Type 2 diabetes is a condition that causes a person to lose control of the amount of sugar in their blood. It causes the body not to respond to insulin which is a hormone made in the pancreas. This can cause blood sugar levels to become too high. If the condition is left untreated, major health complications can occur including kidney failure, nerve damage, heart disease and stroke. This is why controlling the blood sugar levels is so important and according to a new study, cutting down on this food group will ensure blood sugar levels remain stable. What is it?
According to the Danish Health Authority, up to 85 per cent of newly diagnosed patients with type 2 diabetes are overweight, and they are typically advised to follow a diet focused on weight loss.
This means following a diet that contains less calories than one burns, eating low fat content and foods with a low glycemic index.
The central aspect in the treatment of type 2 diabetes is the patient’s ability to regulate their blood sugar levels, and new research now indicates that a help control blood sugar levels and keep the condition stable.
A study at the University of Copenhagen looked at patients with type 2 diabetes and how to improve their ability to regulate blood sugar levels if they eat food with a reduced carbohydrate content and an increased share of protein and fat.
The study involved 28 patients with type 2 diabetes who participated in the study over a total period of 12 weeks.
For six weeks, the patients were given a conventional diabetes diet with a high carbohydrate content, and, for the other six weeks, they were given a diet with a reduced carbohydrate content.
The study shows that by reducing the share of carbohydrates in the diet and increasing the share of protein and fat, you can both treat high blood sugar and reduce liver fat content
Senior consultant Thure Krarup, from the Department of Endocrinology at Bispebjerg Hospital
The study was published in Science Daily and noted: “Patients with type 2 diabetes improve their ability to regulate blood sugar levels if they eat food with a reduced carbohydrate content.
This is shown by a recent study conducted at Bispebjerg Hospital, Aarhus University and the Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports at the University of Copenhagen.”
Senior consultant Thure Krarup, from the Department of Endocrinology at Bispebjerg Hospital said: “The study shows that by reducing the share of carbohydrates in the diet and increasing the share of protein and fat, you can both treat high blood sugar and reduce liver fat content.
Further intensive research is needed in order to optimise our dietary recommendations for patients with type 2 diabetes.
The study concluded that cutting back on carbohydrate can have major benefits to one’s health, especially for type 2 diabetics.
Many are unaware of how sugary drinks are high in carbohydrates and avoiding them can significantly reduce your carbohydrate intake.
Other ways to reduce carbohydrates from the diet include cutting back on bread, reducing fruit juice, choosing low-carb snacks, eating eggs or other low-carb breakfast foods, and loading the plate with more vegetables instead of potatoes.
It’s also advisable to check food labels which can provide valuable information about the carb content of packaged foods.
The key is knowing where to look and whether any calculations need to be done. It’s also important to look at how many servings are included in the package and determine how many carbohydrates are in packaged foods.
Source: Read Full Article