Comparison of low- and high-carbohydrate diets for type 2 diabetes management: a randomized trial

• Published in: The American journal of clinical nutrition 2015-10, Vol.102 (4), p.780-790
• Main Authors: Tay, Jeannie, Luscombe-Marsh, Natalie D, Thompson, Campbell H, Noakes, Manny, Buckley, Jonathan D, Wittert, Gary A, Yancy, Jr, William S, Brinkworth, Grant D
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Blood Glucose - metabolism; Blood Pressure; Body Mass Index; Carbohydrates; Cardiovascular disease; Cholesterol, HDL - blood; Cholesterol, LDL - blood; Diabetes; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - diet therapy; Diet; Diet, Carbohydrate-Restricted; Dietary Carbohydrates - administration & dosage; Disease Management; Energy Intake; Fasting; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Glycated Hemoglobin - analogs & derivatives; Glycated Hemoglobin - metabolism; Glycemic Index; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Motor Activity; Obesity - diet therapy; Patient Compliance; Triglycerides - blood; Weight Loss
• ISSN: 0002-9165; 1938-3207
• DOI: 10.3945/ajcn.115.112581

Few well-controlled studies have comprehensively examined the effects of very-low-carbohydrate diets on type 2 diabetes (T2D). We compared the effects of a very-low-carbohydrate, high-unsaturated fat, low-saturated fat (LC) diet with a high-carbohydrate, low-fat (HC) diet on glycemic control and cardiovascular disease risk factors in T2D after 52 wk. In this randomized controlled trial that was conducted in an outpatient research clinic, 115 obese adults with T2D [mean ± SD age: 58 ± 7 y; body mass index (in kg/m(2)): 34.6 ± 4.3; glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c): 7.3 ± 1.1%; duration of diabetes: 8 ± 6 y] were randomly assigned to consume either a hypocaloric LC diet [14% of energy as carbohydrate (carbohydrate