New research has reported that people living with type 2 diabetes can put their condition into remission by following a low-carbohydrate diet.
A team of recognised academics have found that a low-carb diet helped people living with type 2 diabetes achieve major weight loss and improve their health outcomes.
Since 2013, Dr David Unwin from Norwood Surgery in Southport has encouraged his patients to adopt a low-carb lifestyle by launching a programme dedicated to the subject.
As part of the programme, advice on a lower carbohydrate diet and weight loss was offered routinely to people with type 2 diabetes between 2013 and 2021, in a suburban practice with nearly 10,000 patients.
Conventional ‘one-to-one’ GP consultations were used, supplemented by group consultations and personal phone calls as necessary.
Those interested in participating were computer coded for ongoing audit to compare ‘baseline’ with ‘latest follow-up’ for relevant parameters.
According to the results, the cohort who chose the low-carbohydrate approach equalled 39 per cent of the practice type 2 diabetes register. Overall, remission was achieved in 51 per cent of the cohort, the study has reported.
The findings state: “After an average of 33 months median (IQR) weight fell from 97 (84–109) to 86 (76–99) kg, giving a mean (SD) weight loss of −10 (8.9)kg.
“Median (IQR) HbA1c fell from 63 (54–80) to 46 (42–53) mmol/mol. Remission of diabetes was achieved in 77 per cent with T2D duration less than 1 year, falling to 20 per cent for duration greater than 15 years.”
The authors added: “Mean LDL cholesterol decreased by 0.5 mmol/L, mean triglyceride by 0.9 mmol/L and mean systolic blood pressure by 12 mm Hg.
“There were major prescribing savings; average Norwood surgery spend was £4.94 per person per year on drugs for diabetes compared with £11.30 for local practices. In the year ending January 2022, Norwood surgery spent £68,353 per year less than the area average.”
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…