Diabetics may benefit from low-carb diets, report says

KARLSHAMN, Sweden A low-carbohydrate diet can be beneficial to aiding obese people with type 2 diabetics in maintaining their health and improving glucose levels, a team of Swedish researchers has reported.

Results of a recent study at the Blekingesjukhuset diabetes clinic, in Karlshamn, Sweden, showed weight reduction and more level glucose readings in patients. The researchers monitored patients on a reduced-carbohydrate diet [20 percent of daily calories], also avoiding certain starch-heavy foods like breads, cereals and pastas. The low-carb diet also proved to successfully mitigate cravings from hunger, researchers said.

“Of the 16 patients, five have retained or reduced bodyweight since the 22 month point and all but one have lower weight at 44 months than at start,” researchers said.

Results of the group’s 44-month study are currently in the BioMed Central journal Nutrition and Metabolism, and available online through a link at www.nutritionandmetabolism.com.