People living with type 2 diabetes can improve the long-term management of their condition by following a low carb diet, new research has revealed.
A team of researchers examined the health outcomes of 186 adults with long-term type 2 diabetes, all of whom followed a low-carb diet.
They found that 97% of the participants had better blood glucose control after reducing their carbohydrate intake.
Two of the participants even put their condition into remission after living with type 2 diabetes for 15 years.
The study showed that 39% of all type 2 diabetes patients chose a low carb approach and just over 1 in 2 (51%) of patients achieved remission.
Remission was more likely to be acheived inb the group diagnosed less than a year ago. 77% of patients in the group diagnosed less than a year ago acheived type 2 diabetes remission.
This was in contrast to the 20% of patients who acheived type 2 diabetes remission in the group diagnosed over 15 years ago.
The average duration of the approach was 33 months demonstrating the long-term feasibility of a low carb way of eating.
Ann Geoghegan, 70, had type 2 diabetes for 10 years and struggled to manage her blood glucose levels while she lived with the condition.
She said: “My vision was also becoming blurry, which was worrying, but I didn’t think things would ever change.”
However, after following a low-carb diet for 12 weeks, Ann lost 1st 4lb in weight and her blood sugar levels dropped by a third.
Dr David Unwin is Ann’s GP and has been championing the low-carb diet for years, claiming it to be the best way to treat type 2 diabetes.
He said: “Losing weight by adopting a low-carb regimen can not only improve your diabetes control but also your life expectancy.”
By following a low-carb diet, Ann has increased her lifespan by an extra five years, according to Dr Unwin.
Dr Unwin noted: “This study shows there is great hope for nearly everyone with type 2 diabetes, whether they have been more recently diagnosed or, like Ann, have long-term diabetes.
“Patients I treat with a low-carb diet are amazed not to feel hungry. But if you eat 500 calories of ice cream, you’ll still feel hungry afterwards. However, if you eat the…