Low-Carb Diets and Your Blood Sugar Levels

Type 2 diabetes can be explained as a carbohydrate intolerance. Your body is not able to deal with the carbohydrates you eat, which result in high blood sugar levels that can eventually lead to health complications in the long-term. Lowering your carb intake can help your blood sugar levels stay within the recommended parameters. A study investigated the effect of a low-carb diet, providing less than 20 g of carbohydrates a day, for 16 weeks in participants with type 2 diabetes. This low-carb diet helped type 2 diabetics reduce their A1C levels, which corresponds to the average blood sugar levels over the last 3 months, from 7.5 percent down to 6.3 percent, as published in December 2005 in "Nutrition & Metabolism." The American Diabetes Association recommends that people with diabetes keep their A1C below 7 percent.

Low-Carb Diet and Your Health

In the study published in "Nutrition & Metabolism" in December 2005, type 2 diabetics following a low-carb diet for 16 weeks lost a significant amount of weight, from an average of 289.7 lbs. down to 270.5 lbs., which corresponds to 6.6 percent of their initial body weight. In addition to helping you lose weight, eating low-carb could also help you optimize your blood lipid profile. In this same study, their triglycerides decreased by 42 percent, from a baseline level of 236.0 mg/dL down to 137.7 mg/dL.

http://www.livestrong.com/article/370258-low-carbohydrate-diet-for-diabetic-t...

Low Carbohydrate Diet for Diabetic Type 2 Patients

Type 2 diabetes can be defined as a disease of carbohydrate intolerance, according to the Metabolism Society, and this is why eating carbohydrates result in harmfully high blood sugar levels. However, the American Diabetes Association still recommends that people with diabetes get between 45 and 60 g of carbohydrate at each meal and 15 to 30 g of carbohydrate for a snack, which corresponds to about 45 percent to 65 percent of their daily calorie intake. Many people with type 2 diabetes decide to try the low-carb approach instead and find their blood sugar levels significantly improved as a result.

Glycemic Control

Since type 2 diabetes is characterized by a carbohydrate intolerance, it appears logical that lowering your carbohydrate intake will help your blood sugar levels stay within the desirable range. A 16-week study showed that a group of 28 overweight patients with type 2 diabetes following a low-carb diet, which provided less than 20 g of carbohydrates a day, reduced their hemoglobin A1C by 16 percent, from a baseline level of 7.5 percent down to 6.3 percent at the end of the study, as reported in December 2005 of "Nutrition & Metabolism." Hemoglobin A1C reflects your average blood sugar levels over a 3-month period and a value below 7.0 percent is desirable. Another longer term study showed that type 2 diabetics eating a low-carb diet that provided about 80 to 90 g of carbohydrates a day, were able to bring their A1C from a baseline level of 8.0 percent down to 6.9 percent after a year, according to the results published in May 2008 of "Nutrition & Metabolism." A long-term follow-up done with the same participants showed that following the low-carb diet had helped them to keep their A1C within target, with an A1C value of 6.8 percent at 44 months.

Weight Loss and Maintenance

The other beneficial side effect of following a low-carb diet to improve your diabetes control is weight loss, and especially fat loss. The long-term 44-month follow-up study published in May 2008 in "Nutrition & Metabolism" showed that following a low-carb diet, with an intake of 80 to 90 g of carbohydrates a day, helped participants drop a significant amount of weight. Their weight loss averaged 16.6 lb., from a baseline body weight of 221.8 lb. down to 205.2 lb. Participants lost most of their excess weight in the first six months, but were later able to maintain their weight at a lower point even after 44 months.

By the way, if you research The American Diabetes Association diabetes diet you will find that it gives you diabetes.

http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/bernsteinsdiabetesdiet/p/bernsteinintro.htm

Bernstein's Diabetes Diet : Overview

By Laura Dolson, About.com Guide

Updated February 18, 2008

Introduction:

Is Bernstein's approach for diabetics only?: