Macro partitioning
A 12-month very low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet (20–50g carbs/day) produces greater reductions in HbA1c and body weight, and allows for greater discontinuation of diabetes medications, compared to a moderate-carbohydrate calorie-restricted low-fat diet in overweight adults with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes.
If you have Type 2 Diabetes or Prediabetes and are overweight, switching to a very low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet (20-50g carbs/day) for 12 months is likely to lower your blood sugar (HbA1c) and help you lose more weight than a standard low-fat, calorie-restricted diet. Crucially, this approach may allow you to reduce or stop diabetes medications, but this must be done under a doctor's supervision. To succeed, combine the diet with behavioral strategies like mindful eating and regular physical activity.
In a 12-month trial, adults with elevated HbA1c and body weight assigned to an LCK diet had greater reductions in HbA1c, lost more weight, and reduced more medications than those instructed to follow an MCCR diet.
Why this rating
Randomized controlled trial with good retention (85.3%), but small sample size (n=34) and exploratory nature (not powered for subgroup analysis).
Source
Twelve-month outcomes of a randomized trial of a moderate-carbohydrate versus very low-carbohydrate diet in overweight adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus or prediabetes
Laura R. Saslow et al. · Nutrition and Diabetes · 2017
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