According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 23 million people--or nearly 8 percent of the population--have diabetes, and more than 1.5 million new cases are diagnosed in adults annually. Lifestyle factors, such as diet, play an important role in controlling blood sugar. Low carbohydrate diets are effective for weight loss, particularly in the short-term. However, there is much debate over whether they are appropriate, effective and safe for if you have diabetes.
Carbohydrates and Diabetic Meal Planning
Foods that contain carbohydrates include dairy products, fruits and juices, starches, grains and all desserts. Carbohydrates raise blood glucose and provide energy. Meal planning for diabetes focuses on keeping track of how many carbohydrates are ingested at each meal and setting a limit for the maximum amount to eat, according to your total daily calorie level. The right amount of carbohydrates if you have diabetes depends upon factors such as activity level, medications (if taken) and weight. Currently, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends consuming 45 to 60 grams (g) carbohydrates per meal.
Identification of a Low-Carb Diet
According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, a low carbohydrate diet is one that restricts caloric intake by reducing the amount of carbohydrates consumed to 20g to 60g daily (typically less than 20 percent of the total daily caloric intake). With this type of diet, the amount of protein and fat consumed is increased to compensate for calories lost with such a drastic decrease in carbohydrates. The recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for carbohydrates for American adults is 130g per day.
A Low-Carb Meal Plan
You will find 20g of carbohydrate in little more than a slice of bread; 60g may be slightly easier to incorporate into a day's worth of meals, particularly if you take advantage of the low carbohydrate foods on the market. A sample breakfast may include 3/4 cup low-carb cold cereal with 1/2 cup skim milk, coffee and scrambled eggs with turkey bacon. Lunch may consist of a large green salad with lots of non-starchy vegetables and 2 to 3 tbsp. tofu or cheese. Dinner may be a low-carb whole-wheat tortilla filled with chicken and vegetables, cooked in 1 to 2 tbsp. oil. A snack may be an apple with peanut butter and/or a commercial low-carb shake/snack bar.
Research on Low-Carb Diets for Diabetes
In 2009, according to the article "Low-Carbohydrate Diets: An Update on Current Research," published in "Current Diabetes Report," researchers claimed that limited research is available to evaluate the benefits of low-carb diets for managing type 2 diabetes. Although science continues to advance in this field, current research suggests only that low-carbohydrate diets are a viable option for achieving weight loss. Some early evidence shows that low-carb diets may be beneficial for glycemic control (how fast blood sugar increases/spikes after eating), post-meal triglyceride levels and HDL (good) cholesterol levels in some individuals but nothing on long-term blood sugar control. Some early evidence was reflected in a study published in the March 2005 issue of the "Annals of Internal Medicine." In a small group of obese patients with type 2 diabetes, a low-carbohydrate diet followed for two weeks resulted in weight loss; greatly improved 24-hour blood glucose profiles and insulin sensitivity and decreased triglyceride and cholesterol levels.
Expert Insight
Nathaniel G. Clark, M.D., ADA spokesman and vice president of clinical affairs and youth strategies, acknowledged in an interview that carbohydrate-restricted diets (more liberal than low-carbohydrate diets) help people with type 2 diabetes control blood sugar. However, the ADA still does not recommend low-carbohydrate diets because patients find them too restrictive and probably will not follow them long term, and long-term diet modifications are necessary for blood sugar control. "People who go on very low carbohydrate diets generally aren't able to stick with them for long periods of time," said Clark.
References
- "Current Diabetes Reports;" Low-Carbohydrate Diets: An Update on Current Research; J. Wylie-Rosett and N.J. Davis; Oct. 2009.
- "American Family Physician;" Low-Carbohydrate Diets; A.R. Last and S.A. Wilson; 2006.
- "Annals of Internal Medicine;" Effect of a Low-Carbohydrate Diet on Appetite, Blood Glucose Levels and Insulin Resistance in Obese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes; G. Boden, K. Sargrad, C. Homko, M. Mozzoli and T.P. Stein; March 2005.
