Low-Carb Bests Low-Fat for Diabetes Control

Sept. 25, 2012 - PRLog -- Low-fat or low-carb, who's the winner? That’s the question many of our clients have when it comes to planning their diet to help control their diabetes or lose weight.

Previously, people with Type 2 Diabetes were recommended not to eat large quantities of fat. It was believed that fat consumption would lead to high blood cholesterol, poor blood glucose control and heart disease.

However, a study recently published in the medical magazine Diabetologia supports a growing pool of evidence that a low-carbohydrate diet that includes moderate amounts of healthy fat may be your best bet.

The study’s low-carbohydrate diet consisted of 50 percent fat, 30 percent protein and 20 percent carbohydrates, while the low-fat diet consisted of 30 percent fat, 55 to 60 percent carbohydrates and 10 to 15 percent protein.

For a person eating 1,800 calories a day, these diets would look like this:
Low-carbohydrate diet:
100 grams of fat
90 grams of carbohydrate
135 grams of protein
Low-fat diet:
60 grams of fat
270 grams of carbohydrate
45 grams of protein

The researchers found that people who follow a low-carbohydrate diet that included heart-healthy fats such as olive oil and other plant-based oils have better long-term blood sugar control. Those who ate more carbohydrates and less fat seemed to have less control over their blood sugar.

Consuming a diet higher in heart healthy fat and lower in carbohydrates won’t hurt your cholesterol; in fact, it can even improve it!

“It is encouraging to see growing support for a low carbohydrate diet, which in this research project lowered the need for insulin by 30 percent,” said Karon Potter, our Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator. “This diet has long been a recommendation for the diabetes patients we see here at Draelos Metabolic Center, and the growing knowledge base behind it only reinforces our cutting-edge perspective on diabetes management.”

Your providers at Draelos Metabolic Center will work with you to customize a diet that works best for you and the management of your diabetes or weight loss. We will help you with healthy lifestyle changes and sensible therapies that fit into your life.

Founded by respected endocrinologist Matthew Draelos, M.D., FACE, Draelos Metabolic Center has assembled a highly qualified team of health care professionals, experienced in diabetes, weight loss, thyroid and other endocrine problems. Our mission is to use our medical expertise in combination with the best in treatments and technology and to provide the critical support you need to achieve your health and weight goals.