New findings from a new study suggest that individuals with type 2 diabetes could potentially discontinue their medications by adhering to a low-carb diet, which may revitalise critical insulin-producing cells. Researchers from America have discovered that a reduction in carbohydrate intake could enhance the function of beta-cells—the hormone-producing cells in the pancreas that manage blood sugar levels.
Remarkably prevalent worldwide, type 2 diabetes usually surfaces in people over the age of 45, although an increasing number of younger adults, teens, and children are being diagnosed, as published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. In those affected, the beta-cells’ reaction to blood sugar is hampered, partly attributable to excessive carb consumption.
Medical professionals indicate that a combination of beta-cell inefficiency and insulin resistance can trigger the onset and advancement of the condition.
Professor Barbara Gower from the University of Alabama said: “This study shows people with type 2 diabetes on a low-carbohydrate diet can recover their beta-cells, an outcome that cannot be achieved with medication. People with mild type 2 diabetes who reduce their carbohydrate intake may be able to discontinue medication and enjoy eating meals and snacks that are higher in protein and meet their energy needs.”
The study, conducted on 57 adults with type 2 diabetes, who were divided into two dietary groups – one low-carb and the other high-carb – has uncovered significant benefits of carb restriction for those battling the condition. Over a period of 12 weeks, participants strictly followed their assigned diets with all meals being provided for control.
The low-carb group consumed a diet consisting of a mere 9% carbohydrates paired with a hefty 65% fat intake, contrasting starkly with the high-carb group’s 55% carbohydrate and modest 20% fat consumption. Remarkably, the team observed that individuals on the low-carb diet exhibited a doubling of the acute beta-cell response and a 22% boost in the maximal beta-cell response when juxtaposed with the results of the high-carb diet followers.
A striking discovery was that Black participants adhering to the low-carbohydrate regime enjoyed an impressive 110% improvement in the acute beta-cell response, whereas white subjects presented a significant 48% enhancement in the maximal beta-cell response over those in the high-carbohydrate cohort.
Prof Gower underscored the necessity for further exploration: “Further research is needed to determine if a low-carbohydrate diet can restore beta-cell function and lead to remission in people with type 2 diabetes.”
