A new study suggests that a low-carbohydrate diet could play a crucial role in reversing some of the key dysfunctions linked to Type 2 diabetes, specifically in pancreatic beta cells that help regulate blood sugar.
The research, led by Barbara Gower from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, highlights that individuals with Type 2 diabetes who reduce their carbohydrate intake might experience significant health improvements, even potentially reversing their condition. “People with Type 2 diabetes on a low-carbohydrate diet can recover their beta cells, an outcome that cannot be achieved with medication,” Gower explained in a press release from the Endocrine Society.
Type 2 diabetes, the most prevalent form of the disease, occurs in part due to the impairment and eventual loss of pancreatic beta cells, which produce insulin. Insulin is essential for controlling blood sugar levels. The research team believes that excessive consumption of carbohydrate-rich foods, like bread and pasta, contributes to this beta cell dysfunction.
The study involved 57 adults with Type 2 diabetes, both Black and white, who followed one of two dietary plans: a low-carb diet consisting of 9% carbohydrates and 65% fat or a high-carb diet with 55% carbohydrates and 20% fat. Those on the low-carb regimen showed marked improvements in their beta cell function, with Black participants seeing even more pronounced benefits than their white counterparts, although the reasons for this are not yet fully understood.
While the results are promising, Gower emphasized that more research is needed to determine if low-carbohydrate diets could fully restore beta cell function and possibly lead to remission for Type 2 diabetes patients.
The findings, published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, indicate that dietary changes might provide a viable, non-pharmaceutical treatment option for many living with the disease. For those with milder forms of Type 2 diabetes, a low-carb diet may even reduce the need for medication, allowing for a more natural way to manage blood sugar levels.
Further investigations will be required to fully explore the long-term benefits and potential for remission through dietary adjustments.
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