Cardiologist Arthur Agatston developed the South Beach Diet as an alternative to the Atkins Diet, which had gained popularity in the 1970s. Unlike the Atkins Diet, the South Beach Diet is not characterized as a low-carb diet, though it may result in a significant cut in carbohydrates. The diet prohibits carbohydrates, such as sugar and white bread, which break down quickly in the digestive system. It also requires substituting most animal fats with healthy fats. The diet can be effective in controlling Type 2 diabetes and can reduce the need for insulin in Type 1 diabetics.
Foods to Eat on the South Beach Diet
The South Beach Diet has two main rules: Reduce the intake of refined or "fast" carbohydrates and replace animal fat with healthy fat. This precludes eating a lot of the foods you may regularly eat, including frosted flakes, doughnuts, burgers, french fries, paninis, grilled cheese, chicken wings, fried fish, beef, pasta, white rice, mashed potatoes, ice cream and candy. But it still leaves a lot of food choices, including lean meats, lean poultry, fatty fish, such as salmon, tuna and sardines, vegetables, fruits, legumes, smoothies, whole-grain bread, brown rice and whole-grain pasta.
Effects on Blood Sugar
Carbohydrates that quickly convert into glucose have a high glycemic index. This means they lead to a steep spike in glucose, or blood sugar, levels. The pancreas responds to that by secreting large amounts of insulin, which helps transport glucose to the cells for use as energy or for storage as glycogen or fat. The blood sugar then drops rapidly, which makes you feel hungry. If you eat more fast carbohydrates, the cycle repeats itself. The South Beach Diet cuts out carbohydrates with a high glycemic index but allows carbohydrates with a low glycemic index. As these carbohydrates convert into glucose at a slower rate, they do not cause steep spikes in blood sugar levels.
Diabetes and Insulin Resistance
Diabetes is a condition in which the insulin system is impaired. In Type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune disease destroys cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. In Type 2 diabetes, the pancreas synthesizes insulin but the insulin does not bind properly to insulin receptors on the cells or the receptors do not transfer the insulin signal as it should. In either case, insulin does not transport blood sugar away from the bloodstream. When diabetes goes untreated, it leads to an accumulation of blood sugar in the bloodstream. Some of the sugar is passed through the kidney and is excreted in the urine. This can lead to kidney damage. High blood sugar can also cause neurological damage and blindness.
South Beach Diet and Diabetes Control
Because Type 1 diabetics do not produce any significant amounts of insulin, they need daily insulin injections or insulin supplied nasally to control their blood sugar. But controlling blood sugar is easier if there are no large inclines or drops in insulin levels. Type 2 diabetes can normally be controlled through diet. To control Type 2 diabetes, blood sugar and insulin levels must be kept constant. The South Beach Diet can effectively control Type 2 diabetes and help control Type 1 diabetes, if you make a few adjustments. The most important adjustment is to eat small frequent meals rather than large, infrequent meals. Smaller and more frequent meals can add further stability to the blood sugar levels. Another adjustment, particularly important if you are a Type 2 diabetic is to keep your total fat intake relatively low, as even good fats can create spikes in insulin levels, which can make your insulin resistance worse.
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