Diabetes and Nutrition

Dr. Olubukola Ajala, a diabetes specialist at Western Sussex Hospitals in the UK and her colleagues evaluated the results of 20 studies comparing the effect of seven popular diets on adults with type 2 diabetes. Mediterranean diets, low-carb diets, high-protein diets and low glycemic index diets were all effective lowering participants’ blood sugar.

However, the people on a Mediterranean eating for at least six months plan also lost an average of 4 pounds, where none of the other diets had a significant impact on weight. A Mediterranean-style diet features fruits, vegetables and legumes, whole grains, fish, and replacing saturated fat and sodium with healthy olive oil and herbs. Saturated fats from red meat and dairy products are typically less than eight percent of total calories consumed.

The study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, also noted that low-carb, low-glycemic and Mediterranean diets all led to increases in markers of heart health – higher HDL (“good”) cholesterol rose by 4 percent to 10 percent, and triglycerides fell by up to 9 percent.

Some experts suggest that the success of Mediterranean-style diets is partially because the eating plan is easy to maintainDr. Olubukola Ajala, a diabetes specialist at Western Sussex Hospitals in the UK and her colleagues evaluated the results of 20 studies comparing the effect of seven popular diets on adults with type 2 diabetes. Mediterranean diets, low-carb diets, high-protein diets and low glycemic index diets were all effective lowering participants’ blood sugar.

However, the people on a Mediterranean eating for at least six months plan also lost an average of 4 pounds, where none of the other diets had a significant impact on weight. A Mediterranean-style diet features fruits, vegetables and legumes, whole grains, fish, and replacing saturated fat and sodium with healthy olive oil and herbs. Saturated fats from red meat and dairy products are typically less than eight percent of total calories consumed.

The study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, also noted that low-carb, low-glycemic and Mediterranean diets all led to increases in markers of heart health – higher HDL (“good”) cholesterol rose by 4 percent to 10 percent, and triglycerides fell by up to 9 percent.

Some experts suggest that the success of Mediterranean-style diets is partially because the eating plan is easy to maintain