Energy balance
For obese diabetic patients, a moderate caloric deficit (reducing intake by 500 kcal/day to achieve ~0.5 kg/week loss) is the recommended standard, whereas extremely low-calorie diets (VLCD) are not recommended due to unverified long-term effectiveness and increased risks of hypoglycemia and ketoacidosis.
Aim to reduce your daily calorie intake by 500 calories from what you currently eat. This should result in losing about 0.5 to 1 kilogram per week. Do not use extremely low-calorie diets (like under 800 kcal/day) without strict medical supervision, as they can cause dangerous blood sugar drops or ketoacidosis in diabetic patients. Adjust your target based on your activity level and body size.
An extremely calorie-restricted diet, whose long-term effectiveness has not been verified, is not recommended as it may increase the risk of hypoglycemia and ketoacidosis... Limiting calories to 500 kcal/day: 0.5~1 kg weight loss effect per week... Expect to lose 10 kg of weight in about 6 months
Why this rating
Based on clinical practice guidelines and references to major trials (Look AHEAD, DiRECT), though the paper itself is a review/guideline summary.
Source
Clinical Nutrition Therapy for Weight Control in Obese Diabetic Patients
Mihyang Kim · Journal of Korean Diabetes · 2022
DOI 10.4093/jkd.2022.23.3.206
More from this paper
- Macronutrient composition (low-fat vs. low-carbohydrate) has no significant difference on long-term weight loss or glycemic control in obese diabetic patients; total energy reduction is the primary driver of weight change.Good
- Regular, planned meal timing (4-5 hours between meals) and using smaller rice bowls (190-200 mL) are effective behavioral interventions for controlling portion sizes and preventing postprandial blood sugar spikes in diabetic patients.Moderate
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