Macro partitioning
Reducing overall carbohydrate intake, particularly to very low-carbohydrate levels (<26% of calories), demonstrates the most evidence for improving glycemia (A1C) and reducing medication needs in adults with type 2 diabetes, especially in the short term (3-6 months).
If you have type 2 diabetes and struggle with blood sugar control, try reducing your carbohydrate intake. Very low-carb diets (under 26% of calories) often lower A1C faster in the first few months. However, you must work with your doctor to adjust your diabetes medications to avoid low blood sugar. This approach is viable for many, but long-term results may be similar to other healthy diets.
Reducing overall carbohydrate intake for individuals with diabetes has demonstrated the most evidence for improving glycemia... In trials up to 6 months long, the low-carbohydrate eating pattern improved A1C more... Finally, in another meta-analysis comparing low-carbohydrate to high-carbohydrate eating patterns, the larger the carbohydrate restriction, the greater the reduction in A1C, though A1C was similar at durations of 1 year and longer for both eating patterns.
Why this rating
Based on multiple meta-analyses of RCTs, but long-term clinical event data is limited.
Source
Nutrition Therapy for Adults With Diabetes or Prediabetes: A Consensus Report
Alison B. Evert et al. · Diabetes Care · 2019
DOI 10.2337/dci19-0014
More from this paper
- Individualized Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) provided by a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) significantly improves glycemic control (A1C reduction up to 2.0% in T2D and 1.9% in T1D) and is cost-effective, making it a fundamental component of diabetes management.Strong
- Intensive lifestyle interventions modeled on the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), including individualized MNT and physical activity, reduce the incidence of type 2 diabetes by 58% in adults with prediabetes and overweight/obesity.Strong
Related findings · Macro partitioning
- Total daily protein intake of 1.6 g/kg/day is sufficient for maximizing resistance training-induced muscle gains, with an upper confidence interval of 2.2 g/kg/day.Strong
- Resistance exercise training combined with sufficient dietary protein intake acts synergistically to maximize skeletal muscle hypertrophy, with protein intake saturating around 1.6 g/kg/day for general populations and potentially requiring 2.0-2.2 g/kg/day for resistance-trained individuals.Strong
- Trans fats should be completely eliminated from the diet, as they increase LDL cholesterol, decrease HDL cholesterol, and are directly associated with increased coronary risk.Strong
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