sugar Levels
Restricting your carbohydrate intake can make it easier for your body to maintain your blood sugar levels in the target range by lowering the need for insulin. A study published in the December 2005 issue of "Nutrition & Metabolism" showed that overweight Type 2 diabetics brought their A1c, or average blood sugar levels, from 7.5 percent down to 6.3 percent in a period of 16 weeks simply by following a low-carb diet which provided less than 20g of carbohydrates a day. The A1c is a good indicator of the glycemic control and a value below 7 percent is recommended to prevent long-term complications associated with uncontrolled diabetes.
Reducing Your Carbohydrate Intake
The best way to see whether a low-carb diet could help you improve your blood sugar control is by giving it a try. If you are on diabetes medications or if you take insulin as part of your treatment plan, consult your doctor to learn about the adjustments that you may need to do with a diet restricted your carbohydrate intake.
Foods to Eat on a Low-Carb Diet
To follow a healthy low-carb diet, include generous servings of non-starchy vegetables and an adequate serving of protein, about 4 to 6 oz., from meat, fish, poultry, cheese or eggs, at each of your meal. Use coconut oil, olive oil, olives, avocado and nuts to add a healthy dose of fat to your meals. Non-starchy vegetables will provide you with a little bit of carbohydrate. You can complete your carbohydrate budget by including small amounts of fruits, yogurt, milk and whole grains.
References
- Metabolism Society: Position Statement on Diabetes
- American Diabetes Association: Carbohydrate Counting
- "Nutrition & Metabolism"; The Case for Low Carbohydrate Diets in Diabetes Management; Surender K. Arora, et al.; July 2005
- "Nutrition & Metabolism"; Low-Carbohydrate Diet in Type 2 Diabetes: Stable Improvement of Bodyweight and Glycemic Control During 44 Months Follow-Up; Jörgen V. Nielsen, et al.; May 2008
- "Nutrition & Metabolism"; A Low-Carbohydrate, Ketogenic Diet To Treat Type 2 Diabetes; William S. Yancy Jr, et al.; December 2005
