A Randomized Pilot Trial of a Moderate Carbohydrate Diet Compared to a Very Low Carbohydrate Diet in Overweight or Obese Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus or Prediabetes
Read full paper →- Authors
- Laura R. Saslow, Sarah Kim, Jennifer Daubenmier, Judith T. Moskowitz, Stephen D. Phinney, Veronica Goldman, Elizabeth J. Murphy, Rachel M. Cox, Patricia J. Moran, Fredrick M. Hecht
- Journal
- PLoS ONE
- Year
- 2014
- Citations
- 229
TL;DR
A 3-month pilot study found that a very low carbohydrate, high-fat diet led to a 0.6% greater reduction in HbA1c and a higher rate of diabetes medication reduction compared to a moderate carbohydrate, low-fat, calorie-restricted diet in overweight or obese individuals with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes.
What they tested
This study compared two distinct dietary approaches for managing blood sugar and weight in people with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes:
1. **Moderate Carbohydrate, Calorie-Restricted (MCCR) Diet:** This diet was designed to align with the American Diabetes Association (ADA) guidelines at the time.
* **Carbohydrate intake:** Aimed for 45% to 50% of total daily calories from carbohydrates, which typically translated to about 165 grams of carbohydrates per day. Participants were taught carbohydrate counting, using 15 grams as a unit.
* **Fat intake:** Low fat.
* **Calorie intake:** Calorie-restricted, aiming for a 500 kilocalorie (kcal) deficit per day below their estimated maintenance needs.
* **Protein intake:** Participants were advised to keep their protein levels similar to their usual intake before the study.
2. **Very Low Carbohydrate, Ketogenic (LCK) Diet:** This diet aimed to induce a state of nutritional ketosis.
* **Carbohydrate intake:**