Previous studies show the Mediterranean diet offers protection against heart disease, various forms of cancer, obesity, osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis. Now research reports that a low carb Mediterranean Diet reduced the need for prescription drugs in overweight patients with type 2 diabetes. The four year study compared the effects of a low fat American Heart Association type diet and a low carb Mediterranean Diet on drug therapy for diabetics.
The study, published in Annals of Internal Medicine, featured a Mediterranean diet with a high intake of vegetables, fruits, whole grains and olive oil with an emphasis on lean protein (like fish, chicken and nuts). The carb intake was limited to 50 percent of daily calories. It also included a low fat diet emphasizing whole grains, vegetables and fruits with a low consumption of fats and sweets. The fat intake was limited to 30% of daily calories.
Researchers at Second University of Naples, Italy, administered the two diets to 215 overweight adults with type 2 diabetes, for four years. Half of the participants were randomly assigned to a low-fat diet and the other half were assigned to the ow carb Mediterranean Diet. The overweight subjects reduced their caloric intake to 1,800 calories per day for men and 1,500 calories daily for women. All participants were encouraged to exercise.
The researchers found that 56% of patients on the Mediterranean diet controlled their blood sugar without medication, compared with 30% of participants on the low fat diet. Furthermore, the Mediterranean diet participants had greater reductions in weight loss and improvements in HDL (good) cholesterol than those on the low fat diet.
"Compared with a low-fat diet, a low-carbohydrate, Mediterranean-style diet led to more favorable changes in glycemic control and coronary risk factors and delayed the need for antihyperglycemic drug therapy in overweight patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes," the study authors conclude.
However, more research needs to make clear if diet alone can eliminate the need for blood sugar drugs.
Glucose M2 Maintains Healthy Blood Sugar
An effective way to manage healthy blood sugar levels is to take natural nutrients, along with following a Mediterranean diet and exercise plan. Progressive Health's Glucose M2 contains researched ingredients like alpha lipoic acid, bitter melon, gymnema sylvestris, vanadium, chromium, calcium, magnesium and zinc. Glucose M2 has been developed to enhance carbohydrate metabolism and maintain healthy blood sugar levels.
Leave a comment