A recent study published in the Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism indicates that adults with type 2 diabetes may enhance their beta-cell function by adopting a low-carbohydrate diet. This improvement could aid in better disease management and may even allow some individuals to reduce or eliminate their reliance on medication.
Beta-cells, located in the pancreas, play a critical role in insulin production, which is essential for regulating blood sugar levels. In the United States, over 38 million individuals are diagnosed with diabetes, with more than 90% suffering from type 2 diabetes. While this condition typically arises in adults over 45, an increasing number of children, teenagers, and young adults are also being diagnosed.
Research suggests that individuals with type 2 diabetes experience a diminished beta-cell response to blood sugar, partly attributed to excessive carbohydrate intake. The combination of beta-cell dysfunction and insulin resistance contributes to the onset and progression of the disease.
Dr. Barbara Gower, the study’s lead author from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, stated, “This study demonstrates that individuals with type 2 diabetes following a low-carbohydrate diet can rehabilitate their beta-cells, a benefit that medication alone cannot provide. Those with mild cases who lower their carbohydrate intake may find they can stop taking medication while enjoying protein-rich meals that satisfy their dietary needs.”
The study involved 57 adults, both Black and White, diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Participants were divided into two groups: one adhered to a low-carbohydrate diet, comprising 9% carbohydrates and 65% fat, while the other followed a high-carbohydrate diet of 55% carbohydrates and 20% fat. The researchers assessed beta-cell function and insulin secretion at the outset and again after 12 weeks, providing all meals to participants.
Results indicated that those on a low-carbohydrate diet experienced significant improvements in both acute and maximal beta-cell responses, measuring 2-fold and 22% greater than those on the high-carbohydrate diet. Notably, Black adults on the low-carb plan exhibited a 110% increase in acute beta-cell response, while White participants demonstrated a 48% greater improvement in maximal beta-cell response compared to their high-carb counterparts.
Dr. Gower emphasized the need for further research to explore whether a low-carbohydrate diet could fully restore beta-cell function and induce remission in type 2 diabetes patients.
Additional contributors to the study included Amy Goss, Marian Yurchishin, and William Garvey from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Sarah Deemer from the University of North Texas, and Bhuvana Sunil from the University of Washington and Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital in Tacoma, Washington.
The research was funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, the Nutrition Obesity Research Center at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, the Diabetes Research Center, and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
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