Low Carbohydrate Diets in Type 2 Diabetes—A Translational Study

Abstract

Although intensive interventions with low carbohydrate diets compared with higher carbohydrate diets can reduce HbA1c in people with type 2 diabetes, it is not clear if simple advice to make modest reductions in carbohydrate is effective in clinical practice. Forty-three people with type 2 diabetes and poor control (HbA1c > 7.5%) were randomized to receive 2 short education sessions over 6 months with a non-dietitian researcher on how to reduce carbohydrate intake by about 25% or to 2 control sessions in which the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating was provided. Hba1c and fasting glucose and lipids were measured at baseline and 3 months and 6 months. 33 volunteers attended a baseline visit; 27 completed 3 months and 24 6 months. HbA1c was reduced by 0.6% - 0.7% in the low carbohydrate diet group compared with the control group (P = 0.1). Fasting glucose was reduced by 2.3 mmol/L compared with the control group at 3 months (P < 0.03) only. Changes in HbA1c at 6 months were related to baseline HbA1c in the intervention group only. Although we have obtained suggestive evidence that a low carbohydrate diet can be successfully implemented in normal practice without professional help, our results are limited by low participant numbers and further studies are required.