CSIRO researchers have found success in a new diet designed for those trying to manage type 2 diabetes.

The diet centres around eating very low amounts of carbohydrates and higher amounts of protein and unsaturated fats. Some research participants following the diet have been able to stop taking their medications and have described it as “life changing”.

“The research results are ground breaking,” said CSIRO principal research scientist, Associate Professor Grant Brinkworth.

“Health professionals have been divided over the best dietary approach for managing type 2 diabetes, and the ongoing uncertainty is a hotly debated topic amongst clinicians and researchers,” Associate Professor Brinkworth said.

“The most amazing benefit of the low carbohydrate diet was the reduction in the patient’s medication levels, which was more than double the amount than the volunteers following the lifestyle program with the high-carbohydrate diet plan, he stated.

How does the diet help manage type 2 diabetes?

According to researcher Professor Campbell Thompson, the very low carbohydrate diet presented greater improvements in the blood cholesterol profile of participants, by increasing the levels of good cholesterol and decreasing triglyceride levels to a greater extent than the traditional high carbohydrate, low fat diet approach.

“Both diets achieved similar reductions in bad (LDL) cholesterol levels, often a concern with some low carbohydrate diets,” Professor Thompson said.

“The variability of blood glucose levels throughout the day is also emerging as a strong independent risk factor for diabetes complications. In our study the very low carbohydrate diet was more effective in reducing the number and levels of blood glucose spikes and dips, flattening the blood glucose profile over a 24-hour period,” he said.

Hope for diet to be released publicly

The CSIRO says more work needs to be done before any diet program modelled off the study can be released to the public. It said updates will be provided in due course.

The CSIRO findings coincide with another recent finding by American researchers regarding other possible dietary intake changes that might ameliorate or reverse the diabetes condition.

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