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The high fat, high carbohydrate keto diet may help people with diabetes control their blood sugar levels, new research analysis shows.
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Researchers found that the keto diet improved blood sugar levels and insulin resistance, and also helped patients lose weight.
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This adds to a growing body of evidence that keto could be a useful treatment for type 2 diabetes as well as obesity, but longer term research is needed to better implement the potential benefits.
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There is even more evidence that a keto diet could help diabetic patients control their blood sugar.
In a review published Nov. 30 in Nutrition and Diabetes, researchers at Jilin University’s First Hospital in China looked at 13 different studies on the keto diet as a treatment for type 2 diabetes. They found that the diet low in carbohydrates and high in fat was effective in helping diabetics control their blood sugar levels and improve insulin sensitivity.
The keto diet also helped obese and overweight participants lose weight – an average of 19 pounds in all studies, lasting from one week to one year.
Previous research, including case studies, has shown keto to be an effective therapy for diabetes
This study is a promising addition to the existing evidence that keto may benefit people with type 2 diabetes or at risk of developing it.
Researchers theorize that it works because consuming carbohydrates increases blood sugar. Usually, the body makes a hormone called insulin to regulate blood sugar, but people with type 2 diabetes have become resistant to the effects of insulin.
Cutting back on carbs targets the source of the problem by preventing blood sugar from rising in the first place, said Dr. Mark Cucuzzella, a professor at the West Virginia University School of Medicine who has published several studies on keto and diabetes.
“The most influential thing about your blood sugar is the amount of carbohydrate in your diet. The low-carb diet is effective because it reduces insulin load,” Cucuzzella told Insider. “Insulin is the main switch.”
Unlike carbohydrates, dietary fat does not increase blood sugar. By replacing carbohydrates with fats from foods like avocado, dairy, nuts, fish, olive oil, or meat, the keto diet helps people reduce sugar spikes in the body. blood without reducing calories or having to eat less.
More research is needed, especially on long-term results and potential side effects
This latest review didn’t look at the side effects of the keto diet, as few studies included this information. It was also limited to relatively short-term data.
A lack of long-term data on the keto diet has led some doctors and dietitians to voice concerns about the high fat content of keto diets, especially when it comes to saturated fats like red meat and produce. dairy. This is because these sources of fat can increase the level of unhealthy cholesterol in the body, thereby increasing the risk of heart disease.
Another hurdle for keto research is that the definition of the diet varies widely. In this analysis, the keto diet ranged from less than 15 grams of carbs per day to 30 to 50 grams of carbs, or up to 10% to 14% of total daily calories.
The types of fat sources can also vary widely, especially in popular representations of keto, which describe the diet as relying heavily on red meat like burgers and bacon, butter, and even fast food.
This can make it difficult to determine which of these versions, if any, is the best for your health and which could have unintended negative effects. More research could help people find the right diet for them.
According to Dr Sarah Hallberg, medical director of Virta Health, a “ well-formulated ” keto diet is one that focuses on whole food sources of fat, keeps vegetables rich in nutrients, and avoids even processed foods. they’re low in carbs, a company that specializes in keto diets for type 2 diabetes.
“The idea that this is all sticks of meat and the heavens knows what isn’t true,” Hallberg told Insider.
Read more:
The keto diet can help people with diabetes control their blood sugar
Woman Successfully Used Keto Diet and Intermittent Fasting to Control Diabetes Without Medication
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