Macro partitioning
Lowering total carbohydrate intake (very-low to moderately low) improves glycemic control (A1C, fasting glucose) and insulin sensitivity in people with type 2 diabetes, often allowing for reduced medication use, without worsening CVD risk markers compared to conventional diets.
For people with type 2 diabetes, reducing carbohydrate intake to 21-70g/day (very-low) or 30-40% of calories (moderately low) can significantly improve blood sugar control and insulin sensitivity. This approach often allows for a reduction in diabetes medications. While CVD risk markers like cholesterol may not improve as dramatically as glycemic markers, the overall metabolic benefit is clear. Consult your doctor before changing your diet or medication.
A1C decreased with a lower-carbohydrate diet in 6 of 10 studies in which it was measured... Other glycemic parameters such as fasting blood glucose (FBG), 24-h blood glucose, 24-h insulin (10), and fasting insulin levels (18) decreased significantly, and insulin sensitivity increased significantly (10) on the lower-carbohydrate diet. Glucose-lowering medications were decreased for individuals following the lower-carbohydrate diet (10–12,14,17) or were more frequently decreased than in the comparison diet (16).
Why this rating
Based on 11 clinical trials, but many were small, short-duration, or had high dropout rates.
Source
Macronutrients, Food Groups, and Eating Patterns in the Management of Diabetes
Madelyn L. Wheeler et al. · Diabetes Care · 2012
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