Millions of people have diabetes and don't even know it. As of 2010, 8.3 percent of the U.S. population has diabetes, according to information from the Centers for Disease Control. Almost 19 million Americans know they have diabetes, while 7 million diabetics go undiagnosed. Type 2 diabetes is associated with obesity and this extra weight increases your chance of developing complications. The Medifast diet can help diabetics lose weight. Consult with your doctor so she can monitor your condition throughout the diet.
Type 2 Diabetes
Medifast has a diet plan designed for people with type 2 diabetes. During the weight loss phase of the Medifast diet, type 2 diabetics eat the same meal replacements offered in the regular program -- with the exclusion of some flavors. The ingredients in the meal replacements provide less than 6 g of sugar per serving and are designed to make a product very low on the glycemic index. The meal replacements -- including snacks and desserts -- for diabetics are high in protein and fiber, but very low in sugar and carbohydrates.
Gestational Diabetes
Pregnant women with gestational diabetes can follow the Medifast diet, according to information on its website. It explains that the ingredients in the Medifast diet provide proper amounts of protein, fat and carbohydrates to help stabilize your blood sugar. This regulated diet reduces the risk of triggering diabetic symptoms. Get approval from your health care before making sweeping dietary changes while pregnant.
Clinical Evidence
Clinical research shows meal replacement diets like Medifast, may help diabetics lose weight. In the study, by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and reported in the Jan-Feb issue of "Diabetes Education," 119 overweight and obese diabetics adhered to a meal replacement or self selected diet for 34 weeks. The subjects then followed a one year weight maintenance plan. The meal replacement group lost significantly more weight at both 34 and 86 weeks. The researchers concluded the user-friendly nature of a meal replacement diet can help obese diabetics stick to a weight control program.
Considerations
If you take insulin injections, get approval from your doctor before starting the Medifast diet. It's common for a doctor to reduce your amount of insulin before you begin the diet or give instructions to eat more calories than the weight loss phase of Medifast recommends. You may have to adjust your insulin dosage throughout your diet, so Medifast says to check your blood sugar two or three times per day. Seek medical advice immediately if you get a reading below the range prescribed by your doctor.
References
- Medifast Health; Medifast's Diabetes Diet Plan; May 2010
- Medifast Health; Gestational Diabetes Diet Plan; May 2010
- "Diabetes Education"; Efficacy of Meal Replacements. Versus a Standard Food-Based Diet for Weight Loss in Type 2 Diabetes. A Controlled Clinical Trial; L.J. Cheskin, et al; Jan-Feb 2008
- NYU Langone Medical Center; Medifast Diet; Maria Adams; April 2011
- Centers For Disease Control; National Diabetes Fact Sheet; 2011
