Results of dietary adjustment in diabetes:
Dietary adjustment is just one of the many natural remedies for diabetes. Weickert and Martin performed a study which included a summary of the effect of dietary adjustments on insulin resistance and diabetes risk. Weickert and Martin expressed that (24):
- Insulin resistance is caused by excessive caloric intake leading to obesity.
- Sustained low calorie diets have a strong benefit on short-term weight loss (up to 2 years), insulin resistance, and diabetes risk.
- Reduction in total fat intake (<30%) has a modest benefit on weight loss, likely reduces diabetes risk but is less effective than low-carbohydrate, high-protein diets.
- Fat intake >37% increases insulin resistance
- Increase in monounsaturated fatty acids (>10%) has a modest benefit on insulin resistance, lowers LDL, decreases triglycerides, and lowers blood pressure.
- Polyunsaturated fatty acids have been found to have a modest effect on insulin resistance.
- Low-carbohydrate diets (a minimum of 130 g/day is recommended) have a modest benefit on weight loss in the short term and have beneficial effects on HDL (“good”) cholesterol and triglycerides.
- High protein intake increases satiety, has a weight lost benefit in the short term and has beneficial effects on HDL, LDL cholesterol, and blood pressure.
- Low glycemic index diets have a modest benefit on weight loss, improve LDL cholesterol, inflammatory markers, and probably reduce cardiovascular risk.
- Dietary fiber >14 g/1000 kcal and day has a modest benefit on weight loss and is beneficial on insulin resistance.
- Soluble fiber (mainly fruit and vegetables) has a modest benefit on weight loss, lowers GI, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides.
- Insoluble cereal fiber (cereals, wheat bran and whole grain products) has a modest benefit on weight loss and a strong benefit on insulin resistance.
- Mediterranean style diets have a modest benefit on weight loss, insulin resistance, diabetes risk, reduced risk for cardiovascular disease, lower inflammatory cytokines, improved lipid profiles and increased survival. (24)
Control Blood Sugar by Changing the Order of Food in a Meal