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The inability of the current, low fat, moderate carbohydrate, sugar in moderation, nutrition recommendations to control the epidemic of diabetes points to a need for change. The benefits of carbohydrate restriction in diabetes are immediate and well documented. Carbohydrates in the diet are by far the greatest contributor to blood sugar rises, and as expected, dietary carbohydrate restriction reduces the blood sugar (glucose) profile. (1) Simply put; by reducing or eliminating carbohydrates and focusing on fat, protein, and fiber, you can reverse type 2 diabetes. (2)
As you can see in the image below, dietary carbohydrates cause a much larger spike in blood glucose than protein and fat do. Carbohydrate restriction is a powerful tool, and it is the first and most important component of the American Diabetes Society nutrition guidelines.
Low carbohydrate diets are safe, sustainable, and effective. With a well-planned carbohydrate restricted diet, individuals reliably reduce blood sugar (glucose), reduce A1c, reduce elevated triglycerides, lose excess weight, and may reduce or eliminate medications. (1) The foods that can be eaten on low carbohydrate, high fat, moderate protein diets are delicious, satiating, and blood sugar stabilizing. One of the reasons this way of eating works so well is that people genuinely like the food they are eating.
It’s unfortunate that many well-meaning doctors, dietitians, and other health professionals have condemned animal-based foods. Animal proteins not only contribute to blood sugar stability, they also provide vitamins, minerals, building blocks to neurotransmitters and a variety of cofactors that help our bodies and brains function optimally.
These statements fail to recognize the impact of dietary carbohydrates on a metabolic level. Many people who have used carbohydrate restriction as a tool of reverse type 2 diabetes find food freedom. They no longer have to worry and obsess about foods, nor do they feel compelled to overeat. Of note, case studies have been written where remission was achieved for severe eating disorders including anorexia and binge eating disorder. (4-5).
Also, it makes sense to question if eating real whole foods such as beef, eggs, butter, and low starch vegetables, while forgoing cakes, cookies, pasta, and sugar filled beverages truly is “restricting.” We’ve come to a crux in society where individuals have been convinced that foregoing foodlike substances that cause harm is a problem. The dietary requirement for carbohydrates in the human diet is zero. (3) You do not need to eat any carbohydrates to live and thrive. Does it make sense that someone with impaired blood sugar should consume highly refined versions of these very things?
1. Feinstein, R.D. & Pogozelski, Wendy & Astrup, A.. (2015). Dietary carbohydrate restriction as the first approach in diabetes management: critical review and evidence base. Nutrition. 31. 11-13.
2. Westman, Eric C, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Volume 75, Issue 5, 951-953
3. Westman, EC Vernon MC. Has carbohydrate restriction been forgotten as a treatment for diabetes mellitus? A perspective on the ACCORD study design Nutr Metab (Lond) 2008;5:10
4. Carmen, M., Safer, D.L., Saslow, L.R. et al. Correction: Treating binge eating and food addiction symptoms with low-carbohydrate Ketogenic diets: a case series. J Eat Disord 11, 171 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-023-00881-1
5. Norwitz, Nicholas, Michelle Hurn, & Fernando Espi Forcen. "Animal-based ketogenic diet puts severe anorexia nervosa into multi-year remission: A case series." Journal of Metabolic Health [Online], 6.1 (2023): 8 pages. Web. 18 Sep. 2024
