Best diet for type 2 diabetes?

Dietary carbohydrate is the major determinant of postprandial glucose levels, and several clinical studies have shown that low-carbohydrate diets improve glycemic control. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that a diet lower in carbohydrate would lead to greater improvement in glycemic control over a 24-week period in patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Volunteers with obesity and type 2 diabetes were randomized to either a low-carbohydrate, ketogenic diet or a low-glycemic, reduced-calorie diet. Both groups received group meetings, nutritional supplementation, and an exercise recommendation. The main outcome was glycemic control, measured by hemoglobin A_1c.

Both interventions led to improvements in hemoglobin A_1c, fasting glucose, fasting insulin, and weight loss. The Low carbohydrate, ketogenic diet group had greater improvements in hemoglobin A_1c, body weight, and high density lipoprotein cholesterol. Diabetes medications were reduced or eliminated in 95.2% of LCKD vs. 62% of LGID participants.

Lifestyle modification using low carbohydrate interventions is effective for improving and reversing type 2 diabetes.

Bonnie - what the August Nutrition and Metabolism study did not adequately explain is that keotgenic means higher in protein. While I would never advise a ketogenic diet long-term, the study does prove that increased protein does have a positive, measurable effect on all factors related to metabolic syndrome.