Researchers have revealed that a low carb diet can be beneficial for diabetics.
The Swedish group, led by Dr. Jorgen Vesti Nielsen, had previously reported on 16 obese patients on a 20-percent carbohydrate diet over 6 months. After 22 months, patients continued to show improvement in hemoglobin A1C, a marker for long-term blood-sugar levels in diabetes.
The paper published today in Nutrition & Metabolism, an open access journal also reports that seven patients who immediately switched to a 20-percent carbohydrate diet from a low-fat diet in the earlier study also showed improvement.
According to Richard Feinman, PhD, editor of Nutrition & Metabolism, ?It is a small study, but it is the longest of its kind and it shows people coming off medication and improving their glycemic control.?